I had a wonderful experience when I went out to the Wilson Display Garden to pick the Plant of the Month. I was noticing that the 'Old Blush' rose was blooming. This antique rose was introduced from China in 1752 and continues to be an excellent performer. What truly sparked my interest was the amount of honeybees that were collecting pollen and nectar. Honeybees are so rare now a days that this was a rare experience. If for no other reason to buy this rose it would be for it to bring honeybees into your garden and therefore help pollinate your vegetable garden.

'Old Blush' rose is also known as 'Common Monthly', 'Common Blush China', 'Old Pink Daily', 'Old Pink Monthly', and 'Parsons Pink China'. One of the most common of old roses, it is also one of the most valuable. It has passed on its incredible blooming powers to countless cultivars during hybridization.

'Old Blush' has medium, semi-double, lilac pink flowers in loose clusters from April to late summer. It is a hybrid of Rosa chinensis. The blooms flush darker pink in the sun and are followed by large orange hips. It blooms so steadily that it is not a very good cut flower: the blossoms drop quickly to make room for their successors.

Seven-sisters 'Mutabilis' rose is another common Rosa chinensis cultivar. This rose grows 5-6' feet tall and wide. The new leaves emerge a bronze-purple and finally to a blue- green. Flowers are single, fragrant, 1-3 inches in diameter. The flowers change from yellow-orange (sulfur yellow) to coppery salmon pink then to deep pink.

The 'Old Blush' rose bush is full and upright in habit, growing slowly to over 5 feet, with neat, healthy foliage. Perfume is soft, but fruity and pleasant. Whether used in a hedge (which can be spectacular), as a specimen, or in a border, 'Old Blush' is disease resistant. It should not be fussed over like so many roses need to be.

Come out and see 'Old Blush' rose at the Wilson Display Garden at 1806 S. Goldsboro Street. To view previous plant of the month articles or pictures of these plants, go to this website: http://wilson.ces.state.nc.us/staff/clauderd/plantofthemonth.html The Master Gardener Volunteers are available to answer your gardening questions on Mondays and Fridays from 1 PM until 3 PM by calling 237-0113. They will also be available Wednesday, May 16 and 23, 1-3 PM.

Date Created: 4/8/01.