Two factors conspired to make Gene Boerner arguably the most influencial rose breeder of the twentieth century. The first was his genius as a breeder. He worked hard, produced a lot of new roses, and he took huge risks. Many of these paid off big. The second was that he worked for a company that had more marketing muscle than God. To the extent that this allowed Boerner's introductions to gain traction with the public this was a good thing. To the extent that his stature was so great that it smothered out competing voices it was bad. In any case, Boerner defined America's tastes in roses from the second world war to the end of the century, even though the last rose he bred was introduced by his successor and named in his memory in 1968.

Diamond Jubilee is a hybrid tea rose bred from noisette Marechal Niel. It suggests that rose's gentle and subtle straw-gold color. It has perfect form. Grown in a warm and dry climate the plant is shrubby and it holds its flowers at eye level. In short, it is perfect. But its noisette blood makes it cold tender. And we must assume from its rating that it cannot survive where fungal diseases are found. Fortunately many of the other roses on the list are more durable. Probably Apricot Nectar, Bridal Pink, Coral Dawn, Gene Boerner, Aloha, First Prize, and John F. Kennedy will be grow for as long as humans cultivate roses.