Rose Golden Celebration

One of the most striking and best-loved English Roses ever introduced by David Austin. This variety quickly earned a reputation for combining the classic beauty of Old Roses with the vigor and repeat-flowering ability of modern shrubs. Its blooms are among the largest of all English Roses, They are deeply cupped, sometimes forming a loose rosette with a charming button eye, and are composed of numerous notched petals that radiate a glowing golden-yellow shade. At times, the colour leans more toward apricot or coppery yellow with softer edges, and close inspection may reveal subtle pink speckling on a deep golden base, an effect that gives each bloom a rare richness and depth. As the season progresses, later flushes tend to produce slightly smaller flowers with a more rosette-like form.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Throughout this description of the rose variety 'Golden Celebration' 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 'Golden Celebration' rose are medium sized, about 1.9 - 3.2 cm (¾ - 1 1/4") cm long when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is short, globular with cuspidate apex. When the sepals first divide, the bud color varies from light yellow / sulphur yellow (Group 1A5) to greyish yellow (Group 1B5) with violet brown / garnet red blush (Group 11E8). The outer surface of the outer petals of the bud has a relatively large patch of red colour, which fades to a light pink blush as the flower opens. When half open, the upper sides and the lower sides of the petals are pastel yellow (Group 3A4) with very light reddish white / pinkish white blush (Group 9A2) at the top edge of the petal changing to light yellow (Group 3A5) to 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 leathery and slightly ridged. The colour of the sepals is greyish green / bracken green (Group 29E7). There are 3 normally appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacle is deep green (Group 29E8), goblet shaped and has a smooth surface. The size of the receptacle is medium, about 1.3 cm (1/2") long and about 0.8 cm (5/16") in diameter.

The peduncle is medium, averaging to about 2.5 - 4.5 cm (1 - 1 3/4") in length, stiff, erect and has a slightly glandular surface. The colour of the peduncle is light green, bronzy or greyish yellow (Group 2B5) with rosewood / reddish brown blush (Group 9D5).

Bloom:

The flowers are medium to large, the average diameter of the open flower is about 7 - 10 cm (2 3/4" - 3”). When first open, the flower form is globular. As the flower opens the shape flattens slightly, outer petal edges curl slightly. Flowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions varies from 55 to 75. They are born singly or several together in clusters having irregular shape, of up to 8 blooms together. The flowering stem has normal strength, long, and has an average length of about 46 – 76 cm (18 to 30 inches).

When first open the colour of the upper sides of the petals is pastel yellow (Group 3A4) with top edge of the petal changing to light yellow (Group 3A5) towards the center of the petal. The reverse sides of the petals are the same as the upper surface except for a very slight pink blush. The base of the petals has yellow colour (Group 3A6). The major color on the upper side is light yellow (Group 3A5). Under normal growing conditions no variegation is observed on the flowers of rose variety 'Golden Celebration'.

The general tonality at the end of the first day is slightly paler than pastel yellow (Group 3A4). At the end of the third day the majority of the petals become lighter than pastel yellow (Group 3A4) at the top edge and change to light yellow (Group 3A5) towards the center of the petal.

Petals:

The texture of the petals is thin, soft and silky and the surface is smooth; the shape of the petals is deltoid, round, cupped, the apex is retuse and the tips slightly recurved. The arrangement of the petals is slightly quartered with few petaloids in the center.

The petals of this rose variety have good self-cleaning quality, they normally drop off cleanly before drying. Under normal climate conditions the petals last fairly long, on the plant they last for about 5 - 7 days, and they have about the same lastingness as a cut flower about 5 to 7 days.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of the rose 'Golden Celebration' is strong, sweet, evolving from a fresh Tea Rose scent to richer notes reminiscent of Sauternes wine and strawberries. It’s one of the most luxuriously scented roses in the English Rose collection and an exceptional choice for cutting gardens and floral arrangements.

Reproductive parts:

The number of stamens is 95 to 115 on average per flower, they are tucked in calyx or partly so, mixed with petaloids.

The colour of the anthers varies from vivid yellow / chrome yellow (Group 3A8) to yellowish orange (Group 4A8).

The colour of the filaments is light yellow (Group 3A5).

The pollen is golden yellow.

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

Stigma have light yellow colour (Group 3A5).

The hips of this rose variety have not been observed.

PLANT

The rose variety 'Golden Celebration' is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. The growth character is vigorous, branching and powerful.

Grows into a broad, rounded shrub with long, graceful, arching stems that carry the large flowers in nodding clusters. The growth habit is naturally elegant and slightly lax, giving it a relaxed and romantic appearance. In cool climates, it typically reaches 120 - 120 cm (4 x 4 ft), but in warmer regions, it can grow up to 2 m (6.5 ft) or more, and may be trained as a short climber.

Whether grown in borders, containers, or as a focal point in the garden, ‘Golden Celebration’ is a truly radiant rose. It offers a rare combination of large, opulent flowers, intoxicating fragrance, elegant form, and dependable repeat bloom, making it one of the crown jewels of modern rose breeding.

Foliage:

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 normally 7, including the terminal leaflet. The foliage is large.

The colour of the new foliage varies from deep green (Group 28E8) to dark green (Group 28F8). The mature foliage is dark green (Group 28F8).

Leaflets:

The size of the leaflets is medium, they are about 3.8 - 6.4 cm (1 1/2" - 2 1/2") long and are about 3.2 - 5.1 cm (1 1/4" - 2") wide. The shape of the leaflets is oval, the shape of the leaflet tip is cuspidate and the base shape is rounded. The surface texture of the leaflets is leathery, semi-glossy. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is double and medium.

The petiole has deep green / parrot green colour (Group 30E8) with brownish violet (Group 11D7) blush, and has few prickles on the underside, 1 or 2 per internode. The petiole rachis is deep green / parrot green in colour (Group 30E8) with brownish violet (Group 11D7) blush.

The stipules are 3.2 cm (1 1/4") cm long, serrated.

Wood:

The new wood of this rose variety has deep green / parrot green colour (Group 30E8) with violet brown blush (Group 10E7), the bark is smooth. The mature wood is deep green (Group 28E8), the bark remains smooth.

Stems:

The mature stem has an average length of about 46 – 76 cm (18 to 30 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 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, they are evenly distributed around the stems. The colour of the young prickles is brownish red (Group 10C7) at the base fading to greyish yellow (Group 1B4) at the tip. The mature prickles have browning gray colour.

Small prickles:

Under normal growing conditions the small prickles are not observed on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes of rose variety 'Golden Celebration'.

Disease resistance:

The rose variety 'Golden Celebration' 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.

While generally healthy, ‘Golden Celebration’ can be somewhat prone to blackspot in humid conditions, particularly on the lower foliage. Providing good air circulation, mulching, and placing it in a location with morning sun will help mitigate this. In hotter climates, some light afternoon shade may be beneficial to prevent petal burn and preserve flower color.

Rose variety is recommended for growing in climate conditions similar to USDA 5 and requires winter protection in more colder climates.

Named for its glorious colour. Its name makes it the perfect rose for commemorating Golden Weddings, 50th Anniversaries or any other celebration or important event.

English Shrub Roses

Winner of the Best shrub and most fragrant rose awards at the Rose Awards Day 2000 (USA), Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society in 2002 (UK).

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Ausgold’ / 'Golden Celebration' originated by David Austin by crossing female parent (seed parent) - English shrub rose ‘Ausfather’ /‘Charles Austin’ with the male parent (pollen parent) - English shrub rose ‘Auscot’ / ‘Abraham Darby’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

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

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

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

 large flowers;

 bushy plant;

 distinctive yellow fragrant 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 zone 5 and warmer