Magnificent minis

Miniature roses are beautiful, versatile, and once again, prizewinners

Strolling along the aisles of my favorite nurseries or lost in the pages of a plant catalog, I know there are hidden forces at work--reasons why I gravitate toward certain plants out of all the ones available.

Scent, for one thing. The perfume of a damask rose instantly transports me across the years to my grandmother's garden. I love the way a vase of fragrant roses can transform a room. Roses lead the parade, the standard-bearers of scent. And close behind are the diminutive members of their court--the miniatures.

I am as fascinated by miniature roses as I am by a magician's sleight of hand. They're perfect scale models of their full-size counterparts, with small flowers, small leaves, and small stature (ranging from 6 inches to 2 feet tall). The only real difference between miniatures and regular roses is that miniatures are not divided into groups such as hybrid tea, floribunda, or rugosa. A world of varieties, with different flower colors and forms, falls under one simple classification: miniature.

Now, for the first time since 1993, a miniature has won the prestigious All-America Rose Selections for 2001. 'Sun Sprinkles' (see page 96) has elegant buds that open to lovely 2inch fully double, bright buttery yellow blooms that give off a spicy, slightly musky fragrance. Foliage is glossy green. Hybridized by John Walden and introduced by Bear Greek Gardens/Jackson & Perkins, the plant grows to 24 inches tall and blooms repeatedly throughout the season.

Miniatures are often given in lieu of cut flowers, not necessarily with the expectation that they will be planted in the garden. (Because they're so charming and easy though, most gardeners opt to plant them out.) With the holidays fast upon us, you might consider giving these little charmers as gifts for your hosts. Or you could arrange them among some poinsettias.

Where to plant

While young miniature roses are sometimes displayed indoors in sunny windows, these plants are at their best outdoors. They do well in border fronts and nestled in small beds. I have planted them with sweet peas in a bed surrounding a birdbath. Miniature roses also thrive in containers and window boxes; pair them with herbs or nasturtiums.

Right now, 'Sweet Chariot' perfumes my room, its delicious scent drifting in through the window from a planter box on my balcony I can see its long sprays of polyantha-type magenta roses cascading nicely over the railing.

Today there are many varieties, one for every spot in your garden. Some favorites are listed on page 96. Don't settle for what is most readily available; dig a little deeper, and you'll find varieties that will have real presence in your garden. But be careful--minis are seductive. I'll bet you won't want to plant just one.

Planting and care

Miniature roses have exactly the same needs as standard roses--fast-draining and slightly acid soil, full sun, and regular watering and feeding. Once established, they should be pruned once a year in early spring after the last hard frost; cut strong, healthy canes to about one-third their original length.

Choice miniature roses

Letters following each listing refer to sources listed below.

APRICOT, CINNAMON

'Cinnamon Delight'. A charming pink-brown with a strong fragrance; a similar one is 'Julia's Rose'. I plant these beautiful brownish roses with my lavenders. PT

'Loving Touch'. Lovely long apricot buds and flowers. PT, SN

'Savannah Miss'. A very fragrant apricot with double blooms on long stems. PT

LAVENDER, PURPLE

'Angel Darling'. Pointed buds that open to 10 wavy lavender petals. Unscented.

JMR, PT

'Lavender Crystal'. Chinese peony-like petals and unfading clear lilac color, SN

'Sweet Chariot'. Clusters of fragrant purple blooms on trailing plant. JMR, PT, RN, SN

RED, PINK

'Baby Cecile Brunner'. An older miniature, Pink buds open to pale pink blooms. SN

'Cherry Hi'. Red double blooms hold well in hot weather. SN

'Chick A Dee'. Pure pink blooms with an occasional white stripe or two; blooms almost constantly. PT, SN

'Dresden Doll'. Scentless, very mossy buds open to perfect little cup-shaped shell pink blooms. PT, SN 'Benny'. Unique, old-fashioned flowers in a dark, dusty pink. Fragrant. PT, SN

WHITE, CREAM, YELLOW

'Cal Poly'. Blazing yellow blooms. RN, SN

'Popcorn'. A dainty, honey-scented white rose with yellow stamens and delicate foliage. PT, SN

'Rise 'n' shine'. Bright clear yellow flowers. SN

BICOLORS

'Magic Carrousel'. Well-formed buds open to white blooms with red edges. SN

'Rose Gilardi'. Mossy buds open to apple-scented flowers striped with pink and red. SN, UR

'Splish Splash'. Fragrant, porcelain pink petals blended with yellow. SN

Where to buy miniatures

Miniature roses are available year-round at florists and garden centers, and in floral departments of grocery stores, For the best selection of named varieties, order starts from specialists such as these listed below. Sun Sprinkles' is available from catalog sources, retailers, and through the All-America Rose Selections website, www.rose.org.

Justice Miniature Roses (JMR), Wilsonville, OR; (503) 682-2370.

Pixie Treasures Miniature Rose Nursery (PT), Yorba Linda, CA; (714) 993-6780.

Regan Nursery (RN), Fremont, CA; (510) 797-3222 or www.regannursery.com.

Sequoia Nursery (SN), Visalia, CA; (559) 732-0309 or www.miniatureroses.com.

Uncommon Rose (UR), Corvallis, OR; (541) 753-8871 or www.uncommonrose.com.

Meet Ralph S. Moore, miniature-rose hybridizer

Lauren Bonar Swezey

California nurseryman Ralph Moore, 93, is often called the father of modern iniature roses. "He's the most innovative of American breeders," says Tom Carruth of Weeks Roses in Upland, California. Moore's miniatures have received 20 American Rose Society Awards of Excellence and have earned him the famous Dean Hole Medal of Great Britain's Royal National Rose Society.

For 65 years, Moore has devoted much of his time to creating miniature roses at his Sequoia Nursery in Visalia, California. "When I started," he says, "you could count the number of miniature roses on one hand." Since then, he's introduced more than 300 miniature varieties; 75 percent of all miniature roses have a Moore rose in their breeding background.

The first striped miniature rose and the introduction of moss characteristics (mosslike growth on the stems and buds) into repeat-blooming miniatures are among his most important achievements.

What's his favorite? "One I haven't developed yet, because it will be perfect and have no flaws," he modestly explains. Others might point to 'Rise 'n' Shine', considered the best yellow miniature, and award-winning 'Magic Carrousel'.

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