Rose Crocus Rose

Wonderful English shrub rose plant with very robust and very branching growth habit. Has large, rosette-shaped flowers, cupped at first, peals reflexing later having a soft apricot color, paling to pale white cream on outer petals; and freely produced flowers held in large clusters, elegantly poised on slightly arching stems.

FLOWER
Observations made from plants of 6 years of age grown in a garden environment at Albrighton, England. Blooming habit: Recurrent.

Flower bud:
Size is about 1 cm (0.4 inches) long when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is globular. When sepals first divide, bud color is light yellow (Group 4D). When half blown, the upper sides of the petals are white (Group 155B); and the lower sides of the petals are light yellow (Group 4D). Sepals have medium green colour (Group 143A); their length is about 2cm (0.8 inches), the width is about 0.6cm (0.25 inches). The shape is ovate with acuminate apex. Surface texture is slightly hairy with serrated edges on appendaged sepals. There are three lightly appendaged sepals and there are two unappendaged sepals with hairy edges. Receptacle has medium green colour (Group 144A), funnel shape, the length of about 1cm (0.4 inches) and width of 0.8 cm (0.3 inches); surface is smooth. Peduncle’s length is medium, averaging to about 4-6cm (1.6-2.4 inches); the surface is prickly; colour is medium green (Group 144B); strength - erect.

Bloom:
The flowers are medium sized, with an average open size is diameter of about 8 cm (3.2 inches). They are borne singly or in a small, irregular clusters of up to four blooms. The stems are slightly arching, the average length is about 71-81 cm (28-32 inches). When first open, the flowers have globular form with outer petals curled back. As the flower opens the outer petals curl back, and form changes to rosette. Number of petals under normal conditions is around 95-110.

Color. The upper sides of the petals are white (Group 155B). The reverse sides of the petals are white (Group 155D). Both upper and reverse sides at the base are light yellow (Group 10C). The major color on the upper side is white (Group 155B), but the base color light yellow (Group RHS 10C) appears as blossom approaches its full open stage. Variegations - not observed. The general tonality at the end of the first day is light yellow orange (Group 158B). As bloom ages color deepens to light yellow (Group 10D) with reddish spots. ‘Crocus Rose’ emits moderate fragrance, with tea rose aspects.

Petals:

Petals have the average size of about 4 cm (1.6 inches) in length and 3 cm (1.2 inches) in width. They have smooth texture and circular shape; margin is slightly frilled; apex shape.is rounded; base shape.- goes to point. Tips of outer petals slightly recurved, center petal edges slightly quill. Arrangement - irregular. Petaloid number is about 10 under normal conditions, they are light yellow (Group 11C) and have lanceolate shape. Persistence - petals hang on and dry as the flower dies. The flower lasts on the plant up to 7 days under normal conditions; as a cut flower – not observed.

Reproductive parts:
Anthers have medium yellow (Group 12A), they are tucked in calyx or partly so, mixed with petaloids. Filaments are medium yellow (Group 4B) and the pollen is medium yellow (Group 8A). Pistils number is 40 under normal conditions. Styles are light yellow green (Group 1C) and about 1.3 cm in (½ inch) in length. Stigmas are medium yellow (Group 8A) and 8mm (1/32inch) long. Hips not observed.

Plant:
‘Crocus Rose’ forms typical for English shrub rose type of bush. It is vigorous, dense and branchy, at the same time it is quite neat. Mature plant has height of 125 - 150 cm (4-5 feet) and 90-125 cm (3-4 feet) width. Foliage:
Number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves: 5-7. They are medium sized, 11.5 cm (4.5 inches) long and 14.2 cm (5.6 inches) wide; quantity is normal. New foliage has dark brown green colour (Group 137B) on the upper side with a red tint on edges; the lower side is medium brown green (Group 137D). Old foliage is dark green (Group 139A) on the upper side and dark green (Group 137A) on the lower side. Leaflets:
Size is about 5 cm (2 inches) long and 4 cm (1.6 inches) wide. The have round and pointed (cuspidate) shape; the tip has pointed shape and the base shape is rounded. They are leathery and semi-glossy, with serrated edges, the serration is small. Petiole color is dark brown green (Group 146B). Petiole rachis is light green (Group 144B), its underside has prickles. Stipules have length about 2cm (0.8 inches) and serrated. Auricle shape, if present is pointed.

This particular variety is resistant to mildew, blackspot and rust under normal growing conditions. Pest resistance -not tested.

Wood:
New and old wood has light green colour (Group 144B) and smooth bark. Prickles:
On main canes from base and on the laterals from main canes there are ordinary quantity of prickles. The have hooked downward form and length about 0.8cm (0.3 inch). They have light green colour (Group 144C) when young with purple grey (Group 187C) tips. When they mature the colour changes to medium brown purple (Group 181A). Small prickles:

Quantity on main stalks and on laterals - none.

Climate hardiness: Hardy in Zones 4 to 9.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
The following is a detailed description of my new rose cultivar with color descriptions using terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society (London) Colour Chart, except where ordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated.

Named for 'The Crocus Trust', which has been set up to help sufferers affected by colon cancer.

English Shrub Roses

‘Crocus Rose’ is a rose relates to a distinct variety of rose plant of the shrub class which was originated by crossing an unnamed seedling, with the variety ‘AUSgold’, (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,688).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a new rose variety having a very free-flowering and healthy plant with flowers of the classic English rose shape and with a good fragrance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objective was substantially achieved, along with other desirable improvements, as evidenced by the following unique combination of characteristics that are outstanding in the new variety and that distinguish it from its parents, as well as from all other varieties: 1. Robust and very branching shrub; 2. Large, rosette-shaped flowers, cupped at first, petals reflexing later; 3. Soft apricot color, paling to pale cream on outer petals; and 4. Freely produced flowers at the end of slightly arching stems.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by budding on Rosa dumetorum laxa rootstock, as performed at Albrighton, England, shows that the foregoing and all other characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS
‘AUSquest’ / ‘Crocus Rose’ differs from its seed parent in that the latter has rose pink flowers compared to ‘AUSquests’ / ‘Crocus Rose’ cream colored flowers and differs from its pollen parent which has rounded flowers as compared to ‘AUSquest's’ / ‘Crocus Rose’ rosette-shaped flowers.

COMPARISON WITH SIMILAR VARIETY
‘AUSquest’ / ‘Crocus Rose’ differs from ‘AUSbaker’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/705,463, filed Nov. 2, 2000), the most similar variety, in that ‘AUSquest’ / ‘Crocus Rose’ is broad and bushy with medium green foliage whereas ‘AUSbaker’ has a large, arching growth habit and has dark green foliage.

Parentage:
Seed parent — Unnamed seedling (unpatented). Pollen parent ‘AUSgold’ \ ‘Golden Celebration’.

USDA zone 4 and warmer