Rose Lichfield Angel
Aroma:
Health:
Characteristics
Main color: Cream
Color: Cream
Flowering: Repeat flowering
Flower size: Large
Flower: Very full, cupped, rosette, in small clusters
Foliage: Dark green, medium, semi-glossy, leathery
Aroma: Light, Musk
Class: Shrub rose
Sub-class: English rose, Shrub rose
Type: Large shrub
Growth type: Arching, bushy
Height: 120 - 140 cm / 3' 11" - 4' 7"
Width: 90 - 140 cm / 2' 11" - 4' 7"
Description
The flowers of ‘Lichfield Angel’ commence as charming little peachy pink cups, gradually opening to form neatly cupped rosettes, each with a perfect ring of creamy-apricot waxy petals enclosing numerous smaller petals. Eventually the petals turn back to form a domed, creamy-white flower. It is particularly free flowering, the overall effect in the mass being almost pure white. ‘Lichfield Angel’ will form a vigorous, rounded shrub which, with its blooms nodding attractively on the branch, will make a fine sight. The fragrance is generally light but is strongly clove at one stage.
DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
The following detailed description of the rose variety ‘Lichfield Angel’ is based on the Royal Horticultural Society (London) Colour Chart (2001). Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, agricultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.
FLOWER
‘Lichfield Angel’ has a recurrent blooming habit, providing a profusion of blooms throughout the growing season. The number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.
Flower bud:
The size of the flower bud is approximately 3 cm long and 2 cm in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The shape of the bud is pointed ovoid. When the sepals first divide, the bud colour is light green brown (Group 160C) with patches of dark red (Group 53B). As the bloom begins to open, the upper sides of the petals are white (Group 155A), while the lower sides are light yellow orange (Group 11D).
The sepals are about 2.5 cm long and 1.0 cm wide, they are subulate in shape with pubescent upper surfaces and smooth lower surfaces. The sepals measure 2.5 cm in length and 1 cm in width. The upper surface of the sepals has medium brown green colour (Group 147C), overlaid with medium brown purple (Group 183D) near the tips and the lower surface of the sepals is medium green (Group 144A). There are usually 3 lightly appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with canescent edges.
The receptacles are small, campanulate shaped, with a smooth surface, about 1 cm long and 1 cm wide. Their colour is medium green (Group 144A).
The peduncle is medium sized, bending and rather weak for such large flowers, averaging to about 6 cm in length, and has smooth surface texture. The colour of the peduncle is light green (Group 144A).
Bloom:
The flowers are very large, with an open diameter of about 8.6 cm. When first open, the blooms are cupped. They open to form neatly cupped rosettes as they mature, with the outer petals curling back. Flowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 95 - 100 on average. Flowers are borne in irregular compound corymb clusters, typically with four to five flowers. The flowering stems are moderately strong, with an average length of 30 cm and a diameter of 0.6 cm.
The colour of the upper sides of the petals is light yellow orange (Group 158B) and the reverse sides of the petals are light yellow (Group 8D). The base of the petals has medium yellow colour (Group 8A). Under normal growing conditions no variegation is observed on its flowers. Petals are susceptible to rain spotting, with pink spots sometimes appearing on the reverse sides of the outer petals.
The general tonality of the flowers at the end of the first day is light yellow orange (Group 158B). At the end of the third day the colour becomes much lighter, white (Group 155A).
Petals:
The surface and texture of the petals is smooth. Petals are rather large, approximately 2.7 cm wide and 4.0 cm long. The shape of the petals is obovate with entire margins; some petals may be slightly notched. The base of the petals is cuneate and the shape of the apex is obtuse, with some cuspidate tips. The form of the petals is incurved and their arrangement is imbricated.
Petaloids are not observed on the flowers of ‘Lichfield Angel’ under normal growing conditions.
Petals drop off cleanly from the plant before drying. Blooms last on a plant fairly long, approximately 4 days on the plant. The variety’s performance as a cut flower has not been tested.
Fragrance:
The fragrance of ‘Lichfield Angel’ is light, with Musk character where fruity undertones combined with strong hints of clove.
Reproductive parts:
The number of stamens per flower is 55 on average, they have an average length of about 10 mm.
The anthers have length of about 2 mm, their colour is medium yellow orange (Group 16A), and they are usually regularly arranged around the styles.
The filaments are medium yellow (Group 8A) and are about 8 mm long.
The pollen has medium yellow orange colour (Group 16A).
Number of pistils is 55 on average, they have a length of about 9 mm.
The styles are light yellow green (Group 1C), about 8 mm in length.
Stigmas are light yellow green (Group 2C) and are about 1 mm long.
The hips of this rose variety are not observed yet.
PLANT
‘Lichfield Angel’ is classified as a shrub rose with vigorous and well-balanced shrub, forming a rounded shape as it matures. At maturity, the plant reaches about 120 - 140 cm in height and 90 - 140 cm in width, providing a dense and robust structure ideal for garden beds and borders. The plant reaches maturity within two years of growth.
‘Lichfield Angel’ is a versatile addition to any garden. This rose exhibits outstanding disease resistance, making it a reliable choice for gardeners. It will be very useful in a border, as it will go well with all other colours and will act as an intermediary between pinks and yellows.
Foliage:
There is a normal quantity on this variety’s plants. The number of leaves per flowering stem is 10 under normal growing conditions. Typically 5 to 7 leaflets per mid-stem leaf, including the terminal leaflet. The leaves are medium sized, about 14.8 cm long and about 12 cm wide.
The new foliage on the upper surface and on the lower surface is dark brown green (Group 146A) with dark brown purple (Group 183C) concentrated around the margins. The adult foliage on the upper surface is dark brown green (Group 147A) on the lower side is medium brown green (Group 137C).
Leaflets:
The leaflets are medium sized, about 6.9 cm long and about 4.4 cm wide. The shape of the leaflets is pointed oval with a rounded base and an acuminate apex. The leaflet’s surface texture is smooth and semi-glossy, leathery, the edges are serrated; the type of serration is single and large.
Petioles have light green colour (Group 144C), the length is 3.5 cm on average and the width is about 2 mm; the surface texture is smooth.
Petiole rachis has light green colour (Group 144C), the underside is with prickles.
The stipules have medium green colour (Group 144A), the length varying about 2 cm, and they are erose and glandular.
The auricle is subulate, the length is about 5 mm and the width is about 2 mm. The colour of the auricle is dark brown green (Group 137B).
The vein color is light green (Group 145C), the venation pattern is reticulate (net-veined).
Wood:
The colour of the new wood is medium green (Group 144A), the bark is smooth. The mature wood also has medium green colour (Group 144A) and the bark is smooth.
Stems:
The mature stem has a length of about 30 cm and the diameter is 6 mm, the internode distance is about 6 cm. On the branches of this variety there is no stem pubescence observed. The above measurements are all variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.
Prickles:
There are few prickles on the main canes from the base and on the laterals from main canes of this rose, about 5 per 10 cm of the stem length. The shape is concave curved inward, the length is 7 mm on average. The colour of the young and of the mature prickles is medium brown purple (Group 181A).
Small prickles:
The small prickles normally are not observed on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes of ‘Lichfield Angel’.
Disease resistance:
‘Lichfield Angel’ demonstrates a strong resistance to powdery and downy mildew, blackspot, and rust in normal growing conditions. 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.
Name origin
Named after an 8th century limestone sculptured panel, discovered in Lichfield Cathedral, Staffordshire, UK. ‘The Lichfield Angel’ is a limestone sculptured panel dating from the 8th century which was discovered in Lichfield Cathedral. It depicts St. Chad and still bears the remnants of Saxon paint.
Rose Series
English Shrub Roses
Awards
Award of Garden Merit (RHS/RNRS), Award of Garden Merit (RHS/RNRS), 2006;
RNRS Trial Ground Certificate, Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) Show or Trials, 2008;
Gifu - Best Floribunda, Gifu Rose Trials, 2010;
Gifu Silver Medal, Gifu Rose Trials, 2010;
Parentage
ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY
The rose variety ‘Ausrelate’ / ‘Lichfield Angel’ is classified as a Shrub rose, and was developed by crossing two unnamed, unpatented seedlings of Rosa hybrida.
BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY
The objective of this rose variety breeding was to combine the qualities of repeat flowering, creamy-white blooms, and a vigorous, healthy growth habit.
SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY
Among the features which distinguish ‘Ausrelate’ / ‘Lichfield Angel’ from other presently available and commercial rose varieties is the following combination of characteristics:
blooms which start as peachy-pink cupped rosettes and which become domed, creamy-white blooms;
a vigorous, well balanced and rounded shrub;
a light fragrance with strong notes of clove;
Asexual reproduction of this variety by budding as performed in greenhouses at Bowling Green Lane in Albrighton, The UK showed that the foregoing and other distinguishing characteristics came true to form and established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘Ausrelate’ / ‘Lichfield Angel’ may be asexually propagated by budding.
COMPARISON WITH PARENTS
‘Ausrelate’ / ‘Lichfield Angel’ rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the following combination of characteristics:
whereas the seed parent has single blooms and grey-green foliage compared with the double blooms and dark green foliage of ‘Ausrelate’ / ‘Lichfield Angel’;
Rose variety ‘Ausrelate’ / ‘Lichfield Angel’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent, by the following combination of characteristics:
the pollen parent has apricot-orange blooms compared with the creamy-white blooms of ‘Ausrelate’ / ‘Lichfield Angel’.
COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR
The closest commercially available cultivar to the variety ‘Ausrelate’ / ‘Lichfield Angel’ is the ‘Auslevel’ / ‘Glamis Castle’ , and they can be distinguished by the following combination of characteristics:
‘Auslevel’ / ‘Glamis Castle’ has more petals per bloom than ‘Ausrelate’ / ‘Lichfield Angel’ and has larger, less glossy foliage;
In addition, the ‘Ausrelate’ / ‘Lichfield Angel’ has a touch of apricot in its creamy-white blooms whereas ‘AUSlevel’ / ‘Glamis Castle’ does not.
Climate zones
USDA 5
Gardening design tips
Growing tips
Health
Black spots:
Mildew:
Botrytis:
Rust:
Rain resistance:
Cold hardy:
Heat resistance:
Published Oct. 17, 2024, 11:22 a.m. by Yuri Osadchyi