Rose Capability

A striking and bold rose, ‘Capability’ captivates with its intense fuchsia-pink blooms and exquisite fragrance. The flowers are perfectly cupped, opening gracefully within three to four days from bud. The outer petals reflex elegantly, creating a lovely frame for the flawless circle of inner petals, which encase golden stamens at the center. The blooms are evenly shaded with an intense, hot pink that commands attention in any setting. The scent of ‘Capability’ is one of its most remarkable qualities, offering a rich and enchanting Fruity perfume with delightful rose and citrus undertones.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Throughout this description of the rose variety 'Capability' is provided with color descriptions using terminology of the The Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society (2001), except where common terms of color definition are employed. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWERING

This rose variety has a continuous flowering habit, as this rose variety is suitable for cut flower production under greenhouse conditions. In greenhouse conditions, it is able to bloom all year round. The number of blooms per plant of this rose variety during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.

Flower bud:

The flower buds of 'Capability' rose variety are medium sized, about 2.8 cm long and 2.8 cm in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is pointed globular. When the sepals first divide, the bud color is dark purple red (Group 59A). When half open, the upper sides of the petals are medium purple red (Group 61C) and the lower sides of the petals are medium blue pink (Group 62B).

Calyx is star-shaped when fully opened with the sepals folding back, the length is about 8 - 8.5 cm and the diameter is 8 - 8.5 cm.

The sepals have a length of about 3.5 cm and a width of 0.9-1.1 cm. The shape of the sepals is lanceolate, the surface texture is slightly downy on the upper surface and smooth on the lower surface. The colour on the upper surface is medium green (Group 144A) and on the lower surface is medium green (Group 144A). There are 3 lightly appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacle is medium green (Group 143C), funnel shaped and has a smooth surface. The size of the receptacle is medium, about 1 cm long and about 1 cm in diameter.

The peduncle is long, averaging to about 11 cm in length, of a normal strength and has a prickly surface. The colour of the peduncle is medium green (Group 143C) suffused with dark brown purple (Group 183B).

Bloom:

The flowers are very large, the average diameter of the open flower is about 11 cm. When first open, the flower form is cupped, the flower form persists until the end, outer petals curl back. Flowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 100 on average. They are born singly or in small rounded clusters, of 1 to 4 blooms together. The flowering stem has normal strength, of about 85 cm long.

When first open the colour of the upper sides of the petals is medium purple red (Group N66B) and the reverse sides of the petals are medium blue pink (Group N66D). The base of the petals has grayish white colour (Group N155A). Under normal growing conditions the variegation is not observed on the flowers of this rose variety.

The general tonality at the end of the first day is medium purple red (Group N66A), at the end of the third day the general tonality becomes slightly lighter, medium purple red (Group N66B).

Petals:

The texture of the petals is velvety and the surface is smooth; the shape of the petals is obovate, the margins moderately reflexing with weak incisions. The apex is rounded and the base of the petals is acuminate, and the petals form is slightly incurved, with some petals folded. Average length of the petals is about 6 cm and the width is about 3.5 cm. The arrangement of the petals is regular.

Normally there are few petaloids present in the center of the flowers, 8-10 on average. Petaloids have medium purple red colour (Group N66B), they are about 8-25 mm long and 7-18 mm wide.

The petals of this rose variety normally hang on and dry, therefore regular deadheading is required to keep the plants healthy and tidy. Under normal climate conditions the petals last fairly long, on the plant they last for about 7 - 8 days, as well as cut flowers they last for about 10 days.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of the rose 'Capability' is strong, fruity, with undertones of Old rose and citrus.

Reproductive parts:

The number of stamens is 4-10 on average per flower, the length is about 10 mm, they are mixed with petaloids.

The anthers have a length of about 2 mm and grey colour (Group N155A).

The colour of the filaments is grey (Group N155A), their length is 7 mm on average.

The pollen is medium yellow orange (Group 21B).

The number of pistils is 30 on average, they are about 9-12 mm long.

The colour of the styles is grey (Group N155A) and they are about 7-10 mm long.

Stigma are about 1 mm long and are light yellow green (Group 1C).

The hips of this rose variety have not been observed yet.

PLANT

The rose variety 'Capability' is classified as a Shrub rose. The growth character is vigorous, upright, slightly outwardly. It establishes rather quickly and reaches maturity when 2 years old. Mature and well-established plant has a height of about 110 cm and a width of about 50 cm.

The variety is bred for cut flower production in a greenhouse environment therefore in garden conditions is susceptible to common rose diseases. ‘Capability’ rose is a part of David Austin’s Wedding and Event Roses collection.

‘Capability’ shines as a leading feature in borders or mixed plantings. It pairs beautifully with softer shades of pink or complements cooler tones like lilac and heather, injecting vibrancy and drama into the garden. The perfectly formed blooms also make excellent cut flowers, bringing their radiant color and intoxicating fragrance indoors. With its dramatic color, flawless blooms, and captivating scent, ‘Capability’ is the perfect choice for gardeners looking to add boldness and elegance to their collection.

Foliage:

There is a normal quantity of the foliage on the plants of this rose variety. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves varies from 5 mostly to 3 on some 3, including terminal leaflet. The average flowering stem has about 10 leaves. The foliage is large, about 19 cm long and about 15 cm wide.

The colour of the juvenile foliage on the upper side is medium green (Group 144A) while the lower side is medium brown green (Group 146D) with dark purple veins (Group 61A). The mature foliage on the upper side is dark brown green (Group 147A) and on the lower side is medium brown green (Group 147B).

Leaflets:

The size of the leaflets is large, they are about 7 cm long and are about 5 cm wide. The shape of the leaflets is ovate, the shape of the leaflet tip is acuminate and the base shape is rounded. The surface texture of the leaflets is leathery, semi-glossy. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is single and medium.

The petiole has dark brown green colour (Group 146A), is about 5 cm long and 2 mm in diameter, and has a glandular surface texture.

The petiole rachis is dark brown green (Group 146A), the surface is glandular with prickles on the underside.

The auricle is lanceolate, has a length of about 1.2 cm and about 2.5 mm wide. The colour of the auricle is dark brown green (Group 146A).

The stipules are 3 cm long, have a glandular surface and dark brown green colour (Group 146A).

The veins have dark brown green (Group 147A), the venation pattern is reticulate.

Wood:

The new wood of this rose variety has medium green colour (Group 144A), the bark is smooth. The mature wood is medium green (Group 144A) with some medium brown purple intonations (Group 182A), the bark is rough.

Stems:

All stems come from the base with a flower cluster at the top on average, they have a length of about 85 cm and the diameter is 6 mm on average. The mature stem has an average length of about 85 cm and the diameter of 6 mm, the internode distance is 9 cm. The stem pubescence is not observed on the stems of this rose variety. The above measurements are all variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.

Prickles:

There are none prickles present on the main canes from base. On the laterals from the main canes there are a few prickles. The shape of the prickles is pyramidal. The colour of the young and of the mature prickles is brown red (Group 178B).

Small prickles:

There are few small prickles on the canes and on the laterals from the main canes of this rose, about 2-3 per 20 cm of the stem length. The colour of the mature small prickles is also brown red (Group 178B).

Disease resistance:

The rose variety 'Capability 'is disease resistant, particularly to mildew, blackspot and rust in greenhouse conditions, with on average day temperature maintained at 17.5 degrees C. In the garden conditions it is somewhat susceptible to black spot and mildew. The pest resistance has not been tested yet, but it noted that it is heavily affected by thrips.

The cold hardiness is rather weak, it is not well suited for cold winters, however it is recorded that it can withstand winter in the garden in climates similar to USDA 7 and warmer.

Unfortunately we do not have information about the origin of the name of this rose.

Wedding and Event Roses collection

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Ausapply’ / 'Capability' originated by David Austin by crossing an unnamed, unpatented seedling with an unnamed, unpatented seedling of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The primary objective of this rose variety breeding was to create a new rose variety suitable for cut-flower production with large flowers having around 100 petals and having an intense deep pink color.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The objective was achieved, along with other important improvements, and this rose variety incorporated the following unique combination of characteristics:

 large blooms with around 100 petals ;

 even and intense shade of deep pink;

Asexual reproduction of this variety by budding showed that the foregoing and all other characteristics and distinctions came true to form, established and transmitted through the succeeding propagations.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The ‘Ausapply’ / ‘Capability’ may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the following combination of characteristics:

 the seed parent is of a paler pink color with a smaller, more cupped bloom compared to ‘Ausapply’ / ‘Capability’.

The ‘Ausapply’ / ‘Capability’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent by the following combination of characteristics:

 The pollen parent has a Hybrid Tea bloom formed flowers of a brighter pink and no fragrance while ‘Ausapply’ / ‘Capability’ has cupped flowers with strong Fruity fragrance.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The most similar rose cultivar to the ‘Ausapply’ / ‘Capability’ is ‘Auschris’ / ‘Kate’ and they may be distinguished by the following combination of characteristics:

 the ‘Ausapply’ / ‘Capability’ may be distinguished from the ‘Auschris’ / ‘Kate’ based on the number of petals, which are far fewer in number - around 65 petals.

 It may also be distinguished by the fact that the ‘Auschris’ / ‘Kate’ bloom has a darker pink and the petals are of a uniform color on both sides, whereas the petals of ‘Ausapply’ / ‘Capability’ are slightly paler on the reverse.

  Finally, the base petals of ‘Auschris’ / ‘Kate’ have a yellow spot, whereas the ‘Ausapply’ / ‘Capability’ has a white spot.

USDA 7