Rose Heather Austin

Combines the charm of Old Roses with the repeat-flowering nature of modern hybrids. The flowers are deeply cupped, almost chalice shaped, reminiscent of Bourbon Roses. The flowers are deep pink, darker on the reverse, with petals forming imbricated circles that resemble tiling on a dome, often concealing their golden stamens in the center. The blooms have a delightful, medium-strength Old Rose fragrance with spicy undertones, adding to their allure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Throughout this description of the rose variety 'Heather Austin' 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 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 'Heather Austin' rose variety are medium sized, about 3 cm long and 3 cm in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is short, blunt topped. When the sepals first divide, the bud color is light blue pink (Group 65B). When half open, the upper sides of the petals are medium blue pink (Group 68B) and the lower sides of the petals are dark blue pink (Group 68A).

The sepals have lanceolate shape, the surface texture is hairy on the upper surface and waxy on the lower surface. The colour on the upper surface is medium green (Group 143C). There are 3 normally appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacle is light green (Group 144B), funnel shaped and has a smooth surface. The size of the receptacle is medium, about 1 cm long and about 6 mm in diameter.

The peduncle is short, averaging to about 2.5 - 3.5 cm in length, slightly bending and has a smooth, slightly prickly surface. The colour of the peduncle is dark brown green (Group 146B).

Bloom:

The flowers are medium sized, the average diameter of the open flower is about 5 - 6 cm. When first open, the flower form is cupped, the outer petals curl back. Flowers are full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 59 on average. They are born in small clusters, of 3 - 5 blooms together, having irregular shape. The flowering stem has normal strength, long, and has an average length of about 55 - 65 cm.

The colour of the upper sides of the petals is medium blue pink (Group 68B) with medium blue pink (Group 73B), the reverse sides of the petals are light blue pink (Group 62C). The base of the petals has medium yellow colour (Group 4A). The major color on the upper sides is medium blue pink (Group 68B). Under normal growing conditions there is no variegation observed on the flowers of ‘Heather Austin’.

The general tonality at the end of the first does not change normally, as well as at the end of the third day.

Petals:

The texture and the surface of the petals is smooth; the shape of the outer petals is round and oval on the inner petals; the tips are slightly recurved. The arrangement of the petals is irregular, imbricated, open cupped, with a very few, small 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 rather long, on the plant they last for about 5-7 days, as a cut flower their lastingness is fair, about 3 days.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of the rose 'Heather Austin' is strong, of an Old Rose character that combines with the scent of cloves as the flower opens.

Reproductive parts:

There are many stamens on the flowers of this rose variety, they are medium long, and are regularly arranged around the styles.

The anthers have yellow colour.

The colour of the filaments is yellow-pink.

The pollen has gold yellow colour.

The colour of the styles is red pink (Group 52A).

Stigma has a whitish yellow colour.

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

PLANT

The rose variety 'Heather Austin' is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. The growth character is moderately vigorous, with upright branching and powerful growth. The mature and well-established plant has a height of about 120 - 200 cm and the width of about 90 - 170 cm.

Its flowers are carried on long, slightly drooping stems, held gracefully above the foliage. The leaves have a tendency towards the Old Rose foliage type. Even in cooler climates, such as its native England, ‘Heather Austin’ demonstrates vigorous growth, quickly establishing itself as a standout feature in the garden. Its unique blooms and elegant fragrance make it ideal for cutting gardens, borders, or as a standalone shrub. Its long stems and visually stunning flowers are perfect for floral arrangements, especially when paired with other English Roses. It thrives with regular pruning to maintain its shape and encourage healthy growth.

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 usually 5, including the terminal leaflet. The foliage is medium sized, about 17 cm long and about 14 cm wide.

The colour of the juvenile foliage on the upper side is dark brown green (Group 147A) suffused with dark brown purple (Group 183B) while the lower side is dark brown purple (Group 184A). The mature foliage on the upper side is dark green (Group 137A) and on the lower side is medium brown green (Group 147B).

Leaflets:

The size of the leaflets is medium about 6 cm long and are about 4 cm wide. The shape of the leaflets is broadly oval. 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 a green colour.

The stipules are 2 cm long from tip to where it joins the stem, serrated.

Wood:

The new wood of this rose variety has light green colour with dark green nearer the bottom of new growth, the bark is smooth. The mature wood is green, the bark remains smooth.

Prickles:

There is an ordinary quantity of prickles on the main canes from base, more abundant toward the base of the main stem. On the laterals from the main canes there are a few prickles. The shape of the prickles is straight, the length is medium, or rather short. The colour of the young prickles is dark brown dark purple red (Group 187B) at the base transitioning to medium brown green (Group 146C) closer to the tip.

Small prickles:

There are few small prickles on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety. When they are young they have grey brown colour.

Disease resistance:

The rose variety 'Heather Austin' 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.

Rose variety is recommended for growing in climate conditions similar to USDA 6 and requires winter protection in more colder climates.

Sir David Austin named this rose after his sister Heather Coulter (nee Heather Austin).

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Auscook’ / 'Heather Austin' originated by David Austin by crossing an unnamed, unpatented seedling with an unnamed, unpatented seedling which was a cross between a seed parent ‘Leander’ and a pollen parent ‘Chaucer’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The primary objective of this rose variety breeding was to create a new rose variety with greater repeat flowering, a more fully double flower, and increased strength and height.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

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

 Strong dark pink flowers;

 Attractive rounded flower which opens to show stamens;

 Repeat flowers well;

 Strong fragrance;

 Attractive shrubby, arching growth.

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 6