Rose Constance Spry

‘Constance Spry’ was David Austin’s very first cultivar introduced to the market and the parent of countless modern hybrids and of many subsequent English Roses. It caused interest in English Roses from the moment it was introduced by Graham Thomas in 1961 through Sunningdale Nurseries. This rose fused antique charm of Old roses with vigour and health of modern hybrids, combining exceptional stature of the plant with unique fragrance. It flowers only once per season, but the abundance, size and longevity of the blooms make the wait entirely worthwhile.

FLOWERING

The rose variety ‘Constance Spry’ is once flowering, but the number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.

The flower buds are large and have a flat and globular shape, the colour is pink with creamy yellow at the base. The flowers are large or very large, among the largest of any Old rose type, the average diameter of the open flower is about 12 - 13 cm (~ 5 in). When opening, the flower form is old-fashioned and globular, recalling the cabbagelike roses of 17-century Dutch paintings. As the flower opens they expand into deeply cupped chalices that never fully flatten.

Flowers are very full and they appear singly or in clusters of up to 6 (most often 3) blooms together, creating a spectacular curtain of blossom for two to three weeks in early summer. The colour is luminous, clear shell-pink that is paler on the outer petals and slightly warmer in the centre.

The fragrance of the flowers is powerful, of a sweet myrrh character, virtually unknown in modern roses before her arrival and now a hallmark in many of her descendants.

PLANT

Rose variety ‘Constance Spry’ is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. Has vigorous, powerful and slightly uncontrolled growth habit. The canes of this rose variety are long, lax and slender, studded with small red prickles and are best displayed when tied to a support or fan-trained on a wall or fence. The mature and well-established plants typically reach the height of about 250 - 400 cm (8 - 15 ft ) in height and a width about 125 - 150 cm (4 - 5 ft) and can be grown both as a free-standing shrub or in warm climates as a climber when trained as such.

Its supple canes respond well to gentle arching or circular training, which encourages lateral flowering shoots and maximises the floral show. This is a rather large rose and requires a lot of space, therefore allowing plenty of elbow-room in a mixed border or using three plants together for a billowing hedge. Its thick, long-lasting petals and magnificent flower size make it an unforgettable addition to early-summer arrangements.

There is a normal quantity of the foliage on the plants of this rose variety. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is normally 5, including the terminal leaflet. The foliage is large, matte mid-green (bronzed when young), folding slightly along the mid-rib. The foliage has an attractive appearance but is prone to late-season mildew or blackspot if airflow is poor.

‘Constance Spry’ prefers full sun to very light shade; choose an open position where the plant can sprawl or be trained without crowding neighbours. When grown as a shrub, shorten just one third of the oldest canes after flowering to control size while preserving next year’s buds. And when grown as a climber, tie new shoots horizontally; remove only dead, damaged or congested growth in late winter. Otherwise it will be happy when providing normal rose care, deep, infrequent watering encourages strong, arching canes.

Disease resistance of ‘Constance Spry’ is rather good, in dry and warm climates it withstands well to all most common roses pathogens. Mildew and black spot can be an issue in colder and wet climates later in the season, therefore providing a good air circulation and promptly clearing of the fallen leaves will be beneficial to prevent the diseases. The resistance to botrytis and rust under normal growing conditions is good. 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. The variety is reliably winter-hardy, especially on its own roots, where it will form a modest suckering thicket.

Named for the celebrated British flower arranger, 1886 – 1960. Constance Spry was a pioneer in flower arrangement and one of the first collectors of Old Roses in the early part of the twentieth century.

English Climbing Roses

Modern Shrub Rose, Rose Society of Tucson Show, 1999.

Award of Garden Merit (RHS/RNRS), 2000.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety 'Constance Spry' originated by David Austin by crossing female parent (seed parent) Gallica rose ‘Belle Isis’ with the pollen parent - Floribunda rose ‘Dainty Maid’.

USDA 6