Celebration of Roses, January 23: Sally Holmes
Link to HMF: Sally Holmes
Acquired From: Antique Rose Emporium
Own Root? Yes
Would I Grow Again? Maybe someday
Notes: I have mixed feelings about this rose. I love hybrid musks and I love singles but I feel this rose is too highly rated, in my humble opinion. It definitely had issues with blackspot and defoliation in our southern, no-spray garden–more so than many of our other roses–even though it’s touted as being “very disease resistant.” I still really like it but with so many other roses to try it may be a while before I return to this one, if ever. By the way, if you’re looking for a lovely Clematis companion for ‘Sally Holmes’ try ‘Venosa Violacea’. They look stunning together.
Completely agree. In my dry climate, we don’t get much disease, but she needs constant grooming because she doesn’t drop spent petals after the stamens turn brown and to me, that just isn’t pretty. Venosa Violacea is my favorite. I appreciate this series and wish it would go on and on.
Oh phew! I’m glad someone else agrees with me I was afraid I might have angered the Sally Holmes fan club and they might come after me. 😉 And yes, yes, yes I forgot to mention the fact about the petals not dropping cleanly, thank you for bringing that up! So pleased you are enjoying this series!!