The Dr. Jekyll Side of Gertrude

Gertrude Jekyll is a David Austin rose that I've blogged about in the past.  It has a very Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde personality.  Lately, it's shown much more of its Dr. Jekyll side.  It's known for not being very disease resistant, but mine has shown less disease than my other DA roses.  It's also grown much more vigorously for me than my other DA's.  I would say this rose is definitely a climber in the South.  It easily reaches 12' tall on the rebar teepee I have it growing on.  The blooms are deep pink and have the most powerful fragrance of any rose I've ever smelled.  There is a huge flush of bloom in the spring, sporadic blooms in the summer, and another nice flush in the fall.  The canes are fairly flexible making it a perfect pillar candidate.  Watch out for the vicious thorns on this rose.  I'll finish up with a picture of Gertie at her peak last spring.

Meet the Diva

Gertrude Jekyll is the most contrary rose in the world.  She's also a rose of many moods.  Sometimes she sulks and trashes out getting rid of all her pretty leaves and wearing only ugly blackspotted ones.  She also can be vicious and has the most thorns of about any rose there is.  She meanly tries to stick and poke any man, woman, or child who passes by.  But at other times she will put on the most beatiful show you will ever see with haunting, deep pink blooms and perfumed fragrance that will waft around the entire yard.  I've said before that I think this is the most fragrant rose of all.  Currently, GJ is in a good mood.  She is pillared up a rebar teepee blooming up a storm, all her leaves are healthy and green, and the scent is heavenly. 

Here is a single bloom.

Here is a cluster of blooms.

Another cluster of blooms

A picture of the whole bush

Anothe picture of the whole bush

I don't recommend this rose to people because it's such a primadonna.  If you are willing to put up with its problems, then go ahead and plant you one.  It will get gigantic and want to grow as a climber in the South, but I hear it's more bush-like up North.  It will get blackspot unless sprayed every 10 days.