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Family: Rosaceae (ro-ZAY-see-ee) (Info) Genus: Rosa (RO-zuh) (Info) Cultivar: Secret Additional cultivar information: (PP08494, aka HILaroma) Hybridized by D. Tracy; Year of Registration or Introduction: 1992
Hardiness: USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Bloom Color: Pink blend (pb)
Bloom Shape: Double Tea shaped
Flower Fragrance: Very Fragrant
Bloom Time: Late Spring/Early Summer Blooms repeatedly
Habit: Bush
Patent Information: Patented
Other Details: Resistant to mildew Resistant to rust Stems are moderately thorny
Pruning Instructions: Blooms on new wood; prune early to promote new growth
Soil pH requirements: 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
Propagation Methods: From softwood cuttings From semi-hardwood cuttings From hardwood cuttings By grafting By budding
I had a Secret rose for several years. The rose is pretty and does have a strong fragrance, but in my experience it is too winter-tender for NE Wisconsin. Even when buried in ground, only the very bottom inch or so of one stem or the other would survive the winter. This meant that it would start each year well behind the other roses, and it never caught up. I got very few blooms from my Secret rose, so I finally gave up on it one spring when once again it was all but dead after the winter.
I rate it as neutral instead of negative because I was able to get it through the winter, but only barely. I think there are many other hybrid teas that are better for our cold climate up here on the "frozen tundra" (20 miles east of Green Bay).
On Jun 4, 2010, ffffrrrr from Santa Clara, CA wrote:
This rose is very healthy and low-upkeep in my area, although it'll get pretty tall if left unpruned for long. That said, if you're one who loves fragrant roses, find one of these and give it a sniff. Different people smell different things in roses, but to my nose it's one of the most intensely sweet cultivars there is, almost like honeysuckle.
On May 19, 2004, Paulwhwest from Irving (Dallas area), TX (Zone 8a) wrote:
Bred in the United States. Won the following awards:
All-America Rose Selection in 1994
Court of Show Honor seventeen times from 1998-2001
King of Show five times from 1999-2001
Princess of Show four times from 1998-2001
Queen of Show three times from 1999-2001
Parentage:
Seed: Pristine
Pollen: Friendship
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Phoenix, Arizona Berkeley, California El Cajon, California Oakley, California San Jose, California San Leandro, California Santa Clara, California Santa Maria, California South Bradenton, Florida Chicago, Illinois Hampton, Illinois Vancouver, Washington
One vendor has this plant for sale.
