Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Ena Harkness climbing

Ena Harkness climbing, 1954

Climbing Hybrid Tea 

Sport of Ena Harkness 

Ena Harkness, another red Hybrid Tea monument of the previous century. Ena has fantastic bright red blooms with that fabulous Damask fragrance. She reblooms and is rain tolerant. Ena however had one flaw: She suffered from the weak neck syndrome. This means that the big blooms hang down and nod at you as if they bow before us. Fortunately this "flaw" became an advantage when her climbing sport was discovered in 1954. Now she could climb up to 450 cm or 14 feet and the nodding blooms would look at us. Problem solved!
I even want to say that an Ena without weak neck isn't Ena anymore, it's such a part of her personality. Zone 6b to 9b. All red Hybrid Teas from mid 20th century are susceptible to Blackspot but this doesn't mean that they always gonna get it. Probably more not than yes. In rainy summers even the best roses would struggle with not attracting blackspot.
So if you're looking for a red climbing monument with exquisite fragrant blooms and a charming weak neck? Ena is your thing! 

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