Rose Falstaff

This rose variety with Bourbon character produces large, shallow cupped flowers of exquisite form and quality with a wonderful rich Old Rose scent. The numerous petals interfold at the center, creating a beautiful, glowing effect within a saucer of outer petals. The initial deep crimson color gradually pales towards the outer petals, resulting in an overall pleasing shade of magenta-crimson as the entire flower matures. The foliage is relatively large and has a more 'modern' appearance compared to Old Rose varieties.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
The following description of rose variety ‘Falstaff’ is provided using terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society (London) Colour Chart, except where ordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated. The following description is based on mature and well-established plant grown outdoors. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural, and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER
Rose variety ‘Falstaff’ has recurrent blooming habit, flowers from summer until the frosts. The number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, they are simply too many to count.

Flower bud:
The flower buds are medium sized, about 1.9 to 2.54 cm (¾ to 1 inch) long when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is ovoid, broad based. When the sepals first divide, the bud color is dark purple red (Group 59A). When half blown, the upper sides of the petals are medium purple (Group 71B); and the lower sides of the petals are medium purple (Group 70B).

The colour of the sepals is medium green (Group 144A). The sepals have a length of about 2.54 cm (1 inch) and the width is about 0.85 cm (⅓ inch) at the widest point. The texture of the lower surface of the sepals is smooth and the upper surface texture is pubescent. There are 3 normally appendaged sepals with hairy edges and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacle is of a medium green colour (Group 144A), the shape is funnel, and the surface is smooth. The size of the receptacle is about 1.27 cm (½ inch) by 1.27 cm (½ inch). The peduncle is medium, with the average length of about 7.6 - 8.9 cm (3 - 3½ inches). The surface is smooth and is medium strong, in very hot and dry weather tends to bend slightly. The colour of the peduncle is near bronzy yellow green or dark brown green (Group 146B) with medium brown purple (Group 185B) overlay.

Bloom:
The flowers are large, the diameter of the open flower is about 7.6 - 8.9 cm (3 - 3½ inches). They are borne singly or more often several together in small clusters of up to 4 - 5 blooms having a rounded shape. The flowering stems have average strength, with the length averaging of about 61 - 71 cm (24 - 28 inches).

When the flowers first open, they have a cupped shape. As the flower develops the shape persists, only becomes shallower, the outer petals curl back. The flowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 105 on average.

The upper sides of the petals are medium purple (Group 64B). The reverse sides of the petals are medium purple (Group 71D) and the base of each petal has medium yellow spot (Group 3C). The major color on the upper side is dark purple (Group 61A). The variegations are not observed on this variety under normal growing conditions.

The general tonality of the flowers at the end of the first day is paling to medium purple (Group 64A). At the end of the third day the flower colour becomes more purple, and continues to become lighter as the bloom ages.

Petals:
The petals of ‘Falstaff’ have moderately thick texture. The shape is rounded, pointed at base, the tips slightly recurved. They are irregularly arranged. There are few petaloids in the center of the flower, they are small in size.

The petals last on a plant fairly long, about 7 days under normal growing conditions. As a cut flower the lastingness has not been tested. Petals hang on and dry.

Fragrance:
The fragrance of ‘Falstaff’ is wonderful, rich, Old Rose.

Reproductive parts:
The anthers are medium sized, the quantity – few to average. The colour of the anthers is medium yellow (Group 12B). The are regularly arranged around the styles, a few mixed with petaloids.

The filaments are of a light yellow green colour (Group 2C).

The pollen is medium yellow orange (Group 15B).

The styles are of a light yellow colour (Group 150D).

Stigmas have medium yellow orange colour (Group 15C).

The hips formations have not been observed yet.

PLANT
This rose variety belongs to a class of Rosa hybrida and classified as a shrub rose. Has vigorous, rather upright and bushy growth character. Unlike many crimson roses, under good growing conditions can form a large shrub. The mature and well-established plant can reach the height of about 120 – 150 cm (4 - 6 feet) and the width of about 90 – 120 cm (3 - 4 feet). In warmer climates can be trained as a short climbing rose.

Foliage:
There is normal quantity of foliage on a plant, The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is 5. The leaves are large, about 15 cm (6 inches) long and about 12.7 cm (5 inches) wide.

The new foliage on the upper surface is dark brown green (Group 146B) with dark brown purple (Group 183A) edges. The lower surface of the young leaves have medium brown green colour (Group 146C) with dark brown purple (Group 183A) blush.

The old foliage on the upper surface is dark brown green (Group 147A) and on the lower surface is medium brown green (Group 147B).

Leaflets:
The leaflets have elliptic shape. The texture of the leaflets surface on the upper side is leathery, semi-glossy while on the under side is matt. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is double and medium.

Petiole rachis has light green colour (Group 144C), the underside is covered with some prickles.

The stipules are medium sized, serrated about 1.91 cm (¾ inches) and have medium green colour (Group 143A).

Wood:
The new wood has medium green colour (Group 143A) with dark brown purple (Group 183A) overlay, and the bark is smooth. The old wood has dark brown green colour (146B), and the bark is smooth with some rough patches.

Prickles:
The quantity of the prickles on the main canes from base and on laterals from main canes is ordinary. The prickles are evenly distributed up the stem. They have medium size, and straight form, the length is about 0.85 cm (⅓ inch) from the base. The colour of the young prickles is dark brown purple (Group 183A) with light green (Group 144B) undertones. The colour of the mature prickles is dark brown (Group 166A).

Small prickles:
There are few small prickles on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes; the colour of the small prickles is close to greyed-purple (Group 183C).

Disease resistance:
The variety has good resistance to mildew, botrytis, black spot, and rust under normal growing conditions. Pest resistance – has not been tested yet.

The variety demonstrates very good winter hardiness, winter hardy to zone similar to USDA zone 4.

Named for the well-loved Shakespearean character from a play “Henry IV”, who was the faithful companion of Prince Hal (the future Henry V).

English Shrub Rose

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY
The rose variety ‘Ausverse’ / ‘Falstaff” was bred by David Austin by crossing two unnamed, unpatented seedlings.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY
The primary objective for this rose variety breeding was to produce a new rose variety that is a disease-resistant, rich, dark crimson red rose with beautiful, full-petalled blooms with a powerful, old rose fragrance, that repeat flowers throughout the summer.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY
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. Rich, dark crimson blooms that turn to a shade of rich purple;

2. Strong, bushy rather upright growth;

3. Repeat flowering; and

4. Very good disease resistance.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by budding, as performed at Wolverhampton, England, showed that the foregoing and all other characteristics and distinctions came true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

USDA zone 4 and warmer