Shrub 1 1/2 - 2' 'The Fairy' x seedling JACAIR : Zary, 1998 Bright pink with white centers, tiny 1 1/2" rosebuds with a slight fruity fragrance and 5-11 petals borne in large clusters that repeat quickly. Dark green semi-glossy foliage. What could be more refreshing than a nice big slice of cold watermelon on a hot July day? 'Watermelon Ice' is a terrific little landscape rose whose blooms are colored like the inside of a watermelon. A great choice for entryways or containers, this rose has never grown more than 20 inches high for me and forms a perfect mound. It stays covered all summer long in blooms.

'Watermelon Ice' has all the good qualities of its parent rose, 'The Fairy'. It is winter hardy here in zone 5 and is a vigorous, healthy plant. Blackspot may be an occasional problem, but a shot of fungicide now and then will keep it totally clean. The rosebuds as some of the tiniest I have ever seen and I marvel each year how those itty bitty blooms produce such a myriad of roses. 'Watermelon Ice' has consistently been the earliest rose to bloom for me and usually treats me to its first flush of blooms on Mother's Day. (A full month earlier than most of my garden roses!) Needless to say, I highly recommend it for its outstanding landscape qualities.

ARS Rating: 7.5

 

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