Photo: © Lens Roses (Belgium)

Hybrid Musk; cluster-flowered; a 'child' of Heavenly PinkAnn Velle; Lens Roses, 2009Pink

Dinky

Saturated fuchsia-pink that does NOT fade; small flowers in huge sprays (up to ~180!); completely thornless; very healthy foliage (5/5); 🇧🇪 Belgian school of Lens Hybrid Musks.

THORNLESS · huge pyramidal clusters of up to ~180 flowers

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat, in flushes

Repeat-flowering; starts later than most roses (late June to July), with a second wave in September to October. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Legacy

× Heavenly Pink

Hybrid Musks from the house of Lens

Plant size

100–125 cm

Habit: Upright bush with arching, slightly drooping shoots
Dimensions: 100–125 cm tall: a compact bush, spreading across the width with its flower sprays
Support: Not needed as a bush; can be trained on an obelisk or pyramid, or as a standard
Shoots: Long, flexible
Branching: Long, flexible shoots that carry the huge sprays

Flower

≈ 3 cm

17–25 petals.

Bud shape: Small, fuchsia-pink
Open flower: Small cupped flowers in clusters, gathered into huge pyramidal sprays of up to ~180 flowers
Centre: Dense, double
Fullness: Double, 17–25 petals
Flower carriage: In huge pyramidal sprays on long, flexible shoots

Fragrance

Barely noticeable

Barely noticeable (from 'no scent' according to Lens to 'mild' according to HelpMeFind).

Disease resistance

5 out of 5

5/5: Lens stresses 'very healthy foliage'; tolerates rain well.

Sun

Even on poorer soil

Rain-resistant.

Thorns

Thornless

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Completely thornless (spikeless); the official Lens description.

Foliage

Large, semi-glossy, medium green, very healthy.

All characteristics in a table

Group: Hybrid Musk; cluster-flowered; a 'child' of Heavenly Pink
Breeder: Ann Velle; Lens Roses, Belgium, 2009
Bud shape: Small, fuchsia-pink
Open flower: Small cupped flowers in clusters, gathered into huge pyramidal sprays of up to ~180 flowers
Centre: Dense, double
Colour: Rich fuchsia-pink / purple-magenta; very resistant to fading, it barely pales
Fullness: Double, 17–25 petals
Flower carriage: In huge pyramidal sprays on long, flexible shoots
Flowering: Repeat-flowering; starts later than most roses (late June to July), with a second wave in September to October
Fragrance: Barely noticeable (from 'no scent' according to Lens to 'mild' according to HelpMeFind)
Hips: Not recorded
Habit: Upright bush with arching, slightly drooping shoots
Branching: Long, flexible shoots that carry the huge sprays
Shoots: Long, flexible
Thorns: Completely thornless (spikeless); the official Lens description.
Dimensions: 100–125 cm tall: a compact bush, spreading across the width with its flower sprays
Support: Not needed as a bush; can be trained on an obelisk or pyramid, or as a standard
Foliage: Large, semi-glossy, medium green, very healthy
Resistance: 5/5: Lens stresses 'very healthy foliage'; tolerates rain well
Variations of the variety: Code VELheav. Parentage: Heavenly Pink × unknown pollen parent. Breeder: Ann Velle-Boudolf. Bred in 2002; on sale from 2009

Colour scheme

Rich fuchsia-pink / purple-magenta; very resistant to fading, it barely pales

Rose neighbours

Heavenly Pinksoft pink

Sweet Lagunadeep pink

Corneliacoral-pink

Icebergpure white · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Lavenderlavender

Catmint (Nepeta)blue-lilac

Silver-leaved lamb's earsilvery greenery

Lady's mantlelime-greenSilver-leaved lamb's ear

Neighbouring roses

The Lens Hybrid Musk family — light flowers in large clusters:

Heavenly Pink Sweet Laguna Cornelia Iceberg

Perennial companions

Silver foliage and lilac perennials — a contrast to fuchsia:

lavendercatmint (Nepeta)silver-leaved lamb's earlady's mantle

Why it's easy

⭐ Undemanding and versatile:

🌵 completely thornless — easy to care for🌿 very healthy foliage · rain-resistant✂️ good for cutting · lasts well in water🪴 specimen · container · obelisk · standard

More about the variety

Hips: Not recorded
Variations of the variety: Code VELheav. Parentage: Heavenly Pink × unknown pollen parent. Breeder: Ann Velle-Boudolf. Bred in 2002; on sale from 2009

How to grow

Where to plant. Thanks to being thornless and having healthy foliage, it is a pleasure in a mixed border, as a specimen, in a container, on an obelisk or pyramid, or as a standard; also a good cut rose.

Climate. USDA 7b and warmer; in the colder winters of Ukraine it overwinters with light protection of the base.

Care. A sunny spot (it grows even on poorer soil); mulching, moderate watering, sanitary pruning in spring. Care is minimal: no thorns and very healthy.

About the name

Name. 'Dinky' (English) means 'tiny, dainty, neat', a hint at the small flowers gathered into enormous sprays.

Breeding. Raised by Ann Velle-Boudolf at the Lens Roses nursery (Belgium), code VELheav; bred in 2002, on sale from 2009. Parentage: Heavenly Pink × an unknown pollen parent; a direct descendant of the well-known Lens Hybrid Musk. The Lens house is a leading European school of Hybrid Musks (Guirlande d'Amour, Heavenly Pink, Pink Ballerina).

Significance. An example of a modern Hybrid Musk: undemanding, completely thornless, with exceptional health and a fuchsia colour that does not fade. Huge pyramidal sprays (up to ~180 flowers) make the bush a spectacular 'bouquet' throughout the second season.

Frequently asked questions about Dinky

How many times a season does Dinky flower?

Repeat-flowering; starts later than most roses (late June to July), with a second wave in September to October.

How big does Dinky grow?

100–125 cm tall.

Which diseases affect Dinky?

Overall resistance: 5 out of 5. Very healthy foliage (Lens).

How much sun does Dinky need?

Sun; even on poorer soil; rain-resistant.

What does Dinky smell like?