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My "fragrant roses" have no fragrance

FireFire Posts: 17,318
in Problem solving

Hi all,

I have recently put in two climbing roses 'Pilgrim' from David Austin . The company describe the rose as strongly fragranced but mine have no scent at all. They are only a metre or so tall but they look healthy and happy. I have never had this problem before.  I know roses plants can change in scent with age but I'm wondering if there is anything I can do to encourage the fragrance as this is one of the main reason I have planted it.

Any thoughts welcome.

http://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/the-pilgrim-climbing-rose

Last edited: 30 May 2017 22:50:01

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Posts

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,279

    I HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH A ROSE CALLED SOUVENIR DU DOCTEUR JAMAIN. IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO ME AS BEING HEAVILY PERFUMED. I CAN'T SMELL A THING. OTHER PEOPLE WHO COME TO VISIT SAY THAT IT IS HEAVENLY.image I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER ROSES IN MY GARDEN.

    I SUPPOSE WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT NOSES. 

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,318

    Thanks. I have a great nose. It's definitely the rose not me. image

  • KT53KT53 Posts: 8,454

    It's nothing to do with the quality of your nose.  I have experience the same problem described by pansyface.  My missus will say to smell a plant and I smell absolutely nothing, likewise I will get a great scent from a plant and she will smell nothing.  It certainly doesn't happen with all scents but it's far from uncommon.

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 29
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  • FireFire Posts: 17,318

    Interesting. Thanks

  • CebeCebe Posts: 52

    I had the pilgrim in a previous garden, I found it to be only very lightly fragranced. (I have a very good sense of smell!) It made up for its lack of scent by being covered with absolutely beautiful flowers for most of the summer, but it was positioned where its appearance was more important than the fragrance. Look out for the thorns - not so many on the stems, but on the back of the leaves.

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,894
    pansyface says:

    I HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH A ROSE CALLED SOUVENIR DU DOCTEUR JAMAIN. IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO ME AS BEING HEAVILY PERFUMED. I CAN'T SMELL A THING. OTHER PEOPLE WHO COME TO VISIT SAY THAT IT IS HEAVENLY.image I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER ROSES IN MY GARDEN.

    I SUPPOSE WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT NOSES. 

    See original post

     I am surprised pf

    I used to have a Jamin on my pergola, the scent was outstanding - how strange that yours has no fragrance


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 85,997
    chrissieB says:

    This may sound off but have you tried smelling it at different times a time the day? I'be found that some are more scented in the morning or evening and have hardly any scent at other times

    See original post

     I've also found this ... I think it depends on warmth and humidity and of course, the different types of scent. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FireFire Posts: 17,318

    I shall check. I was wondering if different earth, propagation techniques, individual plants might have different predispositions. 

  • TootsietimTootsietim Posts: 178

    My pilgrim has not yet opened, but last year I found its perfume rather weak and insipid. hoping for better this year.  I think this shows the danger of buying roses 'untested' and in relying on the breeders description.  My wife and I have different noses and smell things differently.

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