“ELLE” – 2011 JAMES ALEXANDER GAMBLE FRAGRANCE MEDAL WINNER

The American Rose Society bestows the James Alexander Gamble Fragrance Medal to outstanding new very fragrant roses. The award is not given every year but only when an outstanding new very fragrant rose is available.  This year the James Alexander Gamble Fragrance Medal winner is “Elle”, hybridized by Meilland International.  It was awarded to the hybridizer, Meilland International at the Fall Annual Meeting of the American Rose Society in Los Angeles, CA in October 2011.

The selection of the James Alexander Gamble Fragrance Medal is made by the American Rose Society Prizes and Awards Committee for the rose considered the most fragrant in municipal and private gardens throughout the United States over a five-year period. The rose must be registered and must be rated at least 7.5.

Combining a strong spicy, citrus fragrance with a high-centered classic rose bud. ELLE^TM is a hybrid tea that produces shell pink flowers with deep yellow undertones.

The dark glossy foliage provides a nice contrast to the soft, non-fading flower, and offers above average disease tolerance to mildew and blackspot. Flowers bloom on 10 - 14 inch stems and are 4 - 5 inches wide with a petal count of 50 - 55.

It has a very unique color for sure. Its been called everything from orange to pink..to orange-pink. It may be because of some of the yellow on the flower interior mixing with the pink. It can almost look like a salmon color in some cases. I'm sticking with orange-pink on this!  The scent is also noteworthy. Some people compare it to the old china roses that way, with a sweet and spicy flavor.

As a hybrid tea, its definitely tough against disease as well as mildew and rust. Its only rated for zones 7-10, so if you live in a cooler area, its not exactly the most hardy choice there. This may be a rose that may not be suited for the Truckee Meadows unless it gets a log of care and protection.

Excerpts from www.loveofroses.com