GOLD MEDAL

 When I first saw        When I first saw Gold Medal perusing a local nursery, I knew immediately that I had to have it!  I was looking for another yellow rose to complement my rose garden and when I saw the deep golden yellow petals, fringed with just a hint of red-orange warmth, I knew instantly that this was the perfect rose for me. I did not have any prior experience with a grandiflora rose, but even in its first growing season this rose out bloomed nearly all my other roses. It bloomed consistently into the fall. Gold Medal has 30 – 35 petals and is a tall plant which grows easily to about 5 feet.   The stems have the advantage of having few thorns and the foliage is deep green and very disease resistant.  In fact this rose was the second most disease resistant plant in my rose garden.  Blossoms are large, produced singly and in clusters and have a light fruity fragrance. They are excellent for cutting. The Sunset book “Roses” describes Gold Medal as having “great vigor and good health”.  “Roses for Dummies” mentions that this rose is “more cold sensitive than most” and advises winter protection.  The ARS gives this rose a rating of 8.5.  It was introduced in 1982.