Rose Desdemona

Much the same as the Shakspearian heroine, ‘Desdemona’ is a true beauty, her white blossoms exhibit a gentle hint of blush, as if shyly showing off. The petals curl inward, forming a chalice-like bloom that isn’t overly dense. This creates a softly rounded shape, allowing the petals to play with light and shadow, adding depth to their white hue.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
Throughout this description, the colour references and/or values are based upon The Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society (2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed. The observations below were made at the nursery at David Austin Roses Limited in Albrighton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER

The rose variety ‘Desdemona’ has a very good repeat flowering habit. The number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.

Flower bud:

The flower buds are medium sized, about 3.0 cm long and 1.7 cm in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is pointed ovoid. When sepals first divide, the bud colour is light green (Group RHS 145C) with pink intonations (Group RHS 37C). When half open, the upper sides of the petals are white (Group RHS N155D) with white intonations (Group RHS 155A), and the lower sides of the petals are white (Group RHS N155D) with white intonations (Group RHS 155A).

The shape of the calyx when opened is star shaped, with the sepals finally folding back against the stems. The length of the calix is about 7 cm and the diameter is also about 7 cm.

The sepals are medium-sized, with length of about 2.4 cm and their width is about 0.9 cm. They are regularly arranged, the shape of the sepals is lanceolate, the surface texture on the upper surface is smooth and on the lower surface is downy. The upper surface of the sepals is medium brown green (Group RHS 146D) with grayed-purple intonations (Group RHS 183C).The lower surface is light brown green (Group RHS 147D). There are 3 normally appendaged sepals with medium sized extensions and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacles have dark brown green colour (Group RHS 146A), the surface is smooth. They are small, about 0.9 cm long and about 0.9 cm wide.

The peduncle is medium long, about 5 cm and strong. The surface is prickly, with some very small prickles, and glandular The colour of the peduncles is dark brown purple (Group RHS 183C).

Bloom:

The flowers are medium to large sized, the open flower has a diameter of about 9 cm. When first open the flowers have cupped shape. As the flower ages the shape persists, only becoming slightly flatter at top and at base. The flowers are double, the number of petals under normal growing conditions is about 52.

Upon opening the upper sides and the reverse sides of the petals are white (Group RHS N155D), the base of the petals has no yellow spot. Under normal growing conditions the variegation is not observed on the flowers of ‘Desdemona’.

The flowers are usually borne several together in clusters of around 7 with blooms having a rounded shape. The flowering stems are strong, average length is about 30 cm and the diameter is about 4 mm.

The general tonality of the flowers at the end of the first day is white (Group RHS N155D), and at the end of the third day remains the same, white (Group RHS N155D).

Petals:

The texture of the petals is smooth. The average width of the petals is about 3.8 cm, the length is about 5 cm. The shape of the petals is obovate, with rounded apex and acute base; the margins of the petals are entire, and the petal’s form is incurved. The petals arrangement is informal.

There are usually about 13 petaliods on the flower. They have white colour (Group RHS N155D). They have obovate shape and entire margins, the length varies from 2 - 3.8 cm and the width is about 0.5 - 1.5 cm. The shape of the petaloids is obovate, their margins are irregular.

The petals have good self cleaning quality, they fall easily and leave a tidy rose plant. They last on a plant for about 3 days. The persistence as a cut flower has not been tested.

Fragrance:
The fragrance of ‘Desdemona’ is strong, with Old Rose character. Its aroma is sweet and fresh as the flowers, with delicate hints of almond blossom, cucumber and lemon zest.

Reproductive parts:

The stamens length is about 1 cm and there are about 70 of the per flower.

The anthers are medium yellow orange (Group RHS 20B), have length of about 2 mm, they are regularly arranged around the styles.

The filaments have medium yellow orange colour (Group RHS 20B) and length of about 8 mm.

The quantity of pollen is moderate, it has medium yellow orange colour (Group RHS 20A).

The number of pistils per flower is 40, their length is about 6 mm.

The styles have light green brown colour (Group RHS 160A) and length of about 4 mm.

The stigmas are 1 mm long and also light green brown colour (Group RHS 160A)

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

PLANT

Rose variety ‘Desdemona’ is classified as Shrub rose and relates to a class of Rosa hybrida. The variety has a moderately vigorous, upright and bushy growth character. The mature and well established plant has a width of about 110 - 120 cm (31⁄2 - 4 ft) and a width of about 90 - 110 cm (3 - 3 1⁄2 ft).

The blooms of this variety maintain their shape exceptionally well during wet weather. Looks stunning planted in large swathes for a major statement, or when combined with purple and gray tones of salvia or lavender for a calming bed. This rose is also suitable for growing in pots and containers. Make beautiful cut flower in a vase.

Foliage:

There is a normal quantity of foliage on plants of this variety. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is most often 5, but some have 3 leaflets (including terminal leaflet). The leaves are medium sized, the size of the leaves is about 12 cm long and about 10 cm wide. Under normal growing conditions there are about 7 to 10 leaves per flowering stem.

The new foliage on the upper side has dark brown green colour (Group RHS 146A) with dark brown purple intonations (Group RHS 183C) and on the lower side it is dark brown purple (Group RHS 183C). The mature foliage on the upper side is dark green (Group RHS 137A) with medium brown green shades (Group RHS 137D), while the lower side is medium brown green (Group RHS 137D).

Leaflets:

The leaflets are about 5.5 cm long and about 4 cm wide. They have a elliptic shape with obtuse base shape and acuminate apex shape. The surface texture is leathery, the appearance is glossy, the edges are serrated, the type of serration is medium and single.

The petiole has length of about 4 cm and width is about 1.2 mm, the surface texture is glandular. The colour of the petiole is medium brown green (Group RHS 146C).

Petiole rachis has medium brown green colour (Group RHS 146C), the underside is smooth.

The stipules are about 2 - 3 cm long, glandular, and have medium brown green colour (Group RHS 146C).

The auricle is lanceolate, has length of about 6 - 10 mm and width of about 2 mm. The colour is medium brown green (Group RHS 146C).

The veins have dark green colour (Group RHS 137A) on the upper side and on the lower side is medium brown green (Group RHS 137D), the venation pattern is reticulate.

Wood:

The new wood of this rose variety has dark brown purple colour (Group RHS 183C), the bark is smooth. The old wood has dark dark brown green colour (Group RHS 146A ) with dark brown purple intonations (Group RHS 183C), the bark is also smooth.

Stems:

The numbers of stems is 7 on average. The stems when mature have a length of 45 - 60 cm on average, and the average diameter of about 7 mm. The internode distance is 4 cm on average. The above measurements are all variable, depending on growing conditions in a season. There is no pubescence present on the stems of this variety.

Prickles:

There are few prickles on the main canes from base and on the laterals from main canes of this variety. The number per stem length is about 7 per 10 cm. The shape of the prickles is deep concave, the length is about 8 mm on average. The colour when young is dark brown purple (Group RHS 183C), when mature the colour of the prickles is dark brown purple (Group RHS 183C).

Small prickles:

There are usually no small prickles present on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety.

Disease resistance:

Rose variety ‘Desdemona’ showed high resistance to powdery mildew (caused by the fungus Sphaerotheca pannosa), to downy mildew (caused by species of the fungi Peronospora, Bremia and Plasmopara). It is also resistant to black spot (caused by the fungus Diplocarpon) and to rust (caused by the fungus Phragmidium, including, P. tuberculatum and P. mucronatum). Pest resistance has not been tested yet.

The cold hardiness is good, recommended for growing in climates similar to USDA 5 and warmer.

Named after Desdemona is the tragic heroine of William Shakespeare’s play “Othello”. Faithful, full of innocence and passionately in love, she is often portrayed dressed in romantic white.

English Shrub Roses

Nagaoka Bronze Award, Nagaoka International Fragrant Rose Trials - Echigo Hillside, 2018;

Australia - Bronze Medal, Australian National Rose Trials, 2021;

Gifu Silver Medal, Gifu Rose Trials, 2022;

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The rose variety ’Auskindling’/ ‘Desdemona’ was bred by David Austin and originated from the cross-pollination of the two ‘unnamed’ and unpatented seedlings of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The primary objective of this variety breeding was to produce a rose variety with a long flowering season, and having peachy buds that open to pure white, chalice-shaped blooms with a strong old rose fragrance.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

Among the features which distinguish this variety from others is the following combination of characteristics:

 blooms having petals white in color that are chalice-shaped;

 a strong old rose fragrance;

 a long flowering season;

 very healthy shrubbery.

Asexual reproduction of this variety by budding as performed at Bowling Green Lane in Albrighton, the UK showed that the foregoing and other distinguishing characteristics came true to form and established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘Auskindling’ may be asexually propagated by budding.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The maternal and paternal parents of ‘Auskindling’ / ‘Desdemona’ were two unnamed seedlings.

‘Auskindling’ / ‘Desdemona’ rose may be distinguished from its maternal parent, by the following combination of characteristics:

 the maternal parent is a shrub with yellow flowers.

The ‘Auskindling’ / ‘Desdemona’ rose may be distinguished from its pollen parent, by the following combination of characteristics:

 the paternal parent has a climbing growth habit with an apricot-pink flower.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivar to the new variety is ‘Ausprior’ / ‘Claire Austin’.

The ‘Ausprior’ / ‘Claire Austin’ rose has a slightly yellow hue (Group RHS 155B) whereas the ‘Auskindling’ / ‘Desdemona’ rose has a slightly pink hue (Group RHS N155D). The blooms of ‘Ausprior’ / ‘Claire Austin’ are also cupped with approximately 121 petals, whereas ‘Auskindling’ / ‘Desdemona’ is a similar sized bloom but with a more open cup with around 52 petals.

The ‘Ausprior’ / ‘Claire Austin’ has buds which are green-yellow (Group RHS 1D) when the sepals first divide, whereas for ‘Auskindling’ / ‘Desdemona’ the buds first show white-green shades (Group RHS N155B).

Finally, ‘Ausprior’ / ‘Claire Austin’ has an arching, lax growth whereas ‘Auskindling’ / ‘Desdemona’ has a smaller, strong, broad open growth.

USDA 5