“The tune” was the first hybrid tea in a growing collection that consisted, at that time, exclusively of David Austin roses. This exceptional rose managed to hold its own, despite not being able to come close to a David Austin in sheer blooming power, simply by doing what hybrid teas do best: showcasing a certain perfection of form.
In the case of Neptune, this includes a certain two-tone effect that, combined with wavy petals, gives blooms a distinctly aristocratic appearance. The back of each petal has approximately double the color saturation of the top, making each one seem outlined as if my a marker. I should point out that not one photo in my possession does justice to the color of this rose. It is not pink. I repeat: this is not a pink rose. It’s an unusually, dusky lavender with pink overtones.
When I ordered my specimen I’d read Neptune was strongly scented. To my great surprises, yes it is, but the character of the scent happened to be exactly what I love: a pure, crisp rub red grapefruit. It almost smells more like grapefruit than a grapefruit.
Pros:
- Stunning form and scent
- Surprisingly disease resistant
Cons:
- Not as vigorous as many David Austin roses. This likely means it will stay a tidy size as it matures, but it also means it will take a few years to reach mature size.
Source: Heirloom Roses
