Rose Morsdag

In recent years, interest in polyanthus roses has increased significantly. There are a number of quite natural explanations for this. The culture is unpretentious in care, outwardly spectacular, blooms profusely and for a long time. In addition, due to its decorative qualities, it is often used in landscape design. This group is represented by many varieties, but one, Morsdag, having lived a rather long life, has not lost its attractiveness and still continues to conquer the hearts of rose growers.

History of creation

This long-lived rose belongs to the Dutch selection, it was created by the Grootendorst company. The lineage of Morsdag is quite branchy, like the bush itself. And the progenitor of this interesting family is considered to be the re-flowering polyanthus rose Echo. She gave quite numerous offspring, including the variety allocated by D.A. Koster (Netherlands), who was given the name Anneke Koster. From this red-colored variety the Dick Koster, which is pink in color, was born in 1929. He, in turn, gave birth to many sports, one of which was our heroine. It was isolated in 1949 by F.J. Grootendorst. The registration name is Mothersday, which is also used as an exhibition name. The name is translated as "Mother's Day", so it is not surprising that it is by this day that the Morsdag rose grown in pots is sold out faster than the most luxurious bouquets. The variety also has other names: Mother's Day, Muttertag, Muttertagers, Fete des Meres, Paree Red, Red Mothersday.

Awards

Despite the miniature size, specialists at numerous competitions and exhibitions were able to discern a huge potential in culture. Thanks to him, Morsdag was able to win many awards:

• 1998 USA, at the show of the society Moutain State Rose received the nomination "Polyant spray";
• 1999 USA, Augusta Rose Society and Dixie Rose Rose Club named our heroine as the best polyanthus spray;
• 2000 USA, Southampton Rose Rose Society awards our heroine in the "Polyanthus Spray" nomination.

Separately, I would like to highlight 2001, which is especially full of various awards, also received in the United States. The following rose-growing societies and groups awarded our heroine a prize, of course, in the nomination "Polyanthus spray":

• Butte Rose Society Butte Rose Society;
• Eastern North Carolina Rose Society;
• Forest City Rose Society;
• Memphis Rose Society;
• Penn - Jersey District;
• Philadelphia Rose Society;
• Thumb Rose Society;
• Tropical Rose Society;
• York Area Rose Society.

Description

Morsdag belongs to the scrub class, that is, it is a shrub. The bush is miniature, its height does not exceed 40 - 50 cm. But at the same time, the plant is quite spreading, in width it covers an area of ​​up to 75 cm, which makes it an excellent ground cover. Shoots are thin, but rather strong, without thorns. The perennial is well leafy. The foliage is healthy, dark green, very decorative. The leaves are small in size, pinnate, with oval-elongated plates folded in the form of a boat, the surface of the leaf is shiny. The edges of the leaf blade have a blunt serration. Flowering shoots are numerous, upright, each of them is crowned with an inflorescence, consisting of 5 - 10 flowers. According to other sources, flower brushes are even more full, the number of buds in them can reach up to 20 pieces.

The flowers are miniature, 4 - 5 cm in diameter, medium-sized, have 17 to 25 petals. The shape of the flower is spherical, from a distance it resembles a miniature peony in incomplete dissolution. In the process of opening the rosette, the petals strongly curved inward retain the rounded shape of the flower almost until the very moment of flowering. The claimed color is dark red or red. But many growers find crimson shades in it, and some describe the color as magenta.

Flowering period

Miniature rose Morsdag belongs to the re-flowering varieties. Flowering begins very early, in warm regions the decorative ground cover is already covered with opening buds from mid-May, and by the end of the month the plant is completely covered with bright red rosettes.Until the coldest days, our heroine continues to delight with bright colors and only with the arrival of frost stops blooming. As rose growers note, the first wave of flowers is very abundant, multi-flowered, but the subsequent ones are more modest. The break between flower tides is short. But if the variety is fully provided with moisture, receives top dressing on time, basks in the warm sun, then decorativeness throughout the season will be at a high level. The aroma is light, not very pronounced. According to the reviews of flower growers, the rose blooms cleanly.

Characteristics

• Polyanthus roses are quite frost-resistant. So Morsdag can withstand temperatures up to minus 28.9 ° C in winter (according to the USDA classification, it corresponds to zone 5). This ability to tolerate frost without significant damage is due not only to genetic inheritance. A low plant is easily covered under a natural natural insulation - a snow cover. But if the winter is snowless, then in cool regions for the winter the bush is insulated with any covering material that allows air to pass through;
• the immunity is average. Resistance to powdery mildew and black spot is not high enough. In an unfavorable wet period, the plant can easily become infected with a fungal infection. Our heroine especially suffers from powdery mildew. But at the same time, many growers say that the miniature rose is more resistant to the main diseases of the culture than many other varieties;
• resistance to rain is low at all. During the period of prolonged rains, the petals of the opened flower easily deteriorate, decorativeness is lost. The buds rot and deteriorate, they may not open.

Agrotechnics

Planting Morsdag can be done in spring or autumn, depending on the region. Closed-root plants can be planted in summer. The culture prefers warm, sunny places. But in the south, in the midday period, the plant will be grateful for a light partial shade, which will save flowers and foliage from the burning rays. In addition, our heroine does not like strong winds and wet areas where water often stagnates, lowered places are also not suitable due to the accumulation of cold air. It is necessary to plant the bushes at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other so that the growing perennial does not greatly interfere with neighboring plants. Watering in moderation, especially control the soil under the overgrown bush, moisture dries out more slowly under it. Summer dressing will help maintain flowering and stimulate bud formation. In the fall, to increase frost resistance, our heroine is fertilized with phosphorus and potassium. To maintain the neat appearance of the perennial, you should remove too long shoots, cut off broken or diseased branches. In cold regions, pruning of perennials is carried out shorter, in warm regions - by about 1/3.

A special feature of Morsdag is the ability to grow it in a flower pot. Care in this case is no different from a pot culture. This method has undeniable advantages. For the winter, the plant can be transferred to a room where our heroine will spend the winter in comfortable conditions. Also, in the garden, the plant can always find the most suitable place without digging it out, but simply rearranging the pot.

Our heroine is indispensable in decorating a garden plot or a park area. It perfectly disguises the bare shoots of tall roses, densely planted roses will cover the green lawn with a bright carpet, the variety will be appropriate on any flower bed, mixborder or as a symbolic fence. High decorativeness Morsdag is widely used by landscape designers to solve many problems. Some rose growers admire the spectacular appearance of Morsdag, grown on a stem. The culture is unpretentious in care. The absence of thorns is a big plus, since the hands of the flower growers will remain intact.But the variety will require close attention during an unfavorable period, when, due to high humidity, it can pick up a fungal infection.

Morsdag has several varieties. They are similar in characteristics, have the same abundant brush flowering and a spherical rosette, but differ in color:

• Orange morsdag - appreciated for its warm peach shades;
• White morsdag - attracts with milky white flowers, collected in large clusters;
• Pink morsdag - suitable for lovers of delicate pink color.