The question always comes up. If you could only have one rose, what would it be? Secret is a rose that would be a candidate for this hallowed position.  This is a rose that has everything.  The blooms are a delicate, creamy ivory with coral-pink edges and as the blossom matures, colors deepen.  Secret is beautiful at all stages from the elegant buds to the fully open blooms.  The blossoms have excellent form and have won their share of royalty awards. When you see the exhibition form, you will understand how it could be Queen of  Show and why it is seen frequently in a variety of collection classes.

If I only had one rose, it would need to be a perfect plant too.  Secret is a great plant because it is vigorous, easy to grow and very disease free. The new foliage is a striking mahogany-red that is an eye-catcher in the garden.  The plant produces a multitude of blooms and is quick to repeat. A hybrid tea introduced in 1994, its parents are Pristine x Fellowship.

If I could only have one rose, it would have to be fragrant and the perfume would need to be unforgettable. Secret is one of the most fragrant Hybrid Teas on the market. The scent is spicy with a hint of apples and cloves mixed with a traditional tea rose fragrance.  It is intoxicating. A small bouquet will perfume a room.

With all these positive characteristics, there are a few tiny flaws. The blooms are a little small and the pink edge does fade when it gets hot.  This doesn’t seem to matter when you see a bush filled with beautiful pink and white blooms and smell the wonderful fragrance as you pass by.  Secret will be a rose that continues to stay around a long time and will always have a place in my garden.

Photo courtesy of Baldo Villegas