October 2001
Mozart
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Would you like to grow a garden rose that never needs spraying
for black spot, is a prolific bloomer, smells wonderful, and is versatile
enough to be grown as a 5'x5' shrub, or an 10' climber? The outstanding
rose fitting this description is the hybrid musk rose Mozart (Robin
Hood X Rote Pharisaer). It is classified as a pink blend, and 1"
blooms are a strong pink around a white eye, fading with age. They occur
in large trusses, showing the rosa multiflora influence that characterizes
so many of the hybrid musk roses, including Robin Hood, it's seed parent.
Mozart differs in the garden from many of the better known hybrid
musks (like Ballerina) by being absolutely resistant to black spot, and
it has a very strong scent, reminiscent of honey. It is vigorous enough
to be used as a climber, but does not resent the pruning needed to keep
it a medium sized shrub. Mozart can also be allowed to assume it's
more natural arched shape at 8' X 8' as a wonderful landscape specimen.
Hybrid musk roses like Mozart are rated hardy to zone 5 with protection,
but have been fully cane hardy here in zone 7, with a low of 8° last
winter and no protection.
Mozart was originally classified as a Lambertiana, a line of roses
developed by the Lambert family of hybridizers in Germany. Subsequently,
the hybrid musk category was recognized, and he was placed there. Peter
Lambert, Mozart's hybridizer is also known for other outstanding
garden roses including Frau Karl Druschki, Katharina Zeimet, Aglaia,
Gartendirecktor Otto Linne, Excellenz von Schubert, and one of the
most important of foundation roses leading to the development of the class
of hybrid musks, Trier. Mozart was one of Peter Lambert's
last hybrids, created in 1937. He died shortly thereafter in 1939. Mozart,
of course, honors the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
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