Rose James Galway

The strikingly beautiful flowers are mid pink at the centre, gradually becoming lighter towards the edges with medium Old rose fragrance. Very vigorous rose with upright, arching stems will easily occupy large space in a short time. Very consistent and healthy variety, it may not tolerate heat perfectly, but it will be all covered with flowers anyway.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
The following is a detailed description of ‘James Galway’ variety with color descriptions using terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society (London) Colour Chart, except where ordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated. Observations made from plants of 8 years of age grown in a garden environment at Albrighton, England in July, 1998 by David Austin.

FLOWER
‘James Galway’ has recurrent blooming habit, flowers from late spring / early summer until the frosts. The number of flowers per plant during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.

Flower bud:
The flower bud is medium size, about 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) long when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is short, globular. When the sepals first divide, the bud color is light blue pink (Group 56B and 56C) on the upper surface; the lower surface is light blue pink (Group 56C). When half blown the upper and the lowers surfaces of the petals are light blue pink (Group 56C).

The sepals have medium green colour (Group 143C), the average length is about 2 cm (0.8 inches) and the width is about 1.3 – 1.9 cm (0.5 inches to 0.75 inches). The sepals have broadly ovate shape, with acuminate apex; the surface texture is smooth with hairy edges. There are 3 normally appendaged sepals and 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacle is medium and funnel sized, about 0.5 – 0.8 cm (0.2-0.3 inches), and is slightly hairy. The colour of the receptacles is medium green (Group 143C) with tint of dark purple red (Group 59A).

Peduncle is stiff, medium sized, about 5 cm (2 inches) long and has prickly surface; the colour is light green (Group 144B) with dark purple red Group 59A blush on some.

Bloom:
The flowers are medium sized, with an average open size of about 7.5 cm (3 inches). They are born in small, flat clusters of 3 to 7 blooms on a strong stems with average length of the flowering stem of about 60 – 76 cm (25-30 inches).

When the flowers first open, they have flat rosette shape. And as the flower ages the outer petals curl back. The number of petals on an average flower under normal conditions is about 130.

The colour of the petals on the underside is light blue pink (Group 56C) on upper portion of the petals and slightly darker (Group 56D) in middle portion of the petals, finally fading to white (Group 155B) closer to the base of the petals. The major color on the upper side is light blue pink (Group 55C) on inner petals and lighter light blue pink (Group 56C) on outer petals.

The general tonality of the flowers at the end of the first day is light blue pink (Group 55C). At the end of the third day fades to lighter shades of light blue pink (Group 55D). With aging the color changes to a bluer shade of pink.

Flowers last on the plant under a normal growing conditions for a long period – about 15 days. As a cut flower - not tested.

Petals:
Petals of ‘James Galway’ have smooth texture; have orbicular and slightly quilled shape with undulate margin, the base shape is pointed and the apex has cuspidate shape. The tips of the petals slightly recurved on outer petals, edges slightly quilled on inner petals. The average length of the petals is about 4.2 cm (1.7 inches) and the width is 4 cm (1.6 inches) on average. Petals arrangement is irregular.

The average number of petaloids is about 7 per flower, have elliptical shape and medium blue pink colour (Group 55B). The average width is about 1.5 mm (0.6 inch) and the average length is about 2.5 mm (1 inch).

Petals hang on and dry out on the plant.

Fragrance:
The fragrance of ‘James Galway’ is medium with Old rose character.

Reproductive parts:
The number of stamens per flower is about 64, they are mixed with small petals in flower center.

The anthers have a length of 1.5 mm (5/32 inch) and dark yellow colour (Group 14A).

Filaments are medium yellow (Group 4B) and have length of about 3 mm (⅛ inch).

Pollen is dark yellow (Group 15A).

The number of pistils on the average flower is 55.

Styles have light yellow green colour (Group 1C) and the average length of 5 mm (1.2 inches).

Stigmas are light yellow green (Group 1C) and 1 mm long.

Hips are large, medium orange red (Group 42D), rounded or funnel shaped.

PLANT
‘James Galway’ has vigorous, sturdy growth habit. Forms upright, slightly arching shrub. The mature plant has height of 180 – 380 cm and the width is about 100 – 150 cm.

Foliage:
The quantity of foliage on the plant is normal, the number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is normally 5 to 7. The leaves are large, average length is about 14 cm (5.5 inches) and the average width is about 9.5 cm (3.75 inches).

The new foliage has dark brown green colour (Group 147A) on the upper side, and medium brown green colour (Group 138A) on the lower side. The old foliage is dark green (Group 139A) on the upper side and dark green (Group 137A) on the lower side.

Leaflets:
The normal mid-stem leaflets have width of 5 cm (2 inches) on average and the length of 5.7 cm (2.25 inches) on average. The shape of the leaflets is broadly oval with pointed apex and oblique and rounded base. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is small and single.

Petiole have dark brown purple colour (Group 178A).

Petiole rachis is light green (Group 144A) with dark brown purple (Group 183C) blush, the underside is smooth.

If auricle is present is has long points shape.

Stipules have average length of 1.9cm (0.75 inches), serrated.

Wood:
The new wood is dark brown purple (Group 183B) and light green (Group 144B) with smooth bark. And the old wood has smooth bark with some rough patches and dark brown green colour (Group 146B).

Prickles:
There is average quantity of prickles on the main stems from base, the top third of cane contains 15 prickles. On laterals from main canes the bottom third of the cane contains 5 prickles.

Prickles have hooked downward shape and length of about 8 mm (⅓ inch). The colour of the young prickles is dark brown purple (Group 184A); the colour of the mature prickles is medium brown purple (Group 185B).

Small prickles:
There are few small prickles on the main stalks and on the laterals from the main canes. If present, they have medium brown purple colour (Group 85B).

Disease resistance:
The variety showed good resistance to mildew, blackspot, botrytis and rust under normal growing conditions. Pest resistance not tested.

Has quite good winter hardiness, proved to be hardy in climate zones 5 - 9.

Named after the internationally acclaimed British flautist, to celebrate his 60th birthday. Sir James Galway delighted visitors to our display at the Chelsea Flower Show by playing his flute when this rose was released.

James Galway nicknamed "The Man with the Golden Flute". He established an international career as a solo flute player. In 2005, he received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music at the Classic Brit Awards.

English Climbing Rose

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY
This variety of rose of the shrub class which was originated by David Austin by crossing the variety ‘Ausblush’ / ‘Haritage’ (unpatented), with an unnamed seedling (unpatented).

Therefore the formula of cross pollination has following:

Seed parent - ‘Ausblush’ / ‘Haritage’, unpatented.

Pollen parent – unnamed, unpatented seedling.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY
The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a new rose variety having a very free-flowering and healthy growth with flowers of the classic English rose shape and with a good fragrance.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY
The objective was substantially achieved, along with other desirable improvements, as evidenced by the following unique combination of characteristics that are outstanding in the variety ‘Auscrystal’ / ‘James Galway’ and that distinguish it from its parents, as well as from all other varieties:

1. Warm, pale pink flowers;
2. 2. Medium to dark green foliage with bronzy tinge;
3. 3. Strong, almost thornless, arching growth; and
4. 4. Very flat rosette-shaped flowers.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by budding on Rosa dumetorum laxa rootstock, as performed at Albrighton, The UK, showed that the foregoing and all other characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS
‘Auscrystal’ / ‘James Galway’ plants have a strong, arching growth as compared to the more upright growth habit of ‘Ausblush’ / ‘Haritage’ and its flowers of about 130 petals are flat as compared the cupped shaped flowers of ‘Ausblush’ / ‘Haritage’ and the 50 petaled flower of the its pollen parent.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR
The most similar variety, ‘Ausglisten’ / ‘Cottage Rose’, is more upright and branching and its foliage is smaller and rougher than that of ‘Auscrystal’ / ‘James Galway’.

USDA zone 5 and warmer