Rose Dame Judi Dench

An exquisite rose with blooms in a captivating shade of apricot-orange that gently fades towards the edges. The eye-catching buds, adorned with red tips, unfold into large, casually arranged rosettes featuring ruffled petals and a button-like center. Rose displays remarkable resistance to rain damage, and its petals gracefully fall without clutter. The fragrance is a mild to medium Tea scent. The shrub is exceptionally healthy, giving rise to robust, arching stems that, over time, create an appealing cluster of blossoms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
Observations of budded variety ‘Dame Judi Dench’ are based on the observations made at the nursery at David Austin Roses Limited in Albrighton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, as well as in private gardens in Ukraine. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER
The variety ‘Dame Judi Dench’ has recurrent blooming habit. The number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.

Flower bud:
The bud is quite large, about 2.5 cm (1 inch) long and (0.6 inches) 1.6 cm in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is blunt topped. When the sepals first divide, the bud colour is medium yellow orange (Group 20A) with dark purple red (Group 60A). When half blown, the upper sides of the petals are medium orange (Group 24A), and the lower sides of the petals are medium orange (Group 29A).

The calyx has star shape, folding back against the stem when the flower is fully open; the length is about 6.5 cm (2.6 inches) and diameter is about 6.5 cm (2.6 inches) as well.

The sepals are regularly arranged, the upper surface has light green (Gorup 138C) and the lower surface is medium green (Group 144A) with dark brown purple (Group 184A). The sepals have length of about 2.6 cm (1 inch) and the width of about 7 mm (0.3 inches). Their shape is lanceolate, the surface texture on the upper surface is downy, the lower surface is smooth. There are 3 lightly appendaged sepals, and 2 unappendaged sepals with glandular edges; the sepal extensions are weak.

Receptacles are medium sized, have funnel shape and smooth surface, the length of about 1 cm (0.4 inches) and the width of about 9mm (0.4 inches). The colour of the receptacles is medium green (Group 144A).

The peduncle is weak, has medium length, about 6.5 cm (2.6 inches) long. The surface is smooth and has medium green colour (Group 144A ).

Bloom:
The flowers of ‘Dame Judi Dench’ are large, average open diameter is about 10.5 cm (4.1 inches). They are borne in small clusters, several together, usually with 3 to 6 blooms together with inflorescence having a rounded shape. When first open, bloom is cupped, but as the flowers develop, the outer petals curl back, forming a perfect rosette each with ruffled petals and a button eye.

The flowering stems have normal strength, the average length is about 35 cm (13.8 inches) and the diameter is about 5 mm (0.2 inches).

The upper sides of the flower’s petals are medium yellow orange colour (Group 23B) at the middle and light orange (Group 29B) at the top. The reverse sides of the petals are medium yellow orange (Group 23B) at the middle and light orange (Group 29B) at the top. The base of the petals has a spot that is medium yellow (Group 12A). There are no variegations observed on the flowers.

The general tonality of a flower at the end of the first day is medium orange (Group 24A), and at the end of the third day is medium orange (Group 24A). With further aging turns medium yellow orange (Group 16B) particularly on outer petals.

Petals:
The number of petals on a flower under normal conditions is 76 on average. They have smooth surface and texture, shape is obovate and form is incurved, the apex has rounded shape and the base has acute shape, margins are entire. The average length of the petals is about 4.3 cm (1.7 inches) and the width is about 3.4 cm (1.3 inches). They are informally arranged.

There are few petaloids, around 3-7 per flower. Their colour is slightly darker than the colour of the petals and is medium orange (Group 29A). The length is between 1-2.5 cm (0.4 to 1 inch) and the width is between 0.5-1.5 cm (0.2 to 0.6 inches). Petaloids have deformed petal shape, some crescent-shaped, the shape of a half-petal, have irregular margins.

Petals drop off cleanly before drying. They last about 3 – 4 days on a plant, as a cut flower their persistence have not been tested.

Fragrance:
The fragrance is light, with Tea character.

Reproductive parts:
The number of stamens per flower is approximately 80, they are about 7 mm long (0.3 inches).

The anthers have a length of about 2 mm (0.08 inches) and dark yellow colour (Group 15A). They are regularly arranged around the styles with some partly tucked in calyx.

The filaments have length of about 5 mm (0.2 inches) and medium yellow orange colour (Group 16A).

The amount of pollen is moderate, it has medium yellow orange colour (Group 17A).

The number of pistils per flower is about 30, with the average length of 5 mm (0.2 inches).

Styles are 4 mm (0.16 inches) long and have colour dark blue pink (Group 67B).

Stigmas are about 1 mm (0.04 inches) long and have medium yellow brown colour (Group 163B).

Hips were not observed.

PLANT
The variety ‘Dame Judi Dench’ has vigorous, arching growth habit. Forms medium shrub, when mature and well established the height is 120 cm (4”) on average and has same diameter - about 120 cm (4”).

Foliage:
There is a normal quantity of foliage on the plant, the number of leaves per flowering stem is about 7 to 10. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is 5, including terminal leaflet. The leaves are medium sized, about 14 cm (5.5 inches) long and 9 cm (3.5 inches) wide.

The new foliage on the upper side is dark brown green (Group 147A) tinged with dark brown purple (Group 183B); the colour of the lower side is medium brown green (Group 147B). The old foliage on the upper side has dark green colour (Group 139A) while the lowers side is medium brown green (Group 137C).

Leaflets:
The leaflets have the average length of 5 cm (2 inches) and the average width of about 3.8 cm. The shape is pointed oval, with rounded base shape and acuminate apex. The texture of the leaflet is smooth, surface is glossy, the edges are serrated, the type of serration – single.

Petiole has a length of about 4 cm (1.6 inches) and a width of about 1.5 mm (0.06 inches); the surface texture is glandular. The colour of the petiole is medium green (Group 144A).

Petiole rachis has medium green colour (Group 144A) and the underside is with prickles.

Stipules are light green (Group N144A), glandular, and the length is about 2.1 cm (0.8 inches).

Auricle has lanceolate shape, light green colour (Group N144A), about 6 mm (0.2 inches) long and has width of about 2 mm (0.08 inches).

The venation pattern is reticulate. The veins on the upper side have dark green (Group 139A) and the lower side is medium brown green (Group 137C).

Wood:
The new wood has dark brown purple colour (Group 183A) and smooth bark. The old wood is light green (Group 144A) and the smooth bark.

Stems:
The variety has arching branching habit. The number of flowering stems is about 20. The lateral branches have an average length of about 30 cm (11.8 inches) and diameter of 5 mm (0.2 inches).

The mature stems are about 60 cm (23.6 inches) long, having a diameter of about 7 mm (0.3 inches). The internode distance is about 5 cm (2 inches). The above measurements are all variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.

The pubescence on the stems is not present.

Prickles:
There is an ordinary quantity of prickles on the main canes from base and on the laterals from main canes, the number per stem length is 12 per 20 cm (8 inches). Prickles of this variety have deep concave shape, the length is about 8 mm (0.3 inches). The colour of the prickles when young are dark brown purple (Group 183A) with medium green (Group 144A) tips. The mature prickles have dark brown purple colour (Group 183A).

Small prickles:
Small prickles are not observed on the main stalk and on the laterals.

Disease resistance:
The rose variety ‘Dame Judi Dench’ has good disease resistance to all main rose diseases like powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa), downy mildew (Peronospora species), blackspot (Diplocarpon rosae), and rust (Phragmidium tuberculatum). Pest resistance – not tested.

Winter hardiness – not tested so far, however with winter protection grows well is USDA zone 5.

Named after one of Britain’s most beloved stars of stage and screen – Dame Judi Dench.

English Shrub Rose

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY
The shrub rose variety named ‘Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’ originated from the cross-pollination of the two ‘unnamed’ and unpatented seedlings of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY
The primary objective the breeding by David Austin was to produce a rose variety with blooms containing two-colored petals, yellow from the base to the middle, blending towards an orange top half of the petal. The overall appearance is of rich apricot blooms, which begin as striking, red-tipped buds and gradually open to reveal large informal rosettes, each with ruffled petals and a button eye. They are very resistant to rain damage and the petals drop neatly. The fragrance is light-medium tea. The plant is a vigorous grower producing strong, arching stems and particularly reliable and healthy.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY
Among the features which distinguish the ‘Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’ from others presently available and commercial rose cultivars is the following combination of characteristics: two-colored petals resulting in a rich apricot bloom, red-tipped buds, large informal rosette-shaped blooms, ruffled petals, button eyes, blooms that are resistant to rain damage, and vigorous arching stems.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed at Bowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain showed that the foregoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’ may be asexually propagated by budding.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS
The maternal and paternal parents of ‘Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’ are two unnamed seedlings.

‘Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’ may be distinguished from its maternal parent, by the following combination of characteristics: the maternal parent is cream with a deep cupped bloom and upright growth, as opposed to the shallower rosettes and arching growth of ‘Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’.

Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent, by the following combination of characteristics: the paternal parent was apricot pink with upright growth, whereas ‘Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’ is a rich apricot with yellow coloring and arching growth.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR
The closest commercially available cultivars to the ‘Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’ variety are the ‘Ausbrass’ / ‘The Lady Gardener’ and ‘Auslofty’ / ‘Port Sunlight’.

‘Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’ may be distinguished from the ‘Ausbrass’ / ‘The Lady Gardener’ based on the fact that ‘Ausbrass’ / ‘The Lady Gardener’ has quartered formation and light green colored new wood, whereas ‘Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’ has brown/red new wood and unquartered blooms. ‘Ausbrass’ / ‘The Lady Gardener’ is also pricklier than ‘Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’.

‘Auslofty’ / ‘Port Sunlight’ has blooms that are smaller in diameter and deeper than ‘Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’, and the growth of ‘Auslofty’ / ‘Port Sunlight’ is upright while ‘Ausquaker’ / ‘Dame Judi Dench’ is arching.

USDA zone 5 and warmer