Rose Juliet

’Juliet' rose had already become a signature rose for David Austin’s Wedding and Event Roses collection. It quickly became very popular among the florists for its luminous peach colour and her distinctive cupped quartered rosette shape. Her glowing petals shine with every semitone from soft peach to warm apricot. Her elegant beauty already made her an iconic and ultimately a classic florist's rose.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
The following detailed description of the rose variety ‘Juliet’ is provided with color descriptions using terminology of the The Royal Horticultural Society (London) Colour Chart (2001), except where ordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated.

FLOWER

The flowering habit is continuous, as this rose variety was primarily bred for cut flower production in greenhouse conditions. In greenhouse conditions, it is able to bloom all year round.

Flower bud:

The flower buds are medium sized, about 2 cm long and 1.3 cm in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is pointed ovoid. When the sepals first divide, the bud color is light orange (Group 28C). When it is half open, the upper sides of the petals are light orange pink (Group 29C); and the lower sides of the petals are light red pink (Group 36C).

The sepals on the upper surface have medium brown green colour (Group 138B) and the lower surface are medium brown green (Group 137C). The sepals are about 2.6 cm long and about 1.1 cm wide. The shape of the sepals is subulate, the surface texture on the upper surface is smooth and on the lower surface is pubescent. There are 3 lightly appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with canescent edges.

The receptacle is medium green (Group 143C), medium sized, about 1 cm long and about 1 cm wide, has campanulate shape and smooth surface.

The peduncle is medium sized and strong, averaging to about 6 cm in length. The surface is smooth and has medium green colour (Group 144A).

Bloom:

The flowers of this rose are large, the average open diameter of the flower is about 10.2 cm. When first open the flowers have a cupped shape, the flower form persists until the end, only the very edges of the outer petals curl slightly. Th eflowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 92 on average.

The flowers are usually borne in corymb-shaped clusters of two to three blooms. If you prefer to use the flowers for cut flower production the buds may be nipped out to leave a single bloom, which leads to larger and more beautifully shaped single flowers. The flowering stems are strong and long, the average length is about 55 cm with a diameter of 5 mm.

The colour of the flowers on the upper sides of the petals are medium yellow orange (Group 22C) while the reverse sides of the petals are light yellow orange (Group 20D). The bases of the petals are light green blue (Group 12B). The major color on the upper sides is medium yellow orange (Group 22C). The variegations is not observed on the flowers of this variety.

The colour persistence on the flowers of this variety is very good. The general tonality of the flowers at the end of the first day is medium yellow orange (Group 22C). At the end of the third day it becomes more light orange pink (Group 27C).

Petals:

The petals are large, are about 4.5 cm in length and are about 3.8 cm in width. The texture of the petals is satiny and the surface is smooth. The petals have rounded shape with cuspidate apex shape and pointed base shape, the margins of the petals are entire and reflexing. The form of the petals is incurved with tips slightly recurved. The arrangement of the petals is quartered.

There are usually few petaliods present on the flowers, the number is about 6 per flower, and they have medium yellow orange colour (Group 13C).

The petals usually hang on and dry on the plant, therefore when grown in garden conditions it is recommended to ensure timely deadheading to keep the plant tidy and healthy.

The petals last on the plant for quite a long period, for about 6-8 days. As a cut flower they also last for about 6 to 8 days.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of ‘Juliet’ rose variety is light and with a Tea character.

Reproductive parts:

The number of stamens per flower is 70 on average, their length is about 10 mm.

The anthers are about 2 mm long and have medium yellow orange colour (Group 17A), and they are often mixed with petaloids.

The filaments are dark yellow (Group 13A) and have a length of about 8 mm.

The colour of the pollen is medium yellow orange (Group 17A).

The number of pistils is 30 on average, and they are about 12 mm long.

The styles are about 11 mm long and have light green colour (Group 157A).

The stigmas are about 1 mm long and have medium yellow orange colour (Group 11A).

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

PLANT

Although the rose variety ‘Juliet’ has mostly features of the Hybrid Tea and Florists roses, it is classified as a Modern Shrub rose. This rose is a part of David Austin’s Wedding and Event Roses collection. It has a vigorous, upright and bushy growth habit. The plant matures rather quickly, in the second growing season. Hwn mature and well-established can reach up to 110 - 120 cm in height and about 75 cm in diameter.

The variety is bred for cut flower production in greenhouse environment therefore in garden conditions is susceptible to common rose diseases.

Foliage:

There is a normal quantity of the foliage on the plants of this variety. The average number of leaflets on the normal mid stem leaf is 7 under normal growing conditions. The leaves are large, about 17.5 cm long and about 14 cm wide. The colour of the new foliage on the upper side is dark brown green (Group 146A) and on the lower side medium brown green (Group 146C) with a tint of brown red (Group 178C). The mature foliage on the upper side is dark green (Group 139A) and on the lower side medium brown green (Group 138A).

Leaflets:

The leaflets of “Juliet’ rose are large, about 8 cm long and about 5 cm wide. The shape of the leaflets is oval, with obtuse base shape and cuspidate apex. The surface texture of the leaflets is smooth, leathery, the upper surface is matte on young and mature leaflets. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is medium and single.

The colour of the petiole is light green (Group 144B). The petiole rachis is light green (Group 144B) and its underside is with prickles. The stipules are about 1.7 cm long. The auricles are elongated and awl-shaped.

The veins have light green colour (Group 145C), the venation pattern is reticulate.

Wood:

The new wood of ‘Juliet’ rose has medium green colour (Group 144A) and smooth bark. The old wood is medium brown green (Group 137C) and its bark is also smooth. The internode distance on the stems is 9 cm on average. The mature and well established plant is able to produce about 15-17 flowering stems per vegetation season.

Prickles:

The quantity of prickles on the main canes from base is ordinary, about 16 per 5 cm of the stem length. On laterals from the main canes there is also an ordinary quantity of prickles, about 13 per 30 cm of the stem’s length. The shape of the prickles is hooked downward, the average length is 8 mm. Color of the young prickles is light green brown (Group 160A) with a tint of red.The colour of the mature prickles is medium red (Group N34B) with light green brown (Group 160C) closer to the base.

Small prickles:

Under normal growing conditions the small prickles are not observed on the main canes as well as on the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety.

Disease resistance:

The rose variety ‘Juliet’ is disease resistant, particularly to mildew, blackspot and rust in greenhouse conditions, with on average day temperature maintained at 17.5 degrees C. In open air and garden conditions it is susceptible to mildew and black spot. The pest resistance has not been tested yet.

The cold hardiness is rather weak, it is not well suited for cold winters, however it is recorded that it can withstand winter in the garden in climates similar to USDA 7 and warmer.

‘Juliet’ had debuted on a world stage in 2006 at the Chelsea Flower Show and took the floral world by storm. It became a phenomenon not only because of its beauty but it also became the most expensive rose ever developed. Same year it also became the world’s most expensive rose cultivar ever sold - $15.8 million in 2006.

It is described as follows -Juliet is not camera-shy and loves to perform across any style you desire. She is ethereal with soft-toned, blush pinks, whites and silver greys. Equally, she can be dramatic and bold.

Wedding and Event Roses collection

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The distinct rose variety named ‘Ausjameson’ / ‘Juliet’ originated by Davud Austin by crossing an unnamed, unpatented seedling with an unnamed, unpatented seedling.

It was stated that David Austin had spent $5 million over the course of 15 years to create this fabulous rose hybrid .

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The primary objective of this rose breeding was to produce a very free flowering and healthy variety rose plant, having pink blooms tinted with apricot at the center, and which forms a broad, dense shrub.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

After 15 years of the breeding the objective was substantially achieved, along with other desirable improvements, which are unique in this rose variety:

 Apricot, cupped quartered rosette-shaped blooms.

 Upright growth.

 Light, Tea fragrance.

 Suitable for cut flower production under greenhouse conditions.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

‘Ausjameson’ / ‘Juliet’ has apricot cupped rosette-shaped blooms which differ from the large, white, globular blooms of the seed parent and the soft yellow blooms of the pollen parent and its growth is less compact than that of its pollen parent.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The most similar rose variaty available on the market is ‘Aussaucer’ / ‘Evelyn’ which has an Old Rose fragrance and more petals than ‘Ausjameson’ / ‘Juliet’.

USDA 7