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'Pink Powderpuff, bred by Ralph Moore, California. 1990

Breeding: 'Lulu' X 'Muriel'

'Pink Powderpuff' is one of only a handful of R. bracteata hybrids in commerce. Ralph Moore has bred a few of them, and 'Muriel' (R. bracteata X 'Guinee') is one parent of 'Pink Powderpuff'.

While this can be a glorious rose, I find it is slow to become established to the point that it makes any serious growth. It has been said by its creator that it requires good drainage and not too much water or it can sulk. I suspect that the more heat it gets, the better, since this is a second generation Bracteata hybrid.

The blooms are very long lasting, and to my surprise, they are HUGE: about 5.5 inches across! There is a very nice scent to the blooms on the first day, but very little after that. There are easily 100 petals to the blooms, all neatly arranged in perfect layers with every petal ending in a point, like a waterlily.

Foliage is dark green, and is generally very disease free. I understand that this hybrid needs a couple of years to get properly established, but then so do many climbers, so I will be patient. I like what I see so far!

Excerpted from my January 2003 article in the American Rose magazine: "From a list of 'Muriel' offspring, one of the most beautiful is the climber 'Pink Powderpuff' from 1990. Its seed parent was the old Hybrid Tea 'Lulu', from 1919 by Easlea. 'Lulu' is listed as an orange pink blend, but is best described as salmon in hue, and its bloom form would be considered less than full by modern standards. When mated with 'Muriel', a superb medium sized (10 to 12 feet) climber was the result. 'Pink Powderpuff' is a strikingly beautiful rose in a wonderful glowing warm shade of medium to light pink. The fully double blossoms resemble a Water Lily in form, with many layers of pointed petals laid flat in perfect layers. Flowers are borne singly and in clusters of three, and they have a warm rich perfume of moderate intensity. It can take two or three seasons to become established in the garden, and enjoys a warm location to thrive, but it well worth the patience! It also dislikes a poorly drained location, so be careful where you place it. Ralph has compared it to 'Mme. Hardy' (Damask, 1832) for its perfection of bloom form, and this is no stretch of the imagination. Truly a beautiful rose!"