Poor Bella. This delicious (seriously) variety was one of my best gambles of the 2017 season. And it’s dead.
Like a few of Meilland’s recent introductions, Bella di Todi approaches a “best of both worlds” status — it’s a hybrid tea with a long bud that lasts well when picked, but it also opens up resembling the full, old style bloom that David Austin has done so much to repopularize.
Aside from its extraordinary looks, it turns out that Bella has a scent to match: very strong, of an almost completely pure lemon. Bred by Barni, this import from Tuscany has, as far as I know, only one distributor in the USA, Roses Unlimited, which shipped me a very vigorous example.
Alas, like one of my James Galways the year before, somehow mine contracted the dreaded RRD in its first summer, and had to be put down. This was at the top of my list for replacement, and I already have one on order for mid-April 2018.
Pros:
- Exceptional form and stunning lemon scent
- If mine was representative, the overall shrub was more attractive than many hybrid teas
Cons:
- Mild susceptibility to blackspot
My Source: Roses Unlimited
