Rose Evelyn

‘Evelyn’ is a breathtaking English Rose renowned for its extraordinarily large blooms and one of the most sumptuous fragrances in the entire David Austin collection. Сarries an intoxicating perfume, an opulent blend of classic Old Rose, fresh peaches, and ripe apricots. The flowers are deeply cupped and rosette-shaped, with soft, silky petals that open from pointed, orange-yellow buds into shallow, saucer-like blooms. Their colors shift from glowing apricot and peach at the center to pale pink or creamy blush at the edges. These color variations intensify in cooler weather and later in the season, adding complexity and visual depth to each flower. Occasionally, a charming button eye emerges among the tightly packed central petals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Throughout this description of the rose variety 'Evelyn' is provided with color descriptions using terminology of the "Methuen Handbook of Colour" published by Eyre Methuen Ltd. (1963), except where common terms of color definition are employed. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWERING

This rose variety has a recurrent flowering habit. Blooms in flushes with short breaks from summer until frosts. The number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.

Flower bud:

The flower buds of 'Evelyn' rose variety are medium sized, about 2.5 (1") cm long when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is pointed and globular, with cuspidate apex. When the sepals first divide, the color of the bud varies from brownish violet (Group 11D7) to pale orange (Group 5A3). When half open, the upper sides of the petals are generally pale orange (Group 5A3) with pale yellow in the center (Group 3A3) and the lower sides of the petals are salmon (Group 6A4) at the top with light yellow (Group 3A5) in the center. Calyx is star-shaped when fully opened with the sepals folding back.

The shape of the sepals is lanceolate, the surface texture is slightly ridged on the upper surface and slightly glandular on the lower surface. The colour on the sepals is greyish green (Group 29D7) with brownish violet blush (Group 11D6). There are 3 normally appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacle is deep green (Group 29D8), apple shaped and has a smooth surface. The size of the receptacle is medium, about 0.64 - 0.95 cm (¼ - 3/8") cm long and about 0.64 - 0.95 cm (¼ - 3/8") cm in diameter.

The peduncle is medium, averaging to about 3.2 - 3.8 cm (1 1/4 - 1 1/2") in length, erect and has a glandular surface. The colour of the peduncle is variable, green, bronzy or greyish green (Group 29D7) with brownish red / strawberry red blush (Group 10D8).

Bloom:

The flowers are medium-sized, the average diameter of the open flower is about 7.0 to 8.9 cm (2 3/4" to 3 1/2"). At their peak, they reach up to 12 cm (4.7 inches) across. When first open, the flower form is cupped. As the flower fully opens the form flattens, outer petal edges curl slightly. Flowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions varies from 80 to 100. They are born singly or several together in clusters having flat, irregular shape, of 6 blooms together. The flowering stem has normal strength, long, and has an average length of about 76 to 91 cm (30 to 36 inches).

When first open the colour of the upper sides of the petals is pale orange at the top (Group 6A3) and pastel yellow at the center (Group 3A4). The reverse sides of the petals are peach / pastel red at the top (Group 7A4) and vary from pastel yellow (Group 3A4) to light yellow (Group 4A4)at the center. The base of the petals has a large yellow basal spot of yellow / genet (Group 3A7). The major tonality of the flowers on the upper side is pastel yellow 3A4. Under normal growing conditions no variegation is observed on the flowers of rose variety 'Evelyn’.

The general tonality at the end of the first day is pastel yellow (Group 3A4) but fades slightly. At the end of the third day the general tonality fades further to white-yellowish (Group 9A1 to 3A2).

Petals:

The texture of the petals is thick, silky and the surface is smooth; the shape of the petals is deltoid, heart-shaped, cupped, the tips slightly recurved. The arrangement of the petals is quartered, apex of inner petals caught into receptacles with few, small petaloids in the center.

Normally there are few small petaloids present in the center of the flowers forming the so-called button-eye.

The petals of this rose variety normally hang on and dry, therefore regular deadheading is recommended for this rose variety. Under normal climate conditions the petals last fairly long, on the plant they last for about 7 days, as a cut flower their lastingness is about 5 to 7 days.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of the rose 'Evelyn' is strong. Selected by the iconic perfumers Crabtree & Evelyn to represent their rose-scented line, this rose carries an intoxicating perfume, an opulent blend of classic Old Rose, fresh peaches, and ripe apricots, that fills the air in both garden and vase.

Reproductive parts:

There are many stamens present on the flowers, they are tucked in calyx or partly so, mixed with petaloids.

The anthers are medium sized, have reddish yellow / buttercup yellow colour (Group 4A7).

The colour of the filaments is maize yellow (Group 4A6).

The pollen is golden yellow.

The colour of the styles is pale green (Group 30A3).

Stigma are pastel yellow (Group 1A4).

The hips of this rose variety have not been observed.

PLANT

The rose variety 'Evelyn' is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. Forms a strong, upright, and bushy shrub, typically growing to about 100 - 140 cm ( 3–4.5 ft) in height and spread, but in warm climates it can reach over 180 cm (6 ft) and even be trained as a short climber.

While not the easiest rose to grow - it dislikes shade, prefers warm, sunny positions, and may suffer dieback if pruned too harshly, it rewards good care with unmatched beauty and fragrance. Deep mulching, regular watering, and strategic placement away from root competition will help ensure its success.

'Evelyn' is a “sister” to varieties like ‘Ausleap’ /‘Jayne Austin’ and ‘Ausleap’ /‘Sweet Juliet’, but it has become a standout favorite thanks to its superior flower size, perfume, and striking appearance. In bloom, it’s a showstopper - romantic, richly scented, and perfect for both cutting gardens and rose lovers seeking an unforgettable focal point.

Foliage:

The foliage is a soft, light green, typical of Musk Rose lineage, but somewhat susceptible to black spot in humid conditions, especially if airflow is poor.

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 usually 5, including the terminal leaflet. The foliage is medium sized.

The colour of the juvenile foliage varies between greyish green / grass green (Group 30E7) and deep green / parrot green (Group 30E8) with violet brown / garnet red (Group 11E8) blush. The mature foliage is dark green (Group 27F8).

Leaflets:

The leaflets are medium-sized, about 4.5 cm (1 3/4") long and are about 3.2 cm (1 1/4") wide. The shape of the leaflets is oval at the base and with cuspidate apex. The surface texture of the leaflets is smooth, semi-glossy. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is single and small.

The petiole has green, reddish colour, and has very small prickles on the underside, from 0 to 1 per internode. The petiole rachis has green, reddish colour. The stipules are 2.5 cm (1") cm long.

Wood:

The new wood of this rose variety has greyish green / bracken green, reddish colour (Group 29E7) with violet brown blush (Group 10F7) and smooth bark. The mature wood is green, the bark remains smooth.

Stems:

The mature stem has an average length of about 76 to 91 cm (30 to 36 inches). The stem pubescence is not observed on the stems of this rose variety. The above measurements are all variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.

Prickles:

There are an ordinary number of prickles present on the main canes from base and on the laterals from main canes of this rose variety. The shape of the prickles is straight, they are medium sized and evenly spaced along the stems. The colour of the young prickles is red; the mature prickles have a brownish red colour.

Small prickles:

The small prickles normally are not observed on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety.

Disease resistance:

The rose variety 'Evelyn' has good resistance to most common rose diseases, in particular it is resistant to mildew, blackspot and rust under normal growing conditions. 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.

Named on behalf of the perfumers, Crabtree & Evelyn to represent their rose-scented line and who used it in their range of rose perfumes. The name is pronounced EVE-lynn.

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Aussaucer’ / 'Evelyn' originated by David Austin by crossing female parent (seed parent) - English shrub rose ‘Ausmas’ /‘Graham Thomas’ with the male parent (pollen parent) - English shrub rose ‘Austamora’ / ‘Tamora’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The primary objective of this rose variety breeding was to create a new rose variety with apricot, quartered, scented flowers on a bushy plant which flowers repeatedly well.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The objective was achieved, along with other important improvements, and this rose variety incorporated the following unique combination of characteristics:

 highly scented flowers;

 mixture of yellow and apricot colours in flowers;

 dwarfer habit than of ‘Ausmas’ /‘Graham Thomas’;

 very quartered, regular flowers.

Asexual reproduction of this variety by budding showed that the foregoing and all other characteristics and distinctions came true to form, established and transmitted through the succeeding propagations.

USDA 5