Rose Fighting Temeraire

Striking modern English shrub rose that stands apart for its bold, semi-double flowers and glowing colour. The exceptionally large blooms open wide with just around ten petals, revealing a golden yellow heart set in rich apricot tones, a form that feels both artistic and refreshingly natural. Its fruity fragrance with a vivid note of lemon zest is distinctive and award-winning, having earned international recognition for scent. Forming a low, spreading shrub clothed in glossy green foliage, it flowers generously in clusters and repeats well through the season. With its open, pollinator-friendly blooms, good disease resistance, and luminous presence, 'Fighting Temeraire' brings both ecological value and contemporary drama to the garden.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

FLOWERING

This rose is repeat-flowering. It begins blooming in late spring, typically late May or early June, depending on climate, and then repeats the flowers in flushes through the season until autumn frost. Each flush can be prolific.

The blooms of 'Fighting Temeraire' are strikingly large and semi-double. When fully open, each flower is very large, about 10 - 12.5 cm in diameter (4 - 5 inches) and have only about 10 petals. This petal count qualifies it as a semi-double, nearly single, rose, in contrast to most classic very full English Roses. The petals are arranged in a loose cup, revealing a central boss of golden stamens. Petals are broad and slightly ruffled at the edges, creating a casual, “open bloom” effect.

The color is a dynamic apricot blend: a rich, saturated apricot-orange tonality that fades softly toward the edges, an area of yellow behind the stamens is present in each bloom, giving the flower a glowing golden heart. This coloration has been likened to the sky in Turner’s Temeraire painting - a mix of amber, peach, and soft yellow. In cool weather, occasional pink tints may brush the petal edges, yielding a luscious blend of apricot, yellow, and pink. The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart references a similar David Austin apricots range in the Yellow-Orange Group (e.g., RHS 24A to 23B for deep apricot tones), though an exact code for 'Fighting Temeraire' has not been officially published. In the middle of the summer, the bloom color may soften to a lighter apricot cream, and individual petals may scorch in extreme heat, but overall the plant glows with colour consistently. Cool fall weather often intensifies the apricot tones again.

The blooms are typically borne singly or in small clusters, up to 3 - 5 blooms together on short laterals. They open wide and flat, showcasing the prominent central stamens with red-amber filaments and bright yellow anthers. This feature is aesthetically reminiscent of wild roses and fosters easy access for pollinators and enhances its ecological value. The blooms, while spectacular, are somewhat delicate - heavy rain can bruise the open petals. Since they also fade relatively quickly in vase (lasting for about 3 days), so if you cut them for indoor enjoyment, recut stems underwater and use floral preservatives to extend vase life, or cut in bud stage.

The semi-double blooms of rose variety 'Fighting Temeraire' do not last as long on the plant, petals may shatter after 3 - 4 days in heat, but the continuous rebloom compensates. Deadheading spent flowers will encourage quicker repeat. The rose can also set hips if blooms are not removed, but they are not a notable feature - small and not abundant.

Fragrance:

The scent of 'Fighting Temeraire' is fruity and moderately strong. David Austin’s catalog describes it as fruity with a strong element of lemon zest. In the warm afternoon sun, hints of apricot and lychee have been noted by gardeners. Interestingly, in the Barcelona trial it won for fragrance, judges specifically cited its refreshing and unusual citrus notes as a standout.

PLANT

The rose variety 'Fighting Temeraire' is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. Some registries might classify it as a Modern shrub rose. 'Fighting Temeraire' grows as a medium-large spreading shrub. In habit it is low and broad: about 90 cm tall and about 150 cm wide when mature and well-established, though it can reach about 130 - 150 cm in height under optimal conditions.

Canes are gently arching, giving a mounded, lax shape rather than an upright profile. New stems are soft green with a reddish tint, especially the young shoots and buds which are reddish at first, then turn to deep green colour. This red pigment in juvenile growth is a trait inherited from certain modern shrub or species lineage and adds ornamental interest in spring. The canes remain flexible in growth; this, combined with the long lateral shoots, means 'Fighting Temeraire' can even be lightly trained or pegged. Some gardeners grow it as a shrub, and some train it as a small climber in warmer climates providing support for its arching stems. When grown in a border and remained untrained, it forms a spreading fountain shape.

One consideration is the rose’s size and spread - ensure it has room to develop its 150 cm width, as it can overtake tighter spaces or crowd neighboring plants. If space is limited, be prepared for regular pruning or training to contain it, or consider growing it in a large container (it can be grown in a container of at least 45 L, though its width still demands pruning).

Rose variety 'Fighting Temeraire' is a rewarding shrub rose that marries the romance of art and history with robust garden performance. It is relatively easy to grow, with key requirements being sun, space, and moderate care. By following the guidelines above - planting it well, feeding and pruning on schedule, and monitoring its health - one can enjoy an abundance of giant apricot blossoms and sweet citrus fragrance from late spring until frost. 'Fighting Temeraire' indeed puts up a glorious show in the garden, and its “98-gun salute” of blooms will leave a lasting impression on any garden visitor, just as Turner’s painting does in the halls of art.

Foliage:

There is an abundant quantity of the foliage on the plants of this rose variety. The foliage is attractive: leaves are medium to large, typically having from 5 to 7 leaflets with a glossy surface. They emerge bronzy red, then mature to a medium-deep green colour with a slight sheen. The texture of the leaflets is leathery, and the leaflet edges are serrated, the type of serration is medium sized and single.

Prickles:

This cultivar has a normal quantity of prickles on the main canes from base and on the laterals from main canes, they are present on stems but not too dense and not overly large.

Disease resistance:

Rose variety 'Fighting Temeraire' is regarded as a fairly disease-resistant rose, especially to black spot (Diplocarpon rosae). In very rainy climates, even a resistant rose like this can get black spot by late season; a proactive approach (spacing, sanitation) will minimize this. Field experience in rose trials showed only occasional black spot on lower leaves in very wet seasons, and good resistance to powdery mildew and rust has also been reported consistently.

In terms of stress tolerance, 'Fighting Temeraire' handles heat reasonably well for an English Rose. Its simpler flower form means it is less likely to ball (i.e. fail to open) in humid or rainy weather compared to very double varieties. It blooms reliably through hot summers, though extreme heat can hasten petal drop. It was specifically recommended in Barcelona for use as a landscaping shrub (winning “best landscape rose” there), implying good performance in a dry-summer climate.

Drought tolerance is moderate: like most modern roses, it prefers regular moisture, but once established its deeper roots, especially when grafted on robust rootstock like Rosa laxa, allow it to survive short dry spells.

In terms of cold-hardiness, this rose is recommended for growing in climates similar to USDA Zone 5 (approx. −23 °C). In continental climates, it may experience cane dieback below −15 °C if not protected, but will rebound from the crown in spring. Mulching over the crown in Zone 5 and 6 winters is advisable. Thus, while 'Fighting Temeraire' thrives in temperate zones, with proper siting and care it can adapt to a broad range of garden conditions (Zones USDA 5 through 11 recommended).

The cultivar’s name honors The Fighting Temeraire - an 1839 oil painting by the famed British artist J.M.W. Turner. It depicts the final voyage of HMS Temeraire, a celebrated 98-gun warship from the Battle of Trafalgar. David Austin’s naming was directly tied to this cultural icon: “This rose was named for the Turner Contemporary Gallery, on Margate’s seafront in Kent. The Fighting Temeraire is a painting from 1839 by the English landscape painter… J.M.W. Turner”. By christening the rose after Turner’s masterpiece (once voted Britain’s favorite painting), the breeder linked the flower’s fading apricot hues to the painting’s famous sunset glow. The name also reflects the rose’s robust character in the garden - evoking the stalwart “fighting” spirit of the ship Temeraire itself.

The etymology of Temeraire itself is worth noting: Temeraire means "bold" or “reckless” in French. The HMS Temeraire was so named (captured from French "Téméraire") for its brave history. The painting The Fighting Temeraire represents the old warship being towed to its end – symbolizing the end of an era. Such naming aligns with Austin’s penchant for British cultural references in naming - many of his roses honor literary figures, historic sites, or artworks. At the time of naming, the Turner Contemporary art gallery (Margate, UK) was newly opened (2011), and a Turner-inspired garden was created; Fighting Temeraire rose was reportedly named in conjunction with these events.

English Shrub Roses

'Fighting Temeraire' has made an impact in modern rose cultivation for several reasons. Upon its debut, it was highlighted in the Royal Horticultural Society’s The Garden magazine (2011) as a noteworthy new English Hybrid.

It earned international accolades soon after introduction: notably, it won First Place for fragrance at the 2012 Concurs Internacional de Roses Noves de Barcelona (International New Roses Competition, Barcelona). In that trial, it received the Best Fragrance Award (Barcelona 2012), beating numerous other entries from global breeders. Judges praised its strong, complex scent and abundant blooming.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The exact parentage of 'Austrava' / 'Fighting Temeraire' has not been publicly disclosed by the breeder. David Austin is known to guard detailed breeding information, often listing proprietary seedlings as parents rather than named varieties.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

'Austrava' / 'Fighting Temeraire' contributed to the popularity of English Roses in the 2010s. It was marketed worldwide by Austin’s network and became a favorite for those desiring a more informal, pollinator-friendly rose. Its particularly healthy and vigorous growth also made it attractive to sustainable and organic gardeners. Several public gardens and trials (UK and EU) noted its performance: for instance, it was grown in the RHS Wisley gardens and included in the RHS Plant Centre Roselist by 2015. In Germany, its open-form blooms led to its inclusion in pollinator gardens (e.g., Bamberger Bienengarten). By the mid-2020s, David Austin’s nursery had retired 'Austrava' / 'Fighting Temeraire' from new production as part of periodic portfolio renewal.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

Within David Austin’s collection, 'Austrava' / 'Fighting Temeraire' stands out for its simple floral form and bright apricot hue.

A somewhat similar semi-double rose by David Austin is 'The Lark Ascending' (2012) or 'Jacquenetta' (1983, paler apricot semi double). Compared to 'The Lark Ascending' (AUSursula), which also has about 16 petals and apricot coloring, 'Austrava' / 'Fighting Temeraire' has much larger individual blooms and a softer, more pastel apricot tone ('Lark Ascending' is more amber). While 'Jacquenetta' has similar size and flower shape but is much lighter in colour.

In the broader class of modern shrub roses, one might compare 'Austrava' / 'Fighting Temeraire' to Harkness's 'Evelyn May' or certain Meilland Landscape roses for its spreading habit and semi-double apricot blooms, but its combination of intense fragrance and large blooms is fairly unique.

USDA 5