Rose Penelope Lively

Elegant English rose with berry-red buds that open into medium-sized, cupped blooms of soft to mid pink, gently fading to a lavender hue over time. The flowers appear in graceful, open sprays, capturing timeless beauty and literary charm. Her fragrance is classic and summery, blending notes of raspberry, lemon, and a hint of myrrh, a scent as layered and refined as her namesake’s writing. Ideal for borders or mixed plantings, this variety brings a literary elegance and gentle fragrance to any garden.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Throughout this description of the rose variety 'Penelope Lively' is provided with color descriptions using terminology of the The Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society (2001), except where common terms of color definition are employed. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWERING

This rose variety has a recurrent flowering habit. Blooms in flushes with short breaks from summer until frosts. The number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.

Flower bud:

The flower buds of 'Penelope Lively' rose variety are medium sized, about 2.6 cm long and 2.3 cm in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is short pointed ovoid globular. When the sepals first divide, the bud color is red pink (Group 51A). When half open, the upper sides of the petals are medium blue pink (Group 55B) and the lower sides of the petals are medium blue pink (Group 62A).

Calyx is star-shaped when fully opened with the sepals folding back, the length is about 6.1 cm and the diameter is 6.1 cm.

The sepals have a length of about 2.5 cm and a width of 1 cm. The shape of the sepals is lanceolate, the surface texture is smooth, slightly hairy on the upper surface and smooth on the lower surface. The colour on the upper surface is medium brown green (Group 147C) often with irregular flashes of approximately dark purple red (Group 59B) and on the lower surface is medium brown green (Group 146C)often with flashes of approximately dark purple red (Group 59B). There are 2 to 3 lightly appendaged sepals and there are 2 to 3 unappendaged sepals with smooth glandular edges.

The receptacle is medium green (Group 143B), funnel shaped and has a smooth surface. The size of the receptacle is medium, about 1.1 cm long and about 1.2 cm in diameter.

The peduncle is medium to short, averaging to about 5 cm in length, of a normal strength and has a smooth surface. The colour of the peduncle is dark brown purple (Group 184A).

Bloom:

The flowers are large, the average diameter of the open flower is about 9 cm and average depth is about 3.1 cm. When first open, the flower form is globular, when the flower fully opens the form flattens, becomes quartered rosette, and the outer petals curl back. When viewed from the side the flowers have flat shape on the upper profile and flattened convex from the lower profile. Flowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 100 on average. The flowers are born in small clusters of a flat shape, of 4-14 blooms together. The peduncle has normal strength, medium, and has an average length of about 5 cm and a diameter of about 2 mm.

The colour of the upper sides of the petals is light blue pink (Group 56A) at the base transitioning to medium blue pink (Group 55B) towards the edges. The reverse sides of the petals are medium blue pink (Group 55B). The base of the petals has a small/medium basal spot of medium yellow (Group 3A). Under normal growing conditions no variegation is observed on the flowers of this rose variety.

The general tonality at the end of the first day is medium purple red (Group N57A), at the end of the third day the general tonality becomes lighter, medium blue pink (Group 55B).

Petals:

The texture of the petals is smooth, satiny and thin on both sides; the surface is smooth; the shape of the petals is obovate, the margins are mostly entire. The apex is rounded with notches and the base of the petals is acute, the edges are slightly quilled. Average length of the petals is about 3.9 cm and the width is about 3.7 cm. The arrangement of the petals is quartered.

Normally there are few petaloids present in the center of the flowers, 7 on average. Petaloids have medium blue pink colour (Group 55B), they are about 1.5 cm long and 8 mm width. Petaloids have obovate shape and irregular margins.

The petals of this rose variety have good self-cleaning quality, they normally drop off cleanly before drying. Under normal climate conditions the petals last fairly short, on the plant they last for about 3 - 5 days, as a cut flower their lastingness has not been tested yet..

Fragrance:

The fragrance of the rose 'Penelope Lively' is moderate to strong, and has an Old Rose and Fruity character, blending notes of raspberry, lemon, and a hint of myrrh.

Reproductive parts:

The number of stamens is 70-80 on average per flower, the length is about 10 mm, they are regular around styles mixed with petaloids.

The anthers have a length of about 2.5 mm and medium yellow orange colour (Group 23C).

The colour of the filaments is medium yellow (Group 8A) and medium purple (Group 61B), their length is 8 mm on average.

The pollen is medium yellow (Group 12A), the amount of pollen is scarce

The number of pistils is 50-55 on average, they are about 10 mm long.

The colour of the styles is white (Group 155A) and they are about 9 mm long.

Stigma is about 1 mm long and has medium yellow green colour (Group 154C).

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

PLANT

The rose variety 'Penelope Lively' is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. The growth character is moderately vigorous, upright and branching. Mature and well-established plant has a height of about 110 cm and the width of about 125 cm.

Foliage:

There is a normal quantity of the foliage on the plants of this rose variety. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is typically 5, including the terminal leaflet. The average flowering stem has about 6 - 10 leaves. The foliage is medium sized, about 17 cm long and about 13 cm wide.

The colour of the juvenile foliage on the upper side is medium brown (Group 175B) with central flash of medium green (Group 144A) while the lower side is medium brown (Group 176A). The mature foliage on the upper side is dark brown green (Group 147A) and on the lower side is dark brown green (Group 146B).

Leaflets:

The leaflets are large, about 6.7 cm long and are about 4 cm wide. The shape of the leaflets is pointed oval, the shape of the leaflet tip is acuminate and the base shape is rounded. The surface texture of the leaflets is leathery, glossy. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is single and large.

The petiole has medium brown purple colour (Group 185B) maturing to medium brown green (Group 138A), it is about 5.1 cm long and 2 mm in diameter, has a smooth surface with occasional prickle on underside.

The petiole rachis is typically dark green brown (Group 152A) with some medium brown purple colour (Group 185B). The underside surface of the petiole rachis is smooth with prickles.

The auricle is lanceolate, has a length of about 0.6 cm and about 2 mm wide. The colour of the auricle is medium green (Group 144A).

The stipules are 2.6 cm long and about 2 mm in width, have lateral shape with acute apex, the surface texture is smooth and has medium green colour (Group 144A).

The veins have dark brown green (Group 147A), the venation pattern is reticulate.

Wood:

The new wood of this rose variety has medium brown colour (Group 175A), the bark is smooth. The mature wood is medium green (Group 143A to 143B), the bark remains smooth.

Stems:

The number of lateral branches is 2 - 4 on average, they have a length of about 80-100 cm and the diameter is 0.8 - 0.9 cm on average. The mature stem has an average length of about 120 cm and the diameter of 10 mm, the internode distance is 8.5 cm. The stem pubescence is not observed on the stems of this rose variety. The above measurements are all variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.

Prickles:

There is an ordinary quantity or few prickles present on the main canes from base and on the laterals from main canes, about 6 -8 per 20 cm of the stem length. The shape of the prickles is slightly hooked downward to deep concave, the length is about 7 mm. The colour of the young prickles is dark purple (Group 61A); the mature prickles have dark purple red colour (Group 59A).

Small prickles:

There are few small prickles on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety, about 5 per 20 cm of the stem length. When they are young the colour is dark purple (Group 61A) and the colour of the mature small prickles dark purple red (Group 59A).

Disease resistance:

The rose variety 'Penelope Lively' has good resistance to most common rose diseases, in particular it is resistant to powdery mildew (podosphaera pannosa), downey mildew (peronospora species), blackspot (diplocarpon rosae) and rust (phragmidium tuberculatum) under normal growing conditions. The 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.

Named after Dame Penelope Margaret Lively, a British writer of fiction for both children and adults. Penelope Lively’s literary career spans multiple genres, from award-winning novels and short stories for both adults and children, to her beautifully written memoir Life in the Garden. Reflecting on her passions, Penelope writes, “The two central activities in my life – alongside writing – have been reading and gardening,” a sentiment perfectly woven throughout the pages of her memoir.

Gardening runs deep in her heritage. Her grandmother designed a lush, Gertrude Jekyll-inspired garden, while her mother created an English-style oasis in Egypt, complete with lawns, lily ponds, and a rose garden — a setting that left a lasting impression on Penelope’s early life and memories.

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Ausb18a15’ / 'Penelope Lively' originated in the nursery of David Austin Roses Limited (UK) by David Austin and Carl Bennett by crossing the two ‘unnamed’ and unpatented seedlings of class Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The primary objective of this rose variety breeding was to create a new rose variety with sprays of cupped mid-pink blooms, and medium-sized, bushy shrub with a medium-strong Old Rose and fruity fragrance.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The objective was achieved, along with other important improvements, and this rose variety incorporated the following unique combination of characteristics:

 sprays of cupped, mid-pink blooms;

 medium strong Old Rose/fruity fragrance;

 medium-sized, bushy shrub capable of repeat flowering.

Asexual reproduction of this variety by budding showed that the foregoing and all other characteristics and distinctions came true to form, established and transmitted through the succeeding propagations.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The ‘Ausb18a15’ / ‘Penelope Lively’ may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the following combination of characteristics:

 the seed parent is paler in color and has a climbing growth habit when compared to ‘Ausb18a15’ / ‘Penelope Lively’.

The ‘Ausb18a15’ / ‘Penelope Lively’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent by the following combination of characteristics:

 the pollen parent has very few petals and a climbing growth habit when compared to ‘Ausb18a15’ / ‘Penelope Lively’ which is a shrub rose.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The most similar rose cultivar to the rose variety ‘Ausb18a15’ / ‘Penelope Lively’ is the English shrub rose ‘Ausmerchant’ / ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’ and they be distinguished by the following combination of characteristics:

 Both blooms are similar in color, however, ‘Ausmerchant’ / ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’ has more petals (approx. 130) when compared to ‘Ausb18a15’ / ‘Penelope Lively’ (approx. 100);

 ‘Ausb18a15’ / ‘Penelope Lively’ also has a different fragrance of Old Rose and Fruits, when compared to ‘Ausmerchant’ / ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’ which has a strong Tea fragrance.

  There is also a difference in the growth habit, with ‘Ausb18a15’ / ‘Penelope Lively’ having a semi-upright growth habit, whereas ‘Ausmerchant’ / ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’ is moderately spreading in its growth.

 Finally, the leaf glossiness of the upper side is stronger on ‘Ausb18a15’ / ‘Penelope Lively’ when compared to ‘Ausmerchant’ / ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’.

USDA 5