Rose Charity

’Charity’ is almost extinct David Austin’s rose, with warm saffron-yellow shallow cupped flowers surrounded by large, white outer petals that protect a dense center of smaller, quill-shaped petals. At first petals display a rich fawn yellow or butterscotch tone, slightly darker on the reverse, gradually fading from the outer edges over time. The flowers have a delightful, strong myrrh fragrance and lighter undertones of lilac and mimosa. This rose grows in a sturdy, upright form, though it may occasionally show some susceptibility to blackspot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Throughout this description of the rose variety 'Charity' is provided with color descriptions using terminology of the The Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, 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 recurrent flowering habit. Blooms in flushes with short breaks from summer until frosts. The number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.

Flower bud:

The flower buds of 'Charity' rose variety are medium sized, about 2.5 - 3.1 cm long and 2.5 cm in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is pointed ovoid. When the sepals first divide, the bud color is medium orange (Group 26B). When half open, the outer petals on upper sides are light yellow orange (Group 158C) on their outer portion then the color shading with light yellow orange (Group 18D) on the lower portion, and the inner petals on their upper sides are yellow orange (Group 18D). The lower sides of the petals are light yellow orange (Group 19D) on the outer petals and medium yellow orange (Group 22C) with light yellow orange (Group 19D) on the inner petals. As the sepals begin to unfold, the outer petals are irregularly mottled with a red coloration approaching to orange red (Group 31A).

The sepals have a length of about 2.5 cm and a width of 0.8 cm. The shape of the sepals is lanceolate, the surface texture is hairy on the upper surface and slightly waxy and prickly on the lower surface. The colour on the upper surface is light green (Group 144B). There are 3 lightly appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacle is light green (Group 144B), pear shaped and has a smooth surface. The size of the receptacle is small, about 1 cm long and about 0.6 cm in diameter.

The peduncle is medium averaging to about 3 - 5 cm in length, erect and has a prickly surface. The colour of the peduncle is light green (Group 144B) on the upper part with dark brown purple (Group 183B) on the lower part.

Bloom:

The flowers are large, the average diameter of the open flower is about 7.5 - 9 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 90. They are born in small clusters of 3 - 7 blooms having pyramidal shape. The flowering stem has normal strength, about 25 - 75 cm long.

The colour of the flower from the upper sides of the petals is medium yellow (Group 8B) while the outermost petals are light yellow (Group 4D). The reverse sides of the petals are light yellow (Group 11B). The base of the petals is medium yellow (Group 3B). 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 yellow (Group 8B), at the end of the third day the colour fades to light yellow orange (Group 11D).

Petals:

The texture of the petals is leathery and the surface is smooth; the shape of the petals is deltoid. The petals form is moderately quilled towards the center and the arrangement of the petals is imbricated.

Normally there are few petaloids present in the center of the flowers, 7 on average, they are small and located in the center, having medium yellow colour (Group 8A).

The petals of this rose variety normally hang on and dry. Under normal climate conditions the petals last fairly long, on the plant they last for about 5 days, and their lasting qualities as a cut flower have not been tested.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of the rose 'Charity' is moderately strong, of a Tea character with hints of myrrh and lighter undertones of lilac and mimosa.

Reproductive parts:

The number of stamens is few and they are partly tucked in calyx.

The anthers are medium-sized and have yellow orange colour (Group 17B).

The colour of the filaments is medium yellow orange (Group 13B).

The pollen is dark yellow (Group 15A).

The colour of the styles is light green (Group 145C).

Stigma are medium yellow (Group 9A).

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

PLANT

The rose variety 'Charity' is classified as a Shrub rose. The growth character is moderately vigorous, upright and bushy. Mature and well-established plant has a height of about 90 - 110 cm and the width of about 75 - 90 cm.

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 7. The foliage is large sized, about 12.7 - 20 cm long and about 8.8 - 13.5 cm wide.

The colour of the juvenile foliage on the upper side is medium green (Group 144A) overlaid with dark purple red (Group 60A) which disappears fairly quickly, while the lower side is dark brown green (Group 146B). The mature foliage on the upper side is medium brown green (Group 137C) and on the lower side is medium brown green (Group 137C).

Leaflets:

The leaflets are large, have a pointed oval shape. The surface texture of the leaflets is leathery, semi-glossy. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is single and small.

The petiole has light green colour (Group 144B), is smooth with a few small thorns and bristles. The petiole rachis is light green (Group 144B).

The stipules are 1.3 - 1.8 cm long, have a smooth with a few small thorns and bristles on the underside surface and light green colour (Group 144B). The veins have light green colour (Group 144B), the venation pattern is reticulate.

Wood:

The new wood of this rose variety has medium green colour (Group 143B) suffused with dark brown purple (Group 183A), the bark is smooth. The mature wood is medium green (Group 143A) and has a smooth bark.

Prickles:

There are ordinary prickles present on the main canes from base. On the laterals from main canes there are few prickles. They are usually located mainly on the lower end of the stem, although there are some higher up. The shape of the prickles is hooked downward, the length is about 4 - 5 mm. The colour of the young prickles is similar to medium brown purple (Group 185B) , but brighter; the mature prickles have medium yellow brown colour (Group 164C).

Small prickles:

There are few small prickles on the main canes of this rose, and on the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety there are no prickles observed.

Disease resistance:

The rose variety 'Charity' has moderately good resistance to most common rose diseases, but often is susceptible to black spot. The pest resistance has not been tested yet.

Rose variety is recommended for growing in climate conditions similar to USDA 6 and requires winter protection in more colder climates.

Charity takes its name from the National Gardens Scheme, the leading charitable foundation in England and Wales for public gardens. It was founded in 1927 with the aim of "opening gardens of quality, character and interest to the public for charity".

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Auschar’ / 'Charity' originated by David Austin by crossing the variety ‘Ausmas’ / ‘Graham Thomas’ with the unnamed, unpatented seedling.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The primary objective of this rose variety breeding was to create a new rose variety strong growing, disease resistant plant with yellow, old-fashioned shaped, fragrant blooms which repeat well throughout the season.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

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

 Very full, apricot-yellow flowers;

 Bushy growth habit;

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 ‘Auschar’ / ‘Charity’ may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the following combination of characteristics:

 The seed parent ‘Ausmas’ / ‘Graham Thomas’ has a large, upright growth habit and bears rich cupped yellow flowers with fewer petals while ‘Auschar’ / ‘Charity’ has much smaller plant and fuller rich fawn yellow or butterscotch flowers.

The characteristics of the pollen parent are not disclosed.

USDA 5