The English (roses) are coming!

Recently, when the flower of monarchy, Queen Elizabeth II reached 60 years on the throne, Garden-NZ fittingly featured the origin of the English rose.

This week, as America marks the anniversary of its independence David Austin Roses (UK) proves loyalty has its benefits by offering a ‘Commonwealth’ of beautiful blooms as a gift from mother England:

Michael Marriott from David Austin roses writes:

Four new varieties of David Austin’s English Roses will be introduced into New Zealand this year each with its own distinct character. They were introduced in the UK in 2007 and while we trial all of  new introductions for eight years, it is not until we hears reports back from other gardeners around the world, that we know what they are really like.

Since introduction, these four have all proved to be excellent and should have a great future especially in the wonderful rose growing climate of New Zealand. 

Munstead Wood (Ausbernard)

Good red roses are notoriously difficult to breed. Trying to combine the wonderful fragrance that one expects in a red rose with an attractively-shaped shrub, with good health, is difficult. Munstead Wood, however, goes a long way to achieving that ideal. The buds start off a light crimson which gradually open to reveal very deep velvety crimson blooms which are full, the very many petals beautifully arranged.

The growth is healthy and quite bushy, forming a broad shrub about one metre tall by a little less across which, even in the warmer areas, are not expected to grow much bigger. When not in flower, it is still attractive, the young leaves being a wonderful shade of bronze-red, later turning to dark green. The fragrance is quite glorious, a strong old rose fragrance which our fragrance expert, Robert Calkin, assesses it as ‘warm and fruity with blackberry, blueberry and damson notes’. Altogether an excellent rose.

Princess Alexandra of Kent (Ausmerchant)

We were honoured to name this rose for Princess Alexandra, cousin to the Queen. The flowers are particularly magnificent being very large and of a warm, glowing pink. They are full petalled and deeply cupped, the ring of soft pink outer petals enclosing the warm, pink inner petals.

In spite of their size, they are never clumsy, being held nicely poised on a well-rounded shrub about one metre tall and across. While a single one planted on its own would look very good, three together in a tight group would look even better, helping to keep flowers and growth nicely balanced. It has a delicious fresh tea fragrance which changes to lemon with age and eventually takes on hints of blackcurrants. It won the fragrance award at the Glasgow Trials in 2009.

Claire Austin (Ausprior)

There is something a little special about white roses – they are all purity and light. However, white roses are rather like red roses in that it is difficult to combine health and fragrance. This has certainly been achieved in Claire Austin.

The half open flowers are a pale lemon yellow and pleasingly cupped. They gradually open to form large, creamy-white flowers of wonderful delicacy; their petals perfectly arranged in concentric circles, with a few more loosely arranged in the centre.

They have a strong myrrh fragrance with dashes of meadowsweet, vanilla and heliotrope. It forms an elegant, arching shrub but is perhaps even better as a climber. A strong and particularly healthy variety, it will quite easily reach 1.5 metres in height as a shrub and, as a climber, 2.5 metres.

Skylark (Ausimple)

David Austin is always very keen to introduce roses with single or semi-double flowers and Skylark has proved to be one of the best. It has semi-double flowers of open, cupped shape with prominent stamens. The colour is deep pink at first, later paling slightly to lilac-pink with a white centre.

There is a light but pleasing musky tea fragrance with hints of clove – in fact apple pie! The growth is light and airy, building up into a well-rounded shrub. It is compact, reaching a height of about one metre and will make an ideal choice for the front of a border amongst other roses, shrubs, perennials, biennials and annuals.  

David Austin’s English Roses are wonderfully versatile plants that can be used in so many different ways. In particular, they look superb in a classic rose garden. Care should be taken though to choose varieties that are not too vigorous and informal otherwise they can seem out of place. Of the new varieties, all, except for Claire Austin, would be perfect in more formal gardens although this rose could still be planted as a climber for an obelisk or arch.

In more informal borders, English roses are particularly valuable as most have a naturally informal habit with spreading or arching growth. The border can be purely roses or mixed in with other plants – perennials, biennials, annuals and flowering shrubs are all suitable bed fellows.

The association of the roses with other plants can look absolutely superb, especially if carefully selected to flower all at the same time – a better option than trying to spread the flowering over too long a period. Mixing them up with other plants is a great way to encourage healthier roses. Not only do they attract beneficial insects, the range of plants helps to confuse the pests so that they find it more difficult to home in on their host. All these new varieties will be perfect for borders.

We have been absolutely delighted how well many English roses do as climbers. They are not too vigorous making them perfect for arches, obelisks, walls, fences and trellises. They have the natural ability to flower low down and so, effectively, have blooms from ground level upwards. They produce many basal shoots which can be fanned out to encourage even more flowers. Claire Austin is proving to be most promising as a climber.

Quite a few people are growing roses in pots these days; they are perfect for patios or balconies. The smaller English roses are very good with their beautiful flowers and their strong fragrances. Just be sure to water and feed them well. Both Munstead Wood and Princess Alexandra of Kent would be superb.            

And of course there is nothing quite like cutting your own roses and bringing them into the house. English roses are ideal with their more natural growth and wonderful fragrances.

Contributed by David Austin Roses, courtesy of the New Zealand Rose Society.