- Authors: Tantau
- Name synonyms: Aphrodite
- Breeding year: 2006
- Group: tea-hybrid
- The main color of the flower: pink
- Flower shape: rosette to square, cupped
- Flower size: medium
- Diameter, cm: 10-12
- Flower type by number of petals: thick double
- Scent: spicy
Aphrodite is an interesting variety for her group. Hybrid tea roses do not often have a representative bush and at the same time huge delicate flowers, but the Tantau company manages to combine the incongruous.
Breeding history of the variety
The variety was bred by the famous German company Tantau in 2006. By Hans Jürgen Evers. Rose has two gold medals: the Rosenschau in Forst exhibition in Germany, 2013, and the International exhibition in Glasgow, Great Britain, 2009. Quite quickly became popular all over the world, often found in retail stores in the USA, Great Britain, and European countries.
Description of the variety
The bush is surprisingly compact for a hybrid tea rose - 60-80 cm, strong and beautiful. Foliage is a separate virtue. Juicy green, with a glossy dense surface, thick. The bush, even without flowers, looks purebred. In warm regions, it can easily grow up to 1.2 meters.
The flower is large, 10-12 cm, the first flowers can be 9 cm each, then the plant is gaining strength. The bud is graceful, cupped, lush when fully open, and elegant half-open. The number of petals is from 40. Laying of medium density. Color - porcelain pink, very delicate. Due to the structure of the petals, the color looks soft, warm and luminous. The outer petals are beautifully folded back, with the age of the flower they brighten slightly and acquire a delicious creamy shade.
Very resistant to rain, the petals are not stained, the tips do not dry out.
The aroma is medium-strong, spicy, with juicy fruity notes.
Advantages and disadvantages
Pluses of the variety.
Hardy, very healthy plant.
Spectacular densely leafy bush.
Low bush height.
Large, lined flowers, very lush.
Delicate pearl pink color.
Unusual and not weak aroma.
The variety has no disadvantages. The rose may not be so lush in the cold regions of Russia, but these are not the characteristics of the variety, but of the culture.
Flowering features
The rose belongs to the re-flowering, in the middle lane it blooms in two waves: at the end of June and at the end of August. The flowers bloom slowly, but the pause between the waves is usually noticeable well. The bush is not inclined to give out single roses between flowering, forms buds together. The second bloom may be noticeably more abundant than the first.
In mild climates such as the UK, the rose blooms from mid-spring to late fall.
Use in landscape design
The rose is grown for cutting and as a flower bed. Very good in romantic gardens, goes well with perennials, can act as a small hedge. A good choice for a fragrant garden. Spectacular, not too tall - it looks great in the foregrounds, in sidebars in lawns, in rabatkas and mixborders. The flowers are delicate in color, but very large, so the bush is visible from afar.
Growing regions
The rose is hardy, so it is worth considering it for growing in the middle lane, the Moscow region. In Siberia and the Urals, careful shelter for the winter will be required; in a rainy and damp summer, a late second flowering is possible - not in August, but in September.
Landing
For landing, they choose bright places that are well protected from the winds. The rose should receive at least 6 hours of bright sun per day.Moderate diffuse shading is acceptable at midday. In regions with a harsh continental climate, it is better to choose a place on the east or west side of the house in order to protect the plant from the burning daytime sun. For 1 sq. m you can plant 5-6 bushes of Aphrodite. The distance between the bushes is 40-50 cm, in the aisles - 1 meter each.
The optimum soil pH is 6.5, but roses can tolerate a pH of up to 7.5. In the spring, when digging for 1 sq. m make 2.5 buckets of manure and 1 glass of bone meal.
Growing and caring
Like all roses, Aphrodite loves timely watering, good nutrition, appreciates preventive treatments for diseases and high-quality pruning, and needs shelter for the winter. The variety does not belong to the most demanding, but it is responsive to high agricultural technology.
Watering and feeding
Watering - 1 bucket of water per bush at least 2 times a week, during the period of active flowering and droughts a little more often, by August, watered a little less often. Water in the evening, but it depends on the region. If the nights are cool, it is better to water in the morning - this protects the rose from diseases. After watering, the soil is loosened and preferably mulched. They are fed 4-5 times per season: in April, May, during the period of bud formation, during the break between flowering and in early autumn. Until June, you can feed with nitrogenous fertilizers, then they switch only to phosphorus and potassium. In the fall, superphosphate is introduced into the soil. Instead of the classic mulch, it is useful to use a layer of rotted manure or compost of 5 cm - this is additional nutrition.
Frost resistance and preparation for winter
Tantau roses are bred in Germany, where the climate is temperate continental. The quality of the varieties is very high, but in the harsh continental climate, all the roses of this originator need support and shelter for the winter. Sanitary pruning is carried out, all unripe, old, diseased shoots are removed, the remaining ones are either bent to the ground or shortened. The layer of mulch for the winter should be at least 15-20 cm. Young bushes in Siberia and the Urals are additionally covered with lutrasil, or they form "houses" from a support and covering material.
Diseases and pests
The variety has a very high resistance to powdery mildew and black spot. Flowers are not damaged by gray mold. If on the site other roses often get sick, preventive treatments with Fitosporin-M are desirable. In autumn, the plantings are carefully removed, all plant residues are removed, during the growing season the roses are sprayed several times with ash infusion and growth stimulants.
Review overview
The reviews are almost unanimous: the variety is divine. Not everyone agrees that the Greek goddess Aphrodite looks like this, many have associations with Chinese porcelain, silk or marshmallows. In any case, the variety is lush, feminine, airy, solemn and literally gushes with tenderness. In diameter, the flowers easily reach even 15 cm. They are persistent, hold on for a long time, do not become covered with dots with aging, like other pale pink varieties. Very high quality petals. Flowering is possible even in three waves. The bush also deserved applause - straight, neat, dense, with abundant foliage.
The fragrance is described as interesting, unusual, original.
Critics touched upon the shape of the flower (not everyone likes the lodged shape, it is perceived as a little sloppy, shaggy) and the general decorative qualities of the variety (rude and rustic). For some, the bush showed itself not very lush.
But everyone unanimously noted that the rose is amazingly hardy. Flowers easily survive rain and heat, the plant winters well. There are reviews of diseases, but isolated. The variety, judging by the opinions, is very healthy, with strong immunity and does not tend to attract diseases.
Aphrodite is a great variety for those who are looking for solemn, showy roses and at the same time want to get a medium-sized, very hardy plant.