''Rosa'' 'Fragrant Plum' (aka AROplumi) is a mauve blend Grandiflora rose cultivar, bred by American hybridizer,

Jack E. Christensen Jack E. Christensen (1949–2021) was an award-winning American rose hybridizer, garden writer and science teacher. He developed more than 80 rose varieties during his career. He was the youngest hybridizer to win an All-America Rose Selections ...

before 1988. The rose was awarded the ARS James Alexander Gamble Rose Fragrance Award in 2007. 'Fragrant Plum' thrives in hot climates and is popular in Australia and the warmer gardening zones in the USA.

Description

'Fragrant Plum' is a tall, upright Grandiflora rose, in height, with a spread. It has a high-centered, double bloom form. Bloom size is . The rose has a strong, fruity fragrance. Bloom color is crimson or magenta when in bud, but opens to lavender or mauve with purple edges. The flowers are typically borne singly or in small clusters on long stems. Leaves are large and dark green. 'Fragrant Plum' blooms in flushes throughout the growing season. It thrives in hot seasons and is popular with gardeners in Australia and the warmer hardiness zones in North America.

History

Jack E. Christensen

Jack E. Christensen (1949–2021) was an award-winning American rose breeder, garden writer and biology teacher from

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most populous urban ...

. Christensen was born in

Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents ac ...

in 1949. He showed an early interest in nature and gardening when he was very young. In high school, Christensen won a scholarship to

University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a Normal school, teachers colle ...

. He initially planned to become a doctor, but later changed his mind and transferred to

Cal Poly Pomona California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona, CPP, or Cal Poly"Cal Poly" may also refer to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo. See the '' name'' section of this article for more info ...

to study

Botany Botany, also called plant science (or plant sciences), plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "bot ...

. Christensen spent most of his horticultural career at Armstrong Nurseries in

. He progressed through the company until he became a hybridizer of roses and fruit trees, and vice-president of research. During his career, he developed over 80 new rose cultivars, including 'Henry Fonda', 'Cricket', 'White Lightnin'' and 'Gold Medal'. Christensen was the youngest hybridizer to win an All-America Rose Selections (AARS) in 1986, with his hybrid tea, 'Voodoo'.

'Fragrant Plum'

'Fragrant Plum' was developed by Jack Christensen from a cross between 'Shocking Blue' and a secong cross between 'Blue Nile' x ( 'Ivory Tower' x 'Angel Face'). The new rose cultivar was introduced in the United States by Armstrong Roses in 1982. The cultivar was used to hybridize one child plant, 'Flamingo Dancer'. The cultivar won the ARS James Alexander Gamble Rose Fragrance Award in 2007.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rosa 'Fragrant Plum' Fragrant Plum