This is the hybrid tea rose Chrysler Imperial (yes, it was named after the car).  This rose has won just about all of the awards available, including one for its magnificent, true-rose (damask) fragrance.  The photo does not do its velvety crimson justice.  I tried again in the spring of 1998, but once again the film wasn't up to the task.

In 1999, Chrysler Imperial was the third rose to bloom.  With the new digital camera, the color and texture shown in the following photo are much closer to reality.  As ever, the scent is overwhelming.

Chrysler Imperial is finishing off 1999 with a final, beautiful flush.

The first Chrysler Imperial blossom has opened in 2000.

It's early June, and Chrysler Imperial is already into its second flush!

Chrysler Imperial has bloomed early this year, in mid-May 2001.  It has opened three large blossoms, with their overwhelming damask fragrance.  The digital camera, while better than just about anything else I've tried, is still not quite up to the task of capturing all of the subtleties of crimson that this rose displays.

Chrysler Imperial has joined the other roses in their 2002 bloom in the third week of May.

It's the beginning of June, 2003, and Chrysler Imperial has put forth its first exquisite blossom.

I was under the impression that Chrysler Imperial had succumbed to the brutal winter of 2003-2004.  However, I cleared away overgrowth from the neighboring forsythia and found that while all of the old growth had died, new growth has come up from the bud union and it's getting ready to bloom.  This was a most welcome surprise!

I only thought the previous winter was bad.  The winter of 2004-2005 was worse.  Though there was some growth, not a flower was to be seen.  The winter of 2005-2006, though mild, coupled with being totally overgrown and shaded by the forsythia, sadly put an end to Chrysler Imperial.

Last Updated: 03 Mar 2023

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