Content
Rose Mona Lisa is a spectacular variety with bright, rich colors. Its excellent decorative qualities have allowed it to gain wide popularity among gardeners, despite the fact that it appeared relatively recently. This was also facilitated by the plant’s high resistance to diseases and pests, which greatly simplified caring for the rose. But in order for this shrub to fully develop and bloom profusely every year, it is necessary to plant it correctly and provide conditions in accordance with the requirements of the culture. Therefore, these features should be studied in advance.
The soil used for planting should be light, loose, rich in humus
History of selection
Mona Lisa is a rose from the Romance series, which is considered new. This group was obtained by crossing hybrid tea, floribunda and park species. The varieties included in it are united by the charm of ancient roses, an exquisite aroma, and the special shape of densely double flowers. And the Mona Lisa is its prominent representative. The variety was bred in 2007. Its originator is the French rose-growing company Meilland, specializing in the development of new unique types of crops.
For its high decorativeness and increased immunity, the Mona Lisa was awarded the ADR quality mark. In addition, the variety received a silver award at the Italian competition, which took place in Monza.
Description of the Mona Lisa rose and characteristics
The species is characterized by compact bushes 0.8 m high and a growth diameter of about 0.6 m. Mona Lisa forms a large number of shoots, which are densely covered with medium-sized dense leaves, which gives it lushness and density. The blades of this variety consist of five to seven separate segments, which are attached to one petiole. The total length of the leaves reaches 8-10 cm. They have a rich dark green hue and a glossy surface.
The Mona Lisa's shoots are erect and strong. They can easily withstand the load during the flowering period, so they do not need additional support.
The root system of the shrub is tap-type, but during vegetative propagation it is fibrous. The diameter of the central shoot is 2-3 cm. The width of the root system is about 30 cm. This feature of the variety must be taken into account when planting.
The variety blooms for the first time in early June. The buds are goblet-shaped, pink-cream in color. As it blooms, the color changes to bright red. And closer to autumn it becomes wine-like. Mono Lisa's flowers are densely double, each consisting of 80-82 petals, so they look stuffed. They resemble the ancient ones in structure, that is, they have a squared center, when the middle consists of four sectors.
Buds appear on the tops of the shoots in groups of three to five.They have an unobtrusive, sophisticated aroma, which intensifies in hot weather and in the evening.
The variety blooms profusely throughout the season, which is one of its advantages. At the same time, the petals do not fade when exposed to sunlight and do not fade at elevated temperatures. Mona Lisa also has a high level of frost resistance. The plant can withstand temperatures down to -30 degrees. Therefore, the variety can be grown in regions with difficult climatic conditions.
This species is resistant to rain
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The floribunda rose Mona Lisa has a number of advantages, for which it has received universal recognition from gardeners. But it also has weaknesses that need to be taken into account. Therefore, you should study them in advance, which will allow you to compare the variety with other species and make an informed choice.
Mona Lisa flowers stay fresh for five days
Main advantages:
- abundant, long-lasting flowering;
- high natural immunity;
- suitable for cutting;
- few thorns;
- high winter hardiness;
- easily propagated by cuttings;
- bright, rich shade of petals;
- large size flowers;
- the buds do not fade in the sun.
Flaws:
- demanding on soil moisture;
- weak aroma;
- needs feeding.
Reproduction methods
To obtain new Mona Lisa rose seedlings, you should use the vegetative method. To do this, it is necessary to cut off the mature shoot and divide it into parts 10-15 cm long. In this case, each should have two or three internodes.
The cuttings should be planted directly into the ground in a shaded place. But first you should add river sand to the soil. Before planting, completely remove the lower pair of leaves and cut the upper one in half to maintain sap flow in the tissues.The bottom cut should be made at an angle of 45 degrees, which will increase the rooting area. After this, the cuttings should be kept in the Kornevin solution for a day. And the next day, plant them, deepening them to the first pair of leaves.
For a successful result, it is necessary to install a mini-greenhouse on top, which will create favorable conditions.
According to reviews from flower growers, cuttings of the Mona Lisa rose take root after two months. During this time, it is necessary to control soil moisture and periodically ventilate them. Grown seedlings can be transferred to a permanent place when they are fully strengthened and begin to grow, which usually happens no earlier than a year later.
Growing and care
For the full development of the Mona Lisa rose and lush flowering, it is necessary to select a site that is well lit and protected from cold gusts of wind. The soil should be rich in vermicompost and have good aeration. It is preferable to grow this variety on loam or sandy loam soil. But it is permissible to plant in clay soil with the preliminary addition of 10 kg of peat and sand.
The groundwater level in the area must be at least 1 m. When planting, a 10 cm layer of drainage should be laid on the bottom of the hole. For this, you can use crushed stone or broken brick. Also add humus and wood ash and thoroughly mix the fertilizers with the soil.
When planting, the root collar of the shrub should be level with the soil.
Rose Mona Lisa does not require complex care, so any novice gardener can cope with its cultivation.The variety needs regular watering in the absence of seasonal rains. Irrigation should be carried out once or twice a week, soaking the soil up to 15 cm. In this case, the water should be settled.
Throughout the warm period, you should loosen the soil at the base of the bush and remove growing weeds. Caring for the Mona Lisa rose also involves feeding. The first time to use fertilizers is in the spring at the beginning of the growing season. During this period, organic matter or urea can be used. In the future, fertilizing should be carried out between waves of flowering shrubs. At this time, phosphorus-potassium mineral fertilizers should be used. They enhance the color intensity and increase the rose’s resistance to adverse factors.
In late autumn, the shoots of the plant need to be shortened to a length of 40-50 cm. And the root circle should be insulated with a layer of peat or humus. In spring, protective mulch should be removed in advance, as it can cause the shoots to become warm at the base.
The Mona Lisa rose does not need additional shelter for the winter. Pruning should be done in the spring. It involves removing frozen and broken branches.
Pests and diseases
This variety has high natural immunity. But if the growing conditions are inappropriate, the stability of the Mona Lisa rose decreases. Therefore, experienced gardeners recommend carrying out preventive treatment of shrubs with fungicides, which will help maintain immunity at the proper level.
For this you can use the following drugs:
- Topaz.
- Speed
- Home.
- Bordeaux mixture.
Among the pests, aphids can cause damage to the shrub, since when several varieties are grown on the site, they are able to move to the Mona Lisa bush.The lesion can be recognized by curled young leaves, as well as a massive accumulation of the pest on the tops of the shoots. When these signs appear, you need to spray the bush with an insecticide solution. The following tools are suitable:
- Confidor Extra.
- Actellik.
- Inta-Vir.
- Fitoverm.
Application in landscape design
The Mona Lisa variety is ideal for single plantings and multi-component compositions. In the first case, white gravel at the base or a short-trimmed green lawn can successfully highlight the beauty of this rose. The variety also looks good in mono-compositions of three to five bushes.
Mona Lisa can also be combined with other varieties of crops with the same flowering period and shoot height. Roses with white, blue, cream and lilac buds will suit her as companions. In the same color scheme, you can select perennials that can coexist next to each other.
This variety looks impressive on a trunk and as a tub plant
Shrubs can be used to decorate mixborders, create rock gardens and rockeries, as a frame for garden paths, as well as to decorate stairs and the entrance to the gazebo.
Conclusion
Rose Mona Lisa deservedly enjoys the love of flower growers around the world. The variety successfully withstands competition and occupies a leading position in demand among buyers. This is explained by its excellent decorative qualities, which the shrub retains throughout the entire growing season. This is also facilitated by low maintenance and high frost resistance. Therefore, gardeners living in regions with difficult climatic conditions also have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of this variety.
Reviews with photos about the rose Mona Lisa
