“NO BLUE ROSE"

Press, Volume C, Issue 29679, 24 November 1961, Page 2

“NO BLUE ROSE"

Efforts By Growers Rose growers are no nearer the solution of evolving a true blue rose than they were a year ago, according to a local rosegrower, Mr H. L. M. Wyles. “The more interested in roses people are, the less interest they show in blue roses because they are’ an oddity rather than a thing of beauty,” Mr Wyles said yesterday. A true blue rose might be evolved in time, but blue chromosomes were not natural to roses as they were to other flowers, he said. But the efforts of growers to evolve blue roses had led to the discovery of mauve ones, which were becoming purer in tone each year. They were valued for decorative purposes, particularly as sprays for evening wear.

The deepest, called Blue Boy, had a grape-coloured centre, becoming lighter towards the outer petals. The newest of the mauve roses seen at the combined national rose show and Canterbury Horticultural Society’s rose and cut flower show yesterday, was Sterling Silver, a delicate pastel with just a hint of grey, and raised in the United States: Simone (France); lilac charm, a new floribunda: Lavender Princess and Lavender Girl Other unusual colours were those in the tan range. This year, they tended to be more delicate in tone, and less obviously brown. Brilliant oranges were on display, the newest of these, orangeade, being of similar hue to the beverage it was named after.