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Breeders of Note:
the Dicksons
by Ed Cunningham
In addition to individuals who have made a mark by breeding roses, there
are also what you might call "dynasties" which breed roses. One such
dynasty is the Dickson family of Northern Ireland. Their website (http://www.dickson-roses.co.uk/)
relates that "The company was founded in 1836 by Alexander I who came
across from Perth, Scotland and set up business in Newtownards, Co. Down.
His son, George I, with the assistance of his two eldest sons, Alexander
II and George II, became fascinated with roses and started breeding around
1879. .......Patrick Dickson started his successful career in 1957, and
introduced many successful varieties. ........(And now) Colin is the sixth
generation to carry on the tradition."
Peter Beales, in his book 'Roses,` wrote that the French dominated rose
breeding in the 1800's, due largely (in his opinion) to the "warm & sunny
climate of southern France." Towards the end of the 1800's, the British
became "fed up with the many French names in their catalogues," and began
to build glass green houses wherein they could aggressively breed their
own roses (and give them proper British names too, no doubt). Among the
very first in this movement was "the firm of Alexander Dickson, of
Newtownards, Northern Ireland." He led the Dickson nursery into breeding
roses (S.Macaboy). Their countrymen, the McGredys of Portadown, began just
a little bit later to breed roses. In 1892, the Dickson firm soon won "the
first ever gold medal to be given to a hybrid tea." ( "Mrs. W. J. Grant" )
They had many successes after that, and won many awards with their hybrid
teas. Unfortunately, they had a fire in their office in 1921, and all
their breeding records prior to 1921 were lost (S.Macaboy).
HTs had been their primary endeavor until the end of WWII, when they began
to also breed floribundas. Beales reports that, by 1985, 17 of the 135
FL's listed by the Royal Rose Society were bred by just Patrick Dickson
alone ! (Almost 15% by 1 breeder, not bad).
Dickson again expanded their interests in the 1970's, doing "pioneer work
in patio roses,"according to "Botanica's Rose Book."
Among their better known roses are Elina, Precious Platinum, Grandpa
Dickson (aka 'Irish Gold`), Shot Silk, Redgold, Red Devil, Tequila
Sunrise, Quaker Star, Laughter Lines, Gypsy Dancer, Fragrant Dream, Red
Planet, Marchioness of Londonderry, Lady Ursula, Harvest Fayre, Anisley
Dickson (aka Dicky ARS 8.7). A number of their roses have been utilized by
many breeders in their programs. Notably, their 'Nana Mouskouri' is a
parent of 'Elina;' and 'Kitchener of Khartoum,' bred in 1917, produced
'Dainty Bess,' 'Charles Mallerin,' and 'Chianti' (utilized by David
Austin) within 3 generations. At the helpmefind.com website, just the
first 3 generations of Kitchener of Khartoum's offspring fill 10 computer
screens !
Elsewhere in "Roses," Beales tells us that one of the "oldest of their
varieties still available today is the beautiful single, 'Irish Elegance,`
raised in 1905." I had occasionally seen photos of this rose; but I never
really liked it. Then when the R.I.R.S. made our trip to the Montreal rose
garden, I happened across a bed of these roses, and was struck by how
beautiful they are, with their peach-gold & salmon petals. The photos I
had seen had never done it justice. Now, I know why ARS rates it at 9.1,
and I am happily growing this HT rose, and its single cousin, also by
Dickson, 'Irish Fireflame.' Interestingly, it is "believed" that the
parentage of Irish Elegance is a species rose (R.Hibernica) by "a hybrid
tea."
S.Macaboy, in his "The Ultimate Rose Book," suggests making a single HT
rose "period bed" of Irish Elegance (1905), Irish Fireflame (1914), Dainty
Bess (1925), and Mrs. Oakley Fisher (1921).
To get a better feel for a breeder as a person, it can be helpful to
observe how the breeder names their roses. The Dicksons, for example, have
used the names of local places in Ireland, and other Irish motif names
("Celtic Honey," "Irish Gold"). They have also used the names of many
people, including nobility. They have utilized "whimsical" and "heuristic
" names such as "Blushing Bride, Space Invader, Pretty in Pink, and
Olympic Triumph." And, as many other breeders, they have also "sold" the
name of a new rose to a company that wants to promote itself. For example,
a producer of disposable baby diapers in Europe paid to have Dickson name
a rose for them in the European market; it would be like naming an
American rose for "Pampers." Thus, the Dickson rose we know as 'Elina,'
Europe knows as 'Peudouce' (I suspect the literal translation is "Little
Sweets;" can you say "euphemism?" Bill Cosby [or was it Robin Williams ?]
was closer to the truth in one of his comedic monologues when he described
the contents of a diaper as a combination of "toxic waste and velcro").
And finally, the Dicksons have also named roses after family members, as
well as other people, and things, which are important to them. One example
is their rose with the unlikely name 'Red Devil,' aka 'Coeur d'Amour.' It
"has been described as the most perfectly shaped big, large flowered rose
that has ever appeared on the show bench" according to the Botanica Rose
book. The Helpmefind site quotes Patrick Dickson's own book, "Red Hybrid
Teas," from back in 1980, "Red Devil ... 75 petals which refuse to open in
damp weather... Nevertheless, it is the principle exhibition variety in
the United Kingdom. " Most sources agree that it is a lighter red,
vigorous, healthy, a good exhibition rose, and has some fragrance. Now,
'Coeur d'Amour' is a name you might expect for a rose, but why 'Red
Devil?' A little research revealed that Patrick Dickson named it after the
logo of his R.A.F. squadron!
Although Dickson's is the oldest rose breeding firm in Britain, they have
not been the most prolific. Neither have they cornered the market on the
most famous roses that have been produced. Nonetheless, they seem to be
good people who have contributed steadily over generations. In just the 17
years from 1983 to 2000 alone, they won 7 "Rose of the Year" awards,
according to their website. What is it they say, "Do what you love, & the
money will follow ?" |
