Rose Noble Antony

Domed, full-petalled, deep pink blooms are set against dark green foliage creating a very attractive dark effect. The growth is bushy and relatively compact.

Flower buds are about 3.3 cm (1.3 inches) long when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is short, blunt topped, broad based. When sepals first divide, bud color is dark purple red (RHS 60A). When half open the upper sides of the outer petals are medium purple (67A) and of the inner petals are red-purple (RHS 66A) and the lower sides of the petals are medium purple (RHS 67C).

Sepals are medium green (RHS 144A) with an overlying blush of medium brown purple (RHS 184B). Surface texture is smooth, there are three lightly appendaged sepals and two unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

Receptacle medium green (RHS 144B/C) with an overlying blush of medium brown purple (RHS 184B). Shape of the funnel is wide cup, medium-sized, broad, about 0.7mm × 14 mm (0.3 inches×0.6 inches), the surface is smooth.

Peduncle are short, 3.3cm (about 1.3 inches); their surface is glandular, has light-green, bronzy colour, stiff, erect, heavy.

Blooms are large to medium. Average open size is about 9cm (3.5 inches). They borne mostly singly and several together in clusters of irregular shape of up to five blossoms. Stems are medium, strong. When first open the blooms are high centered. As the blooms continue to open they flatten slightly, all petals curl, the outer petals roll back on fully open bloom.

Number of petals under normal conditions: 85 to 90. The upper sides of the petals are magenta-red (RHS 66A). The reverse sides of the petals are dark blue pink (RHS 67B/C), the middle of the under side of the outer petals paling to light blue pink (RHS 65C) at the lightest to medium blue pink (RHS 65A). The base of each petal has a small yellow tip of medium yellow (RHS 5A). The major color on the upper sides is medium purple red (RHS 66A).

The general tonality of the flowers at the end of the first day are dark blue pink (67C). At the end of the third day: paler, more purple, less medium blue pink 67C/D.

Fragrance is moderate to strong, very sweet.

Petal’s texture is thin; shape of the deltoid on the inner side is narrow with notched apex; outer much broader. The tips are slightly recurved; outer petal edges roll back on fully open bloom. Their arrangement is imbricated, with a few petaloids in the center. Petals drop off cleanly before drying.

The flowers last on the plant about 4-5 days at normal conditions, as a cut flower - not tested.

Reproductive parts: Anthers have medium size, they are many, yellow; arranged regularly around styles, mixed with petaloids. Filaments are yellow; pollen - gold yellow; styles – greenish white, foliate. Stigmas - greenish white.

Forms neat bush. Mature plant height about 90 cm (36 inches), width about 80 cm (30 inches). Has vigorous, upright, branching, fairly compact growth. Number of leaflets on normal mid-stem is 5. They are medium or small sized, about 14 cm long and 9cm wide (5.5 inches × 3.5 inches). The new foliage is dark brown green (RHS 147A/B) with dark brown purple (RHS 183B/C) blush on margins. Old foliage is dark brown green (RHS 147A) on the upper surface and lower surface. Leaflets are broadly oval, elliptic and have pointed apex; the texture of the upper side is leathery, slightly glossy; the edge is serrated, the serration is doubled and small. Petiole rachis are green with reddish, their underside has prickles, 1-2 per internode. Stipules are medium, short, serrated (about 0.8 inches long).

New wood has reddish, medium green colour, the bark is smooth between the prickles. The old wood is green with reddish brown blotches, streaky; the bark is fairly rough. There are many to normal quantity of the prickles on the main canes from base; on laterals from main canes the number of prickles is from many to ordinary number. The prickles are medium, straight (T-shaped, i.e., wide base to narrow spike), their color when young is red and transparent; they are evenly distributed around stem. There is also many small Prickles and on main stalks and on laterals; they are brown on old stems, transparent red on young stems.

‘Noble Antony’ is resistant to mildew and blackspot under normal growing conditions at Albrighton, Wolverhampton, England.

Named after Mark Antony in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

English Shrub Roses

Originated by crossing unnamed seedlings. The primary objective of its breeding was to produce a new shrub rose variety having repeat flowering with old fashioned flowers of a crimson color. The objective was substantially achieved, along with other desirable improvements.

USDA zone 5 and warmer