Rose Mayor of Casterbridge

‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ is an English shrub rose of refined appearance, prized for its delicate Old rose charm and robust garden performance. It bears compact, cupped, pure soft pink blooms with lighter reverse that recall antique Damask roses, all borne on a vigorous, upright shrub. It flowers in abundant flushes from late spring well into autumn, offering a steady succession of color. Gardeners note its healthy, light green foliage and excellent overall hardiness. A gentle haze of pure pink that is simultaneously graceful and cottage-garden romantic, is equally suitable for growing as a focal specimen, in mixed borders or even trained on a small support, delivering a classic English rose effect coupled with modern vigor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ is a medium to large sized English shrub rose, with a bushy, arching form and many slender, arching canes arise from the base, giving the shrub an elegant vase shape that fills out well with foliage and blooms. The leaves are smallish for an English rose – a light green color, matte or softly satiny in sheen, with typical pinnate arrangement. Unlike the deep glossy foliage of some modern hybrids, ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ has a more subdued leaf color and texture, which contributes to its graceful, antique appearance in the garden. For unknown reasons it did not gain wide popularity and quickly became a collection item.

FLOWERING

‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ is a repeat bloomer, producing flushes of flowers from late spring into the fall. After the first strong flush in early summer, additional waves of bloom typically follow about every 4 - 6 weeks, as long as conditions are favorable. In each flush the plant bears numerous flowers - generally one or two per stem rather than large clusters - so the overall effect is many single blooms sprinkled over the bush. Even during a heavy bloom period the foliage remains largely intact, thanks to the cultivar’s good disease tolerance. In cooler or shadier climates the flowering season may be slightly shorter or lighter, but in full sun ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ has a steady, generous bloom habit.

Flower bud:

The flower buds of ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ are broadly ovate to nearly spherical, they are fairly plump and have a rounded profile. Buds emerge pale green with a subtle pink flush at the base of the outer petals; as they swell, the pink deepens, giving the buds a gentle rosy glow before opening. Each bud is held on a short, sturdy peduncle that is covered with numerous fine glandular hairs and a scattering of small reddish prickles. The sepals are of moderate length, around 2.5 - 3 cm (about 1 inch), lanceolate in shape and have softly hairy margins; they curl outwards to the receptacle slightly as the flower opens; there are 3 normally appendaged sepals and 2 unappendaged sepals with few glandular hairs.

Bloom:

The open flowers of rose ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ are very full, cupped at first and then transform into shallow-cupped form when the flower fully opens. The flowers are medium-sized, a single bloom measures roughly 7 - 8 cm (3 inches) in diameter when fully open. The open bloom presents as a tidy, many-petaled cupped rosette that looks exactly like an old garden rose. Petals overlap in concentric layers, creating a formal but relaxed rosette shape. Viewed from above, the flower is broadly circular, while from the side it is essentially flat or only slightly convex on the upper side (the lower side being flatter). The petals are carried only lightly outward at the edges, imparting a saucer-like profile rather than a deep cup. Each flower typically contains many petals, often of about 60 - 80 petals, giving a plush, dense look. As the bloom matures, the innermost petals slowly unfurl, sometimes revealing a subtle quartered pattern inside the rosette.

The colour of the opened flowers presents a clearest, purest soft pink with lighter reverse. In the descriptions, the petals are noted as nearly white at their middle and very pale pink overall with the outermost petal edges tinged a softer red-purple shades.The general colour effect is a gentle pastel pink: the central part of each blossom is very light, almost ivory-pink, while the outer petals carry a cool pink blush. This can make the flower appear paler from a distance, especially in bright light. There is sometimes a slight color shift as the bloom ages, with the pink tones fading by a shade or two; however, the contrast between center and edge usually remains discernible. The overall floral effect is an airy mass of elegant pale pink. Because the flowers open fairly cupped and do not reflex strongly, they create a garden effect of many softly rounded blossoms dotting the shrub.

Petals:

The petals of ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ are delicate yet reasonably sturdy. They are broadly ovate with smooth, entire edges. The outer petals are fairly broad and tend to lie nearly flat or recurve very gently outward, while the inner petals are slightly narrower and remain upright, contributing to the formal cupped rosette. Petal margins are generally entire; any scalloping or rippling is very slight, or described as “weak undulation” in formal records. The petal texture is satiny with a soft sheen but no heavy gloss.

The durability of the petals is moderate: under rain or hot sun the shallow blooms may become soggy and petals can wilt, but in normal conditions they hold up for a couple of days. As flowers age, the color may fade subtly: the center may lighten almost to white, and the pink edges may become less intense, but the petals do not usually darken. When the flower fades the petals tend to fall away cleanly and the spent bloom does not dry up into a persistent “mummy” on the plant if removed promptly.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ is light and sweet, of Fruity and Old rose character. Many rosarians compare it to a classic old rose or Damask scent, albeit lightly rendered. The fragrance adds a lovely old-fashioned element to the garden appearance, but it would not be chosen as a scented rose.

Reproductive parts:

Within the open flower, the stamens are numerous with pollen-bearing anthers that are pale yellow. In most blooms these golden stamens are mostly surrounded by the many petals and are not particularly prominent. The styles and stigma are pale green and sit just above the stamens when viewed in the side profile of the flower. After flowering, the plant can produce small to medium rose hips (seed vessels) of a typical pitcher or urn shape. These hips are generally about 1 - 2 cm in diameter and mature to a tan or orangey color. However, because the plant sets new buds continuously, hips often are undeveloped or few unless the gardener specifically leaves flowers to form them.

PLANT

Rose variety ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ is classified as a Shrub rose and it belongs to the English Shrub roses collection - a breeding group established by David Austin to capture Old rose beauty in repeat flowering shrubs. In a garden this rose forms medium to large bushy shrubs with an arching habit. The plant is moderately vigorous: it will quickly grow up to about 150 - 180 cm in a season given space and care, though it is not a climbing rose. Many slender, arching canes arise from the base, giving the shrub an elegant vase shape that fills out well with foliage and blooms. The mature and well-established plants of this rose typically reach an ultimate height of about 140 - 180 cm (4.6 - 5.1 ft) in height and of about 100 - 120 cm (3.3 - 4 ft) in spread; although the plants tend to have a more narrow form, especially in the first years.

This rose tolerates typical summer heat of temperate regions without trouble, though extreme drought will stress it as with any rose. It does best in full sun to partial sun and reasonably rich, well-drained soil. Unlike many modern hybrids, it can handle a little light shade without losing all bloom, but flowering is best in full sun.

It usually needs annual pruning to shape and renew wood. Pruning is done in early spring; one can safely cut back by one-third or more if needed. Thinning out a few old canes each year encourages strong new shoots. If untreated, old wood may wood over and reduce flowering; removing some older canes prevents that. Because the plant blooms on new wood, hard pruning will not sacrifice the season’s show. In colder climates, a mulch of compost or leaf mold helps protect the crown. In summary, cultural care for this rose is straightforward: plant in a sunny spot with good soil, water during dry spells, and prune each winter or early spring to renew.

Foliage:

There is a normal quantity of the foliage on the plants of this rose. The leaves of ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ are bright light green to medium green, matte, recalling older rose varieties. Leaf size is on the smaller side for English roses. Each compound leaf typically has 5 leaflets rounded-ovate leaflets, though some leaves may have only 3 to 7 leaflets, including the terminal leaflet. The upper surface of the leaves is flat to slightly concave, and the underside is paler. The veins are distinct but not deeply raised. New foliage emerges with a touch of bronze-red from anthocyanins and gradually turns a clear pale medium green. Through the summer the canopy is a soft, uniform green, providing an attractive contrast to the rosy blooms. In early autumn the foliage may take on a buttery yellow tint before dropping. This subtly colored foliage contributes to the ‘Old rose’ aura of the plant, as many old garden roses also have medium-toned, not glossy, leaves.

Leaflets:

The terminal leaflet averages about 5.3 cm long and 3.7 cm wide. The leaflet base is cordate to rounded, and the tip is acute, the surface is smooth; the edges of the leaflets are serrated, the type of serration is medium and single. Leaflets are borne on short petiolules (leaflet stems) that may carry a few tiny hairs or glands. The rachis (main leaf stem) is typically flat on top and may show slight hairiness, especially on new growth. Venation is alternate and pinnate, with a straight midrib and lateral veins that reach near the margins. Overall, the foliage structure is pinnate, with a longer terminal leaflet and smaller side leaflets and is typical of shrubs and old roses.

Wood:

The canes of ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ are sturdy and upright when young, gradually arching with age. New wood emerges reddish, quickly turning brown, then grey on mature stems. Branching is good: each cane produces many side shoots, so the shrub does not stay sparse even if the main stems are few. The internodes are of moderate length, so the shrub has a well-branched, twiggy appearance rather than bare gaps. The bark is smooth and does not peel noticeably. Growth rate is not excessively rapid; under normal garden conditions one season’s growth will typically carry the plant to near its mature height. Because the shape is bushy, ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ rarely requires staking, although it can be allowed to develop as a small climber provided a support, or left as a free-standing shrub.

Prickles:

The main prickles on this rose’s canes are relatively small. On first-year wood one finds both short and a few longer prickles, but their numbers are not excessive. Short prickles, measuring a few millimeters, are borne in medium density along the stems; longer prickles are few and widely spaced. The prickles are slender and somewhat straight, slightly hooked downward. Initially they are red-bronze in colour, matching the new shoot coloration, and they fade to a muted greyish or brownish tone on older wood.

Small prickles:

In addition to the larger prickles, very fine hair-like prickles and glandular hairs occur on new canes and on the flower stems. These are mostly so small as to be inconspicuous and serve mostly to make the stem feel rough.

Disease resistance and stress tolerance:

The ratings on disease resistance of the rose variety ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ are mixed. It generally has a normal disease resistance for a modern shrub rose, and in temperate gardens it is regarded as resistant to common rose diseases, specifically it shows good tolerance of black spot and powdery mildew - problems that plague many roses. In English rose trials it often remains largely clean-leaved through the season, unlike some older roses that can defoliate. Powdery mildew and rust are seldom severe on this cultivar; gardeners in climates prone to mildew still find it better than average. However in more warmer and wet, coastal climates it can be susceptible to black spot and powdery mildew, and in prolonged rain the flowers of this rose tend to ‘bowl’ and not open fully.

The plant is also reasonably wind-tolerant, owing to its strong canes. It copes with heat as well as most deciduous shrubs; in very hot dry weather it will benefit from supplemental water, though in normal rainfall it stays vigorous. In terms of winter hardiness, it is rated as hardy in climates similar to USDA zones 6 - 7 (–23 °C); severe winters a few degrees below that may kill back canes, though the plant usually resprouts from the base. In colder climates good mulching, protecting the union bud with the rootstock, or perhaps even better wintercover is highly recommended.

The name ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ comes from the title of a novel by Victorian author Thomas Hardy first published 1886, reflecting David Austin’s penchant for literary names.

‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ has not won any major international or national rose awards on record.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Ausbrid’ / 'Mayor of Casterbridge' originated by David C. H. Austin in England by crossing the English rose variety ’Charles Austin’ with the unnamed pollen parent from Austin’s own breeding program. The resulting seedling was selected by Austin for its exceptional form and vigor, then propagated vegetatively. Plant Breeders’ Rights were applied for in 1996, with protection granted in the UK and EU that year, and it entered broader commerce by 1997 under the name ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

Within the class of English Shrub roses, ‘Ausbrid’ / 'Mayor of Casterbridge' is distinctive for its particularly formal cupped roses and its pleasing foliage. It did not become one of the most famous Austin releases, but it has maintained a niche among growers who value its Old Rose charm, reasonable health and consistent performance. It has not been universally ubiquitous in rose trials or collections, yet it remains valued by enthusiasts and is still offered by specialty nurseries. Its subtle color and form fit well in both formal rose beds and informal cottage plantings, reflecting the versatile character Austin sought in his English roses.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

Rose ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ is an elegant English shrub rose combining classic form with modern vigor. It produces flushes of cupped, old-fashioned pink rosettes over light green foliage and stands up well to disease and cold. Its charm lies in the blending of graceful arching habit, extended flowering season, and the gentle, vintage pink color of its blooms, and it incorporated the following unique combination of characteristics:

  soft pastel pink, full Old rose style blooms with a lighter center and slightly darker edging (RHS near 155D, 64C);

  strong repeat flowering habit on a quite upright, narrow plant, usable also as a short climber;

  light, fruity and Old rose fragrance;

  good foliage health and vigor;

Propagation of ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ is typically done by grafting or budding onto hardy rootstock (such as Rosa × laxa or multiflora), as is common with modern roses. It also roots well from hardwood cuttings taken in late autumn, and can be grown from semi-ripe summer cuttings with reasonable success.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

‘Charles Austin’ produces large (about 10 cm), very full rosettes in warm apricot-yellow tones, whereas ‘Ausbrid’ / 'Mayor of Casterbridge' bears smaller (7 - 8 cm), very full cupped rosettes in cool pink. The fragrance of ‘Charles Austin’ is strong and Fruity; by contrast, the scent of 'Mayor of Casterbridge' is milder and more subtly Old Rose. In habit, ‘Charles Austin’ grows as a taller, rangier shrub (often exceeding 2 m) with large, bronzy, semi-glossy leaves, while ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ is somewhat shorter (around 1.5 - 1.8 m) and has smaller, matte leaves.

The pollen parent being unknown, therefore a direct comparison cannot be made.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

A close commercially available and comparable rose is English rose variety ‘Mary Rose’. Both roses produce warm pink, Old Rose styled flowers on hardy shrubs, but key differences distinguish them. ‘Mary Rose’ blooms open into warm, clear medium-pink, loosely cupped rosettes, whereas ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ flowers are a cooler, softer pink with lighter reverse and typically have a higher petal count in more flatter cupped rosette form. In fragrance, ‘Mary Rose’ offers a medium Old rose scent, while ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ has a lighter Fruity and Old Rose mix. Also the plants of ‘Mary Rose’ are more compact and shorter (about 1.2 - 1.5 m tall and wide), forming a bushy dome, while ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ grows somewhat taller and narrower (often around 1.8 m high and less wide) with a more loosely arching habit. Both repeat well through the season, but ‘Mary Rose’s bloom cycle is exceptionally continuous, whereas ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ blooms more freely but can have brief resting periods. In garden use, one might choose ‘Mary Rose’ for a dense hedge, whereas ‘Mayor of Casterbridge’ is favored when a bit more height or a trellis-trained effect is desired.

USDA 6

USDA Zone 6 - hardiness guide