Rose Gertrude Jekyll

‘Gertrude Jekyll’ is considered one of the crowning achievements of David Austin’s English Rose breeding program. Famed not only for its sumptuous beauty but also for having one of the strongest and most evocative Old Rose fragrances in modern rose breeding, it has earned a lasting place in gardens worldwide.

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.

The flowers are large, the average diameter of the open flower is about 11 cm (4.3 in). The buds begin as neat and pointed, reminiscent of Hybrid Teas or the Alba rose ‘Celestial’, then open into deeply cupped rosettes with spiraled, quartered petals arranged with a remarkable natural precision. They appear mostly in small clusters of three to six flowers, with individual blooms sometimes reaching striking size, especially on strong main canes.

The colour of this rose is stunning, of rich, warm pink flowers, which deepen toward the center with crimson hues and fade to a paler blush on the edges in warm sun. In cooler climates, the tones can shift towards a deeper, almost rosy red. Occasionally, the golden stamens peek out from within the bloom.

Its fragrance is legendary, of the pure Damask character that has been used for perfume extraction and has even surpassed many traditional Old Roses in strength. For those who value scent above all, ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ may well be the quintessential English Rose.

PLANT

The rose variety 'Gertrude Jekyll' is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. It grows into a medium-sized, upright shrub, somewhat stiff and architectural in habit. In ideal conditions, especially in warmer climates, it can become quite vigorous, climbing to over 3 m (10 feet) if trained against a wall or fence. A mature and well-established plant has a height of about 120 - 300 cm and the width of about 90 - 120 cm.

Its stems are heavily armed with sharp prickles and clothed in long, pointed, mid-green leaflets, often described as having a Portland Rose character. The foliage is abundant on the plants of the rose variety 'Gertrude Jekyll', the normal mid stem leaves typically have 5 or 7 leaflets, including the terminal leaflet. The surface texture is leathery and semi glossy, the edges are serrated, the type of serration is single and medium.

Though upright by default, the plant can be adapted to smaller spaces or informal shapes through self-pegging, a method developed specifically to tame the rose’s exuberance. Left unchecked, it may appear a bit wild and ungraceful, but with thoughtful training and deadheading, it becomes a floral showpiece. David Austin himself once noted that ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ came perilously close to perfection - if not for its somewhat upright, thorny nature - yet it remains one of the most loved and widely grown English Roses.

The rose variety 'Gertrude Jekyll' has good resistance to most common rose diseases, in particular it is resistant to mildew, blackspot, botrytis 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.

For those willing to guide its vigor and accept its thorny embrace, ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ is as unforgettable as the woman it honors.

Named after the English garden designer and author, Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932). Gertrude Jekyll, was one of the great influences in English gardening, and a towering figure in horticulture, known for her romantic and painterly garden designs and the influential book Roses for English Gardens, which greatly inspired Austin’s vision of modern roses with Old roses charm.

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Ausbord’ / 'Gertrude Jekyll' originated by David Austin by crossing female parent (seed parent) - English shrub rose ‘Ausbath’ / ‘Wife of Bath’ with the male parent (pollen parent) - old Portland rose ‘Comte de Chambord’.

‘Gertrude Jekyll’ is a thoughtful back-cross to Old Roses, intentionally bred to preserve the cherished characteristics of historic varieties while improving vigor and repeat bloom. Its Portland Rose parent, ‘Comte de Chambord’, passed on its fragrance, foliage, and form, while ‘Ausbath’ / ‘Wife of Bath’ contributed the repeat-flowering trait.

USDA 5