I want attractive, colorful, strongly fragrant roses on a bush that is attractive, upright or filled out that is disease resistant and with attractive leaves. To top it off, I'm looking for roses that work as cut flowers that endure for several days.
I have a whole ranking approach I like to share, but with Fragrant Cloud I'm going to take a different approach.
I waited a year for Heirloom to get this one back in stock. Why? Because I've owned it once before.
I've owned over 35 rose varieties, all of which are international award winners for form, color, and fragrances, etc. I'm an amateur hobbyist with roses.
Fragrant Cloud has a wonderful and strong scent.
but what sells this rose...
I had a rose garden with about a dozen gorgeous rose varieties. Graham Thomas in a 5' healthy bush with glorious golden roses covering it. Double Delight with 7 or 8 amazing colorful roses on it. Jude the obscure with half a dozen glorious roses on it...I had a white rose against the shed and Abraham Darby and Peace roses. and a handful of other colorful roses, All from Heirloom and all in bloom.
I share this to say, that I had one struggling Fragrant Cloud, with only ONE rose in full bloom.
It was literally the POP of color that dwarfed the entire garden with all of the glorious roses...
One rose, alone, in the crowd of my other beautiful, amazing roses.
Eye catching does not fully describe this rose, when it is in its full glory. The color is incredible.
The above picture is close, but when the sun catches the rose in the morning light, there is NOTHING ELSE like it.
in my experience, this rose is NOT for beginners.
But there is no other rose I've ever seen that is quite as 'bright' and gloriously beautiful as this rose, when in bloom.
YMMV
I love this rose.