Rose Geoff Hamilton

‘Geoff Hamilton’ is one of David Austin’s finest varieties, with delicate pale pink flowers that fade toward the outer petals, ranging from nearly white in hot climates to the softest pink in milder ones. The blooms are exceptionally neat, they start as chalice shaped densely packed with numerous delicate petals, slowly opening to show full-petalled rosettes. They have a delightful Old Rose fragrance with a subtle hint of apple. The plant is vigorous and healthy, with dense growth and glossy, disease-resistant foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Throughout this description of the rose variety 'Geoff Hamilton' is provided with color descriptions using terminology of the The Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, 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 continuous flowering habit. Blooms in flushes with very 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 'Geoff Hamilton' rose variety are medium sized, about 1.9 - 3.2 cm long and 2.8 cm in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is short, pointed ovoid. When the sepals first divide, the bud color is medium purple red (Group 54A) with medium blue pink (Group 54C). When half open, the upper sides of the petals are mainly light blue pink (Group 55D) with light red pink (Group 36B) and the lower sides of the petals are light blue pink (Group 55C) with light blue pink (Group 55D).

The shape of the sepals is lanceolate, the surface texture is furry on the upper surface and smooth, waxy on the lower surface. The colour on the upper surface is light green (Group 144B) . There are 3 lightly appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with edges.

The receptacle is medium green (Group 144A), pitcher shaped and has a medium, broad surface. The size of the receptacle is medium, about 0.6 - 0.9 cm long and about 1.3 cm in diameter.

The peduncle is medium averaging to about 4 - 6.5 cm in length, bending and has a smooth, prickly surface. The colour of the peduncle is dark purple red (Group 187D) towards top with medium brown green (Group 146C) towards base.

Bloom:

The flowers are medium, the average diameter of the open flower is about 6.5 - 7 cm. When first open, the flower form is cupped, they gradually evolve into a full-petalled rosette, the very outer petals curl slightly back. Flowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 108. They are born in small clusters of 2-4 blooms having pyramidal shape. The flowering stem has normal strength, medium, and has an average length of about 20 - 55 cm.

When first open the colour of the upper sides of the petals is light blue pink (Group 56C) and light blue pink (Group 56D). The reverse sides of the petals are mainly light blue pink (Group 56B) with light blue pink (Group 56C). The base of the petals is medium yellow (Group 5A) at the very tip, gradually blending to light yellow (Group 10C). The major color on the flowers is light blue pink (Group 56C). On the flowers no variegation is observed.

The general tonality at the end of the first day is light blue pink (Group 56D), at the end of the third day the general tonality does not change, remaining the same. Toward the end of the flowering the colour becomes lighter.

Petals:

The texture of the petals is leathery and the surface is smooth; the shape of the petals is oval, the petals form is moderately quilled towards center of the flower. The arrangement of the petals is irregular, petaloids are few and small in the center.

The petals of this rose variety normally hang on and dry. Under normal climate conditions the petals last fairly long, on the plant they last for about 4 - 5 days, as a cut flower their lastingness has not been tested.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of the rose 'Geoff Hamilton' is moderate, Old rose with just a hint of apple.

Reproductive parts:

The number of stamens is many, they are partly tucked in calyx.

The anthers have medium yellow orange colour (Group 15B).

The colour of the filaments is medium yellow (Group 9B).

The pollen is medium yellow orange (Group 21A).

The colour of the styles is red pink (Group 52A) at the tips and light green (Group 149D) closer to the bottom.

Stigma are medium yellow orange (Group 16C).

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

PLANT

The rose variety 'Geoff Hamilton' is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. The growth character is medium, upright, branching, fairly compact and vigorous growth. Mature and well-established plant has a height of about 120 - 150 cm and width of about 90 - 120 cm.

This rose is suitable for the back of a border, where its beauty and practicality make it an outstanding choice. ‘Geoff Hamilton’ combines refinement, delicacy, and exceptional vigor, making it a standout addition to any garden.

Foliage:

The foliage is closer to that of a Hybrid Tea than of an Old Rose. There is a normal quantity of the foliage on the plants of this rose variety. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves varies from five to seven, including the terminal leaflet. The foliage is medium sized, about 15.2 - 17.8 cm long and about 12.7 - 15.2 cm wide.

The colour of the juvenile foliage on the upper side is dark green (Group 137A) with dark brown purple blush (Group 183A); while the lower side is medium brown green (Group 147B) with dark brown purple blush (Group 183C). The mature foliage on the upper side is medium brown green (Group 147B) and darker and on the lower side is medium brown green (Group 147B).

Leaflets:

The size of the leaflets is large, the shape of the leaflets is elliptic, and the surface texture of the leaflets is leathery, semi-glossy. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is single and small.

The petiole has light green colour (Group 144B), has a smooth, with prickles surface. The petiole rachis is light green colour (Group 144B). The stipules are short, about 1.9 cm long, serrated. The venation pattern is reticulated.

Wood:

The new wood of this rose variety has dark brown purple colour (Group 183B) with medium green (Group 144A), the bark is smooth. The mature wood is medium green (Group 144A), the bark is also smooth.

Prickles:

There are ordinary prickles present on the main canes from base and on the laterals from main canes. The shape of the prickles is hooked downward, the length is medium to short, they are quite evenly distributed up the stem . The colour of the young prickles is brown red (Group 180B); the mature prickles have slightly lighter colour than medium brown (Group 165A).

Small prickles:

The small prickles are absent on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety there are very few prickles. If present they have dark brown purple colour (Group 184A).

Disease resistance:

The rose variety 'Geoff Hamilton' has very 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 5 and requires winter protection in more colder climates.

David Austin named this rose variety in memory of his old friend, who was a much-loved television gardener. Geoffrey Stephen Hamilton was an English gardener, broadcaster and author, best known as presenter of BBC television's Gardeners' World in the 1980s and 1990s.

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Ausham’ / 'Geoff Hamilton' originated by David Austin by crossing rose variety Ausblush / Heritage with an unnamed, unpatented seedling.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The primary objective of this rose variety breeding was to create a new disease resistant rose variety with a strong-growing plant, with pink blooms of an old-fashioned shape, that repeat flowers well throughout the summer.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

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

 Sturdy, compact growth;

 Full, rounded pink flowers;

 Very good disease resistance;

 Repeats flowers well.

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.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The ‘Ausham’ / ‘Geoff Hamilton’ may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the following combination of characteristics:

 ‘Ausham’ / ‘Geoff Hamilton’ has more petals and its flowers are more deeply cupped, almost globular and have medium to light Old rose fragrance comparing to Ausblush / Heritage which has fewer petals on more open cupped shaped flowers with strong myrrh fragrance.

The characteristics of the pollen parent have not been disclosed.

USDA 5