Rose Charles Austin

Used to be a very popular rose when it was introduced in the early years of the English Roses. ‘Charles Austin’ produces charming, fine, very large blooms. The blooms are cup-shaped rosette and of varying shades of apricot, later fading to blush apricot-pink. The flowers have a strong fresh-fruit fragrance. Note that this variety requires pruning to at least half its height if it is not to become too tall and ungainly. Has a pleasant, reddish, very large and healthy foliage. It will thrive under any reasonable conditions.

DESCRIPTION
This variety does not always repeat-flower well, but timely deadheading will guarantee repeat flowering in autumn.

The number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, there are too many to count.

Blooms are about 2.6 cm (1") long and 2 cm (0.8") in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is pointed ovoid. When sepals first divide the bud color is red, later turning to tangerine-orange on the upper side, orange-yellow in the lower side and pure orange in the central area.

When fully open the flowers are 8.7cm (3.4") in average, borne together in rounded clusters of 4 – 7 blooms. When first open the flowers have cupped form which is retained to the end.

Petals count under normal conditions is 70 in average. The upper sides of the petals are tangerine-orange and yellow-orange. The reverse sides of the petals are yellow-orange. The base of each petal is golden-yellow. The undersides of some of the very outer petals have reddish markings, which are normally concentrated in the central portion of the petal and spread outwards. As the flower ages the color fade and becomes more lighter, orange-peach-yellow.

The flowers have strong, delicious, fruity fragrance with hints of pear, grape and citrus fruits.

Petals have smooth, silky texture, they fall of cleanly when the flower fades.

The plant growth type is fairly upright but quite broad and bushy. Young leaves are bronze-green and age to much lighter green colour with bronze shades, semi-glossy, normally have 5-7 leaflets.

The number of spines on the main shoots and on the side from the main shoots is small. The bark is smooth.

This rose has also one yellow sport, ‘Yellow Charles Austin’, introduced in 1981.

The variety showed excellent resistance to mildew, blackspot, botrytis and rust under normal growing conditions. Pest resistance not tested.

Has good winter hardiness, proved to be hardy in climate zones 5 - 9.

Named after the father of Sir David Austin.

English Shrub Rose

‘Charles Austin’ variety originated from a controlled crossing in a breeding program of two distinct parents. The crossing was made a seed parent rose ‘Chaucer’ by David Austin, 1970 and ‘Aloha’ a modern climbing rose by Boerner 1949.

Growth type of ‘Charles Austin’ shows strong influence of ‘Aloha’.

USDA zone 5 and warmer