Moonlight, hybrid musk

'Moonlight'. Hybrid Musk
Pemberton, 1913, England,
'Trier' x 'Sulphurea'

ARS rating = 8.3

New foliage on 2000 April 23 I acquired 'Moonlight' in a trade- and it was not even close to being on my wish list. In fact, I had not even known about 'Moonlight'. After Graham S. Thomas's comments forewarned me of the possibility of 10' branches, I planted "Moonlight' in what I thought would be a well situated location in the shrub and perennial border. In three month's time we were having to make a detour with the lawn mower to miss the canes arching over the grass. I was impressed with the vigor of this rose. In one of Judith McKeon's rose books was a description of a technique which trained a tall, pillar type rose up a 3 to 4' post and then allowing the canes to arch down naturally in a fountain or umbrella type effect. Sounded good to me, so I pounded a locust post in the ground next to 'Moonlight', put on my leather gloves and wrestled the canes up the post and tied them close and tightly to it. The entire effect was a bit lopsided, but it kept the long canes off the grass and nearby perennials. My efforts were rewarded the next spring with a very nice display of semi-double blooms along the umbrella, lopsided though it was. Not much scent. This rose is healthy, vigorous, and new foliage is an attractive red which contrasts well with the slightly more mature green leaves. 'Moonlight' is a shrub with a moderate repeat bloom in mid-summer just when I really need to see some flowers. Thanks for the trade j, 'Moonlight' is in my top 10!

The Graham Stuart Thomas Rose Book, 1994 "Dark-brownish wood, with reddish prickles, supporting a mass of branches clothed with upturned, small, dark, shining leaves. In summer, multitudes of flowers are borne in small sprays; cream buds, opening white, small, semi-double, and with their yellow stamens making a splendid contrast to the foliage. In the autumn, on the great new shoots, I have had heads 18 inches across containing many dozens of flowers, rivaling in effect 'Vanity' itself. 'Trier' has certainly had abundant influence with this rose, for it is musk-scented as well. It is an excellent rose for garden effect, shrubby yet graceful, and can be used as a pillar rose or allowed to ramble throught low trees or over hedges, since its branches will reach 10 feet or more in length if encouraged."

"The beauty of the Rose as a bloom is often gained at the sacrifice of its grace as a plant; but that beauty is so ravishing, so overwhelming, that it is impossible to expect amateurs who judge Roses by show standards-- and they are both a large and increasing number-- to forgo it. It may be prophesied safely that there will always be two schools of rosarians; those who grow the Rose as garden-lovers pure and simple, and those who grow it for exhibition. Their paths will be divergent, because their ideals are essentially different. The one studies the plant, the other the flower; one seeks to make beautiful pictures of liberty and grace in the open air, the other strive for perfect form and richness of color in combination with the largest possible size" --Walter P. Wright, 1927

last updated 2002 April 4

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These pages are maintained by Kent B. Krugh. All Material © Kent B. Krugh, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002.