Rose Oberon

‘Oberon’ has flowers that could be compared to those of an old Gallica Rose. They are cupped and slightly incurved rosette shaped and a rich purple-mauve, with a strong Old Rose fragrance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following detailed description of the rose variety ‘Oberon’ 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 is suitable for cut flower production under greenhouse conditions. In greenhouse conditions, it is able to bloom all year round.

Flower bud:

The flower bud has a pointed ovoid shape. The length of the flower bud is about 2.6 cm long and 1.8 cm in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. When sepals first divide, the bud color is dark purple red (Group 53A). When it is half opened, the upper sides of the petals are red-purple (Group 71C); and the lower sides of the petals are dark blue pink (Group 72C).

The sepals are elongated awl-shaped, their surface texture on the upper surface is pubescent, and the lower surface is smooth. The length of the sepals is 3.3 cm and the width is about 0.8 cm. The colour of the sepals in the upper surface is medium green (Group 143C) with light green (Group 144B patches), and on the lower surface is medium green (Group 143C). There are 3 heavily appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with canescent edges.

The receptacle is medium sized, about 0.7 cm long and about 0.9 cm wide, has campanulate shape and smooth surface. The colour of the receptacle is light green (Group 144C).

The peduncle is strong, long averaging to about 12 cm in length, slightly bending. The surface of the peduncle is prickly and has dark brown green colour (Group 146A).

Bloom:

The flowers of ‘Oberon’ are large, when fully open the average diameter is about 10.4 cm. When they first open the flowers have cupped and slightly incurved rosette shape, the flower form persists until the end, the outer petal edges curl back. The flowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 157 on average.

The flowers are borne several together, of 2 to 5 flower buds together in corymb shaped clusters of two to three blooms. For cut flower production buds may be nipped out to leave a single bloom. The flowering stems are strong, the average length is about 50 cm with a diameter of 5 mm. Single plant is able to produce about 15-17 flowering stems per season.

The colour of the upper sides of the petals are medium violet (Group 77B) blended with Red-Purple Group 67B). The reverse sides of the petals are medium violet (Group 77B) blended with dark blue pink (Group 67B). The bases of the petals are light yellow (Group 10B). The major color on the upper side is medium violet (Group 77B) and dark blue pink (Group 67B) in equal measure. Under normal growing conditions the variegation is not observed on the flowers of this rose variety.

The general tonality at the end of the first day is medium violet (Group 77B) . The colour persistence is very good. At the end of the third day there is no change of color observed on the flowers of this variety. With further aging there is strong bluing.

Petals:

The petals have a smooth surface and texture. The length of the petals is 5.5 cm on average and their width is about 4.8 cm on average. The shape is broad, obovate with an entire margin and slightly undulating. The shape of the apex is emarginate and the base is rounded. The form of the petals is flat, tips of mid to outer petals are slightly recurved. The petals arrangement is quartered.

The number of petaloids per flower is 24 on average and they have medium purple colour (Group 67A).

The petals usually hang on and dry on a plant. It is highly recommended to ensure timely deadheading to keep the plant tidy and healthy.

The petals last on the plant for a long period, about 5-7 days on a plant and about the same period of time when used as a cut flower.

Fragrance:

‘Oberon’ has a strong and powerful fragrance with a prominent ‘Old’ rose character.

Reproductive parts:

There are usually 44 stamens per flower. The length of the stamens is 7 mm on average.

The anthers are medium yellow orange (Group 17C) and are about 3 mm long; they are mixed with petaloids.

The filaments have brown red colour (Group 180C) and are about 4 mm long.

The pollen is medium yellow orange in colour (Group 17C).

The number of pistils is 109 on average and they have a length of about 11 mm.

The styles are medium purple red (Group 54B) and have a length of 10 mm on average.

The stigmas are about 1 mm long and have light green brown colour (Group 160B).

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

PLANT

The rose variety ‘Oberon’ is classified as a Modern Shrub rose. The growth habit is vigorous, upright and bushy. The rose variety is energetic and matures rather quickly, the mature and established plant has a height of about 130 cm and the width of about 50 cm.

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

Foliage:

There is a normal quantity of foliage on the plants of this rose variety. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is generally 5, including the terminal leaflet. The average number of leaves per flowering stem is 7. The leaves are large, about 16.1 cm long and are about 15 cm wide.

The new foliage on the upper side is dark brown green (Group 146A) overlaid with dark brown purple (Group 178A) while the lower side is light green (Group 144A) overlaid with dark brown purple (Group 178A). The mature foliage on the upper side is dark green (Group 139A) and on the lower side is dark brown green (Group N138B) with red venation. The upper surface of new and old foliage is semi-glossy.

Leaflets:

The leaflets are large, broadly oval, about 8.9 cm long and 5.2 cm wide. The leaflets have rounded base shape and acuminate apex. The surface texture is leathery, semi-glossy and smooth. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is double and medium.

The colour of the petiole is dark green brown (Group 152B). The petiole rachis has dark green brown colour (Group152B) and the underside surface is covered with prickles.

The stipules are about 1.5 cm long and glandular. The auricle if present has a linear shape.

The veins have medium brown colour (Group 174B), the venation pattern is reticulate.

Wood:

The new wood has dark brown purple colour (Group 178A) and smooth bark. The mature wood is dark brown green (Group 146A) with a bronze tint, the bark is smooth as well. The internode dispense on the stems is about 6 cm.

Prickles:

There is an ordinary quantity of prickles on the main canes from the base of this rose variety, about 18 per 15 cm of the stem length. On laterals from main canes there are few prickles, about 7 per 30 cm of the stem length. The shape of the prickles is hooked downward, they have a length of 1.2 mm on average. When young the prickles have dark green brown colour (Group 152B). The mature prickles have the same dark green brown colour (Group 152B) with medium brown (Group 176A) at tip.

Small prickles:

The quantity of the small prickles on the main canes from the base is few, about 5 per 5 cm of the stem length. On laterals from the main canes the small prickles are not observed. The colour of the young prickles is dark green brown (Group 152B) with medium brown (Group 176A) at tip. When mature the small prickles have grey brown colour (Group 199C).

Disease resistance:

The rose variety ‘Oberon’ is disease resistant, particularly to mildew, blackspot and rust in greenhouse conditions, with on average day temperature maintained at 17.5 degrees C. Disease resistance in a garden environment and 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.

Named after the character in William Shakespeare's play ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’. Oberon is a King of the Fairies and spouse of Titania, Queen of the Fairies.

Wedding and Event Roses collection

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The rose variety named ‘Ausvisit’ / ‘Oberon’ originated by David Austin by crossing an unnamed, unpatented seedling with an unnamed, unpatented seedling.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The primary objective of this rose breeding was to produce a new florists rose suitable for year round cut flower production under standard greenhouse conditions having deep purple blooms with a strong Old Rose fragrance and a long vase life, produced on strong, upright stems.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The objective was substantially achieved, along with other desirable improvements, as evidenced by the following unique combination of characteristics of this rose variety:

 Deeply cupped, rich purple blooms.

 Upright growth.

 Strong Old Rose perfume.

 Suitable for cut flower production under greenhouse conditions.

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

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

‘Ausvisit’ / ‘Oberon’ has deep purple blooms in the Old Rose style which differ from the seed parent's lilac/bush blooms of Hybrid Tea form and the crimson purple, smaller blooms of the pollen parent. The pollen parent also has more prickles than the ‘Ausvisit’ / ‘Oberon’ .

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The most similar rose variety is ‘Ausvelvet’ / ‘The Prince’ which has fewer petals and is rich crimson in color.

USDA 7