POPULARITY OF MINIFLORA

This article by Sandy Lundberg, a Past President of the Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society won an Award of Merit from the American Rose Society in the 2013 ARS Newsletter/Bulletin competition, announced in the American Rose Magazine, May/June 2014 issue. It was originally published in The Charleston Rose, Sept. 2013 issue

 

Ten years ago, I decided that I wanted to enter the then brand new J. Benjamin Williams Miniflora National Challenge Class at the ARS National Show that was to be held in Atlanta.  The challenge called for 10 miniflora roses, either 10 separate varieties or 2 each of 5 varieties.  One major problem …I didn’t have 5 varieties of minifloras in my garden.  I was growing Tiffany Lynn, Violet Mist, Autumn Splendor, and Bella Via.  One variety short of the requirement, I had one option open to me.  I was growing an unregistered test rose for Michael Williams.  He agreed to come up with a name and register it for me.  A couple of days before the show, the American Rose magazine listed new registrations including Patriot’s Dream.  Now I had my 5 and a challenge as to how to stage such diverse colors without color clashes.  By putting Autumn Splendor on one end and the red/white Patriot’s Dream on the other end, I was able to blend the colors in a pleasing manner.  We won the class and have won an additional three times in New Orleans, Tulsa and most recently in Shreveport.  

 

The point of the story is that in the intervening years, minifloras have become so popular that I have had a wide selection of choices for any district or national challenge class I might want to enter.  As rosarians have learned of the versatility of minifloras, they frequently chose minifloras.  Our garden inventory shows that, for the first time this year, we have more miniflora varieties than minis with 55 miniflora varieties compared to 49 mini varieties.  

 

We note that each year as the hybridizers introduce their new varieties, there are many more minifloras being introduced than minis.  Why are so many more available now than in the past?  Once the American Rose Society accepted the new class designation, miniflora, hybridizers no longer had to discard the blooms that were too large for the designation of mini.  Why the popularity?  The minifloras can be used in gardens and in pots on patios, around pools and anywhere you might want to put them often producing a larger bush with larger blooms.  They make great cut flowers also.  Florists in foreign markets frequently use minifloras for bridal bouquets and other arrangements.  

 

But in order to have minis or minifloras, they must be ordered from mail order nurseries.  The unfortunate fact is that there is no one advertizing the virtues of these roses to garden centers nationally.  If I wanted to buy a miniflora from a local nursery anywhere in this state, I would be greeted with a blank stare and offered a Knockout bush.  The big box stores do not carry minis or minifloras other than the occasional nameless mini which is designated by color.  The buying public is mostly unaware of minifloras as an option.

Minifloras make great landscaping choices.  Whirlaway, one of the most outstanding minifloras, will make just as huge plant on its own roots as it does on fortuniana and will be extremely productive.  The same attributes are true in the beautiful miniflora, Show Stopper.  These bushes become quite huge.  With 3 bushes, we were able to take more than 39 perfect blooms to the national show in Shreveport on May 1st,  2010 for the basket class. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bob put the basket together Friday night with 39 Show Stoppers and it won Best Basket Class.  Imagine a whole bed planted with Show Stoppers!   For the exhibitor, minifloras are a great choice as most shows now offer a Miniflora Queen and her Court.    Minifloras come in a wide range of colors.  For my garden and exhibition choices some of the following new roses are already considered bankers by us.

 

 

Abby’s Angel –Long straight stems carry an eye catching bloom of bright yellow with bright red edges.  The form is almost always high centered exhibition.

 

 

All American Girl – The light pink blooms have perfect exhibition form with a needlepoint center.  Stems are long but not always straight.  An added bonus for those who like fragrant roses, is the sweet scent of this rose. 

 

Power Point – The non-fading red comes on a stem that is filled with prickles but that is the only downside to this rose.  The form is high centered exhibition.

 

 

Shameless -- This is an exhibitor’s dream with the creamy white blooms that have red on the outer petals that sometimes have a thin black edge much like the hybrid tea, Dublin.  The stems are long and straight and the petals have so much starch that they can be maneuvered into place.

 

Robin Alonso – This sport of the mini, Caliente, is a very dark velvety red with good exhibition form and produced on long straight stems. There are some great new minifloras just beginning to become available on the market. 

 

 

 

Crystal Palace – Beautiful high centered blooms of white with a touch of light pink in the centers.

 

 

 

Gift of Love – Medium yellow blooms with good form on a new plant that is growing well.

 

Glowing Sunset – Eye-catching new miniflora has bright yellow petals with red tips on the quilled petals.

 

 

Wright Touch - Peaches are my favorite fruit and so I love the peach and yellow coloration on this slightly larger bloom.  The form of the bloom is exceptional!

 

Of course, there are some of my older minifloras that have been time tested and will remain on my banker list.

They include Foolish Pleasure, Charismatic, Dr John Dickman, Butter Cream, Louisville Lady, Show Stopper,  Unbridled and Whirlaway.