'Pam's Choice'

Janet Inada at Rogue Valley Roses is now offering a limited edition of one of my Floribunda selections from a few years back, called 'Pam's Choice'. A couple of years ago my sister Pam was visiting and I had placed a vase full of cut roses from the garden on the dining table in the breakfast nook. She was very taken by the Lavender one with the unusual tan center, and I said "If I ever decide to put that into commerce, I'll call it 'Pam's Choice', that sound good to you?"

I've had this plant around since 2003 and have been watching it and judging it, and several people prompted me to propagate it, so last Summer I did. It is bred from the Ernest Williams mini 'Suntan Beauty' and the old Floribunda 'Lavender Pinochhio', both a blend of lavender and tan. Unfortunately neither of the parents has much vigor, as is often the case with roses in this color range, but 'Pam's Choice' has significantly better vigor than either parent. It also blooms in great flushes, sometimes one to a stem, often in clusters. Sadly, it has no appreciable scent as far as I can tell.

Note to hybridizers: 'Suntan Beauty' sets seed easily and the resulting seedlings are often odd muted colors in the lavender and brown range. I haven't used mine in several years but I plan to put it back into service in 2010.