Rose Canterbury

‘Canterbury’ is one of the earliest English Roses developed by David Austin, introduced in 1969. The petals are soft rose pink, with a warm hint of peach or yellow at the base and paler backs, creating a glowing, translucent effect in sunlight. Their silky, slightly wavy texture adds to the romantic, historical character. At the center, a prominent cluster of golden stamens adds contrast and vintage appeal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

‘Canterbury’ is a rose of quiet charm. The blooms are large, semi-double, and expanded, almost flat, typically around 14 - 15 cm (5.5 - 6 inches) in diameter, giving the impression of a classic single rose. Though the fragrance is rather light to medium, it is sweet and pleasant, sometimes described as warm or musky, and compliments the old-fashioned simplicity of the flower.

The growth character of ‘Canterbury’ rose is low, open, and spreading, often appearing somewhat lax in its early years. It takes a few years for this rose variety to establish, it is quite a slow growing rose, but for that it rewards patience with the abundance of charming flowers. A mature and well-established plant has a height of about 75 - 150 cm and the width of about 75 cm - 150 cm, it grows as a smaller shrub in colder climates and able to grow into a pretty large shrub in warm climates.

Young shrubs may require light support at first, especially as the long, slender stems can struggle to hold the very large blooms. Over time, however, it forms a softly rounded bush with dark green foliage, sometimes sparse but generally healthy. New growth is tinted with red, and foliage often has 7 leaflets, reminiscent of Hybrid Tea ancestry.

Though not the most vigorous of Austin’s roses, ‘Canterbury’ blooms reliably in flushes throughout the season, particularly if regularly fed and grown in a sheltered, sunny position. It benefits greatly from deadheading, as the flowers do not drop cleanly and can look untidy when left to fade.

Mildew and rust may occasionally appear, so air circulation and preventative care are advised.

This variety is especially prized by those who appreciate historic or semi-wild garden aesthetics. Its soft structure and old-fashioned bloom form pair beautifully with heavier English Roses and perennials in mixed plantings.

Named after the medieval English city of Canterbury, famous for its cathedral and as the setting for The Canterbury Tales, this rose is both a tribute to history and a showcase of early Austin breeding.

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Canterbury' originated by David Austin by crossing female parent (seed parent) an unnamed and unpatented seedling (which is a result of cross pollination of two roses: a seed parent rose variety ‘Monique’ with the pollen parent - English rose ‘Constance Spry’) with the male parent (pollen parent) - an unnamed and unpatented rose seedling.

Therefore the parentage of this rose can be expressed with the formula:

 [‘Monique’ x ‘Constance Spry’] x unnamed seedling.

USDA 6