Rosa St. Patrick was hybridized by Frank A. Strickland in 1986 and then introduced in the U.S. by Weeks Wholesale Rose Growers in 1996. This slightly fragrant hybrid tea was the recipient of the AARS award in 1996 for its outstanding performance in the garden. Growing on a medium size bush, each high centered bloom opens to reveal an exhibition rose of buttery yellow, its outer petals displaying a hint of green. This variety, a cross between Brandy and Gold Medal, is heat tolerant and its blooms will last for days in the garden or in a vase. A must have rose for outdoor display or the show table; you can’t go wrong if yellow is your color.

This rose was chosen for our March Rose of the Month as we celebrate St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, on March 17^th. St. Patrick, who was born in England was kidnapped from his family estate as a boy and taken to Ireland where he was enslaved as a shepherd boy.

Rosa Veteran’s Honor was bred by Dr. Keith W. Zary in 1997 and was then introduced in the U.S. by Jackson and Perkins in 2000 as their “Rose of the Year”.

This medium “cherry red” hybrid tea rose blooms in profusion on a large, spreading bush throughout the growing season. Each high-centered bloom with its delicious raspberry fragrance glistens in the garden with its velvety sheen. Loaded with petals and atop long straight stems, it is a real show stopper.

As one of the most adored red roses in commerce today, I chose Veteran’s Honor as my rose of the month for November 2016 to celebrate the American men and women who have served in our military to protect the freedoms we have come to love and cherish.