Gold Medal Grandiflora Rose

Grandiflora Rose

Rosa 'Gold Medal'

(RO-zuh)

Synonyms: AROyqueli, Golden Medal

We had an order for 18 long stem roses for somebody’s garden and after looking at several places gave up trying to procure them. Sometimes it is just better to wait until the supplies catch up with the demand. ‘Gold Medal’ was the only rose we found that was blooming but there was only one and after getting home and doing some research I am glad we didn’t buy it. You can see from the picture the foliage was loaded with disease and the flowers weren’t that great of a color. Apparently they wash out to this cream color in hot weather and don’t have much of the pink/orange blending they can have during cooler temperatures.

Introduced in 1982 by Jack Christensen it is a tall, fragrant rose that is grown on its own roots (not grafted). This makes it hardier but weaker growing in my opinion. All in all I am glad I passed on ‘Gold Medal’ and we will just have to wait to spring for some new stock.