Rose Phoebe

'Phoebe' is a modern English florist and wedding rose of unusual warmth and refinement, combining a richly petalled rosette with a luminous progression of apricot-coral, flamingo pink, and softer rose-pink. Its flowers are very full with a distinctive rosette formation in the centre, a small button eye, and a light-to-moderate fruity-floral fragrance touched with violet and red apple. It has been selected for premium cut-flower production, yet its patent also describes it as an upright shrub potentially useful for landscape ornament, making it of particular interest to collectors who wish to experiment with florist roses outdoors.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The essential visual beauty of 'Phoebe' lies in the meeting of a disciplined florist-rose stem with a flower that appears much less formal. A relatively modest bud expands into a broad, very full rosette whose colouration is deliberately complex: the bloom begins compact, expands radially, and at full maturity becomes a broad, relatively shallow rosette whose innumerable inner petals supply the depth and starry intricacy. The effect of the opened flower is flamingo pink, warmed at the center by coral and apricot-orange shades before passing outward into softer natural pink. The central petals form an inner star around a miniature button eye, giving the open bloom a recognizable English rose quality even though the flower is being grown and marketed as a premium cut rose.

For modern gardens its promise is considerable but should be interpreted responsibly. The patent explicitly states that the plant can serve as ornament in gardens and residential landscapes; nevertheless, virtually all detailed performance observations so far published for 'Phoebe' were made under greenhouse or commercial cut-flower conditions. A serious gardener should therefore regard 'Phoebe' as an experimental landscape shrub with unusually well-documented greenhouse botany, rather than as an established, field-tested English garden rose with decades of evidence behind its hardiness and disease behavior. That distinction is particularly important in continental, cold-winter, hot-summer, or very humid climates.

FLOWERING

The rose variety 'Phoebe' has a repeat flowering habit, with flowering that can continue throughout the year when plants are maintained in a warm greenhouse, producing blooms abundantly on a substantially continuous basis. Outdoors in a temperate garden, however, it would be more realistic to expect recurrent flushes governed by temperature, light, nutrition, pruning, and the length of the growing season, rather than literal twelve-month flowering.

Flower bud:

The bud of 'Phoebe' is short and blunt-topped, approximately 2.6 cm (1.0 in) long and 1.8 cm (0.7 in) wide before opening. When the petals begin to show, their exposed upper surfaces fall near vivid reddish-orange (RHS group 30A) and the undersides near light orange (group 28D). Such warm juvenile coloring explains why the flower can appear distinctly apricot-coral in its earliest stages before the pink and red-purple shades become visually dominant.

The flower is carried on a peduncle approximately 7 cm (2.8 in) long and 0.3 cm (0.12 in) in diameter, deep yellowish green in color (group 144C ) and has a smooth surface texture but furnished with prickles.

There are typically two lightly appendaged sepals and three unappendaged sepals; they are lanceolate in shape with acuminate tips, approximately 3.2 cm (1.3 in) long and 0.9 cm (0.35 in) wide. The upper surface of the sepals is medium yellow green (Green Group 139C), while the under surface is deep yellow green (group 143B), the surface is smooth to hairy, the lower surface smoother, and sepal extensions are absent or extremely weak.

The receptacle is small to medium sized, with the diameter of approximately 1.0 cm (0.35 in) on average and approximately 1.04 cm (0.35 in) deep. The receptacle is pitcher shaped, has smooth surface and deep yellow green (group 143B) in colour.

The opening sequence is one of the cultivar's chief ornamental attractions. The bud is visually modest before it unfolds into a neatly ordered rosette. As expansion proceeds, the inner petals establish a star-like pattern and finally disclose the miniature button eye. This gradual revelation, together with the changing coral-to-pink colour tonality gives the flower more movement than a uniformly colored florist rose of comparable fullness.

Bloom:

A fully developed flower of rose 'Phoebe' averages to about 10.9 cm (4.3 in) in diameter and 3.5 cm (1.4 in) in height. The flower is very full, round when viewed from above, and flat in both upper and lower side profile. With approximately 105 true petals plus a substantial amount of petaloids present in the flower, this justifies its placement within the very full range. The commercial description rosette is particularly apt when flowers open and the concentric and interlocking inner petals produce the characteristic star and button-eye in the centre.

Colour is more nuanced than the simple patent classification pink suggests. At opening, the upper petal surface is similar to brilliant vermilion (group Orange-Red 31B), with the reverse side of near light purplish pink (group Red-Purple 68D) and a medium-sized brilliant greenish yellow basal spot (Yellow group 3B ). When the flower fully opens the upper surface of the petals become light purplish pink (group Red-Purple 68D) with medium yellowish pink (group Red 39C) toward the center; the reverse sides become very pale purple (group Purple 75D), while the basal spot remains brilliant greenish yellow (yellow group 3B). Closer to the end of the flowering the colour changes to paler light purplish pink (group Red-Purple 68D) on the upper surface and even very paler purple (group Purple 75D) on the lower surface of the petals. In less technical vocabulary this translates into the colour of the flower is best described as flamingo pink surrounding a warm coral centre and with apricot-orange transitions and softer natural pink blush toward the edges of the flower.

This is therefore not a pastel blush rose in the manner of many wedding cultivars. It has enough coral warmth and saturated pink to stand out at viewing distance, but the broad transition between hues prevents it from becoming visually harsh. In floral work David Austin Roses recommends it both alone and with softer pink, peach, orange, and cream flowers, and specifically associates it with 'Purity', 'Enid', and 'Eugenie'. The same color logic can be transferred to garden design: silver foliage, cream-flowered perennials, pale apricots, muted mauves, and soft ornamental grasses would allow the saturated center of the flower to remain in the focus.

Its commercial presentation emphasizes individual, fully developed flowers. The flowers appear singly on the flowering stems or in small clusters of 3 to 5 together. Typically competing buds are removed for single-bloom cut-rose production. Consequently, gardeners who grow it without disbudding may encounter a somewhat different inflorescence pattern from commercial stems, and the natural cluster size of an undisturbed outdoor plant will be different from mentioned hereof. The individual flower lasts approximately five to seven days on the plant. As a cut flower the patent gives about seven days, and in the vase it opens within a six-day sequence.

Petals:

The flowers of this rose typically have 105 petals on average, each averaging about 4.6 by 4.2 cm (1.8 by 1.7 in). They have oval to obovate shape, with rounded apices, acute bases, notched margins, and weak-to-medium edge undulation. Their surface texture is smooth and satiny, and the tissue is thin. These characteristics explain the fine, fabric-like texture of the opened bloom. In addition, approximately 25 - 26 petaloids are present on the flowers. These are smaller, about 2.6 by 1.6 cm (1.0 by 0.6 in), obovate and irregularly margined, likewise thin, smooth, and satiny. Their presence in the reproductive center contributes substantially to the densely furnished inner rosette and its button eye in the centre. The petaloids are slightly darker pale purplish pink in colour (Red-Purple Group 65C).

As the flower ages, the upper surface settles toward lighter pink and the reverse toward a paler purple tonality. A characteristic of some importance to both florist and gardener is that the petals tend to remain attached and dry rather than shedding freely. In the garden this means spent flowers are likely to look tidier when deliberately deadheaded instead of being left to clean themselves.

Fragrance:

Following florists' demand the fragrance of 'Phoebe' is substantially lighter compared to early Wedding and Event Roses collection roses. The scent is moderate, fruity and floral with soft violet nuances and a touch of red apple. This makes the new 'Phoebe' significantly different from the old 'Phoebe' (‘AUSnotice’), who has a strong fruity fragrance.

Reproductive parts:

The unusually petal-rich center leaves relatively few functional stamens. Approximately ten stamens are present in its flowers, with small, about 0.1 cm, brilliant yellow anthers (group 15C ) and vivid yellow (group 17C ) filaments approximately 0.5 cm (0.2 in) long. Pollen production is scarce and if present it has a brilliant yellow (Yellow Group 8A) colour.

There are also about 90 pistils in the centre of the flowers, with white green styles (group 157A) averaging about 0.8 cm (0.3 in) and small brilliant yellow (Yellow Group 8A) stigmas of about 0.1 cm long and 0.1 cm in diameter. The hips or seeds of this rose were not observed yet.

PLANT

Botanically, 'Phoebe' belongs to the family Rosaceae and is classified as a Shrub rose. In the florist trade it belongs to the David Austin Wedding Roses collection, a specialized group derived from the English rose breeding tradition but selected principally for cut-flower attributes: substantial blooms, long and comparatively straight flowering stems, controlled greenhouse production, transportability, vase performance, and the old-fashioned floral architecture that distinguishes these roses from conventional high-centered florist Hybrid Teas. The term “English Wedding Rose” is therefore horticultural and commercial grouping rather than a formal botanical class.

Rose 'Phoebe' forms upright, strong and vigorous plants of approximately 120 - 130 cm (4 - 4.3 ft) tall and about 70 cm (2.8 ft) wide. This gives it a notably vertical proportion, appropriate to a cultivar selected for useful flowering stems. It is able to produce strong main canes of about 100 cm (39 in) long. In a garden, that architecture suggests a rose better used as a vertical accent within a mixed border, a dedicated cutting bed, or a small group of upright shrubs than as a sprawling foreground plant. The substantial 10.9 cm flowers should be particularly effective when displayed against the dark foliage. Because this rose is bred for growing on its own roots in greenhouse conditions, when grown outdoors may demonstrate considerably different habit, depending on climate, rootstock, soil, pruning, and growing season.

Pruning requires more judgment than it would for a fully trialed garden Austin rose. For 'Phoebe', a conservative initial reduction of about one-third is preferable until its behavior in a particular garden is known. Retaining a framework of vigorous young canes should favor both shrub structure and long cutting stems. Deadheading is advisable because the petals tend to remain attached and dry rather than fall cleanly.

Foliage:

The foliage is an important ornamental counterweight to the vivid flowers of 'Phoebe'. The colour of the young foliage on the upper surfaces is moderate yellowish green (group 147A) with the edges marked with deep red (group 53A) while the underside of the foliage is near strong yellowish green (group 144C) with dark purplish red (group 185B) to the edges. When the foliage matures the colour becomes darker, moderate olive green (group 147A) on the upper surface and greyish yellow green (group 194A) on the lower surface. The upper surface has weak-to-medium gloss, and both surfaces are leathery. A normal leaf is typically measured approximately 17.6 cm (6.9 in) long by 13 cm (5.1 in) wide.

Leaflets:

The leaves are ordinary odd-pinnate and carry five to seven leaflets on normal medium sized leaves in the middle of the flowering stem, including the terminal leaflet. The leaflets have pointed oval shape, with acuminate tips and bases that are mostly rounded or cordate. Margins are serrated and only weakly to moderately undulate. The terminal leaflet averages approximately 7.5 by 5.5 cm (3.0 by 2.2 in), while representative lower leaflets are about 7 by 4.8 cm (2.8 by 1.9 in). Venation is reticulate, with moderate olive green colour (group 147A) on the upper and lower surfaces.

The petiole is about 5.1 cm (2 in) long and 0.18 cm wide, rougher above and smoother beneath, with some prickles and slight glandularity. The colour of the petiole is deep yellow green (green group 143B) on both surfaces. The rachis is also deep yellow green (green group 143B) on both surfaces.

Stipules are approximately 2.3 cm (0.9 in) long, have glandular margins and Moderate Olive Green colour (group 146A ) on both sides.

Wood:

The plant forms upright, smooth wood canes. Main stems are capable fo growing to about about 100 cm (39 in) in length and 0.9 cm (0.35 in) in diameter, with internodes distance of approximately 6.2 cm (2.4 in). Young stems appear in Strong Yellowish Green colour (group 144A) and as they harden and mature the colour becomes darker strong yellowish green (group 144B). The comparatively long internodes and vertical main shoots are consistent with its florist purpose. Under commercial production these canes provide the framework from which long cut stems are developed; in a home garden the same tendency should produce an upright, open rather than densely congested shrub.

Prickles:

There are normally few large prickles on the main canes from the base and on the laterals from the main canes of rose variety 'Phoebe'. Young prickles average about 0.4 cm (0.16 in) long and 0.2 cm wide at the point of attachment, with a predominantly vivid red in colour (group 46A) sometimes showing green. Older prickles average approximately 0.7 cm (0.28 in) long by 0.3 cm wide at the base and mature to a moderate yellowish brown tone (group 165D).

This relatively light armature should make cutting and arranging stems somewhat easier than with heavily armed shrub roses, though the plant is certainly not thornless: the peduncle may also carry prickles, and the underside of the petiole is likewise prickly. Gloves remain sensible during pruning and harvesting.

Small prickles:

Under a normal growing conditions the small prickles are not observed on the main canes from the base as well as on the laterals from the main canes of the rose 'Phoebe'.

Disease resistance and stress tolerance:

Rose variety 'Phoebe' is considered to be resistant to powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera pannosa, black spot caused by Diplocarpon rosae, and rose rust caused by Phragmidium tuberculatum under a greenhouse growing conditions. The cultivar has not been observed under every possible environmental condition and phenotype of the variety may vary with light, culture, and environment. Greenhouse resistance should therefore not be promoted as proof of high unsprayed field resistance in rainy, humid gardens where leaf wetness, inoculum pressure, pathogen races, and seasonal stresses differ.

Good preventive rose culture remains recommended for this rose: provide sun and air circulation, avoid crowding, maintain balanced rather than excessive nitrogen nutrition, remove diseased fallen foliage, and irrigate the root zone rather than repeatedly wetting the canopy late in the day. The rose's leathery leaves may prove an asset, but there is not yet enough independent field evidence to rank it against established disease-resistant landscape cultivars.

Cold hardiness has not been tested and no authoritative USDA hardiness-zone rating or RHS hardiness category specific to 'Phoebe' could be confirmed. However based on evidences from gardeners all over the world it is safe to estimate that this rose should be fine to withstand climates similar to USDA zone 7 and in colder climates it will require substantial protection in winter. For cold continental gardens, including climates with severe freeze-thaw cycles, 'Phoebe' is best treated as an unproven rose: choose a sheltered but sunny position, protect the crown/root zone after the ground cools in winter, and regard container culture with protected overwintering as the lower-risk option where winters are substantially colder than typical English lowland conditions.

Phoebe is an ancient feminine name ultimately derived from Greek Phoibē, associated linguistically with brightness, radiance, or shining purity and used in classical tradition as an epithet or name connected with the divine Phoebe. But there is no accessible David Austin Roses info clarifying the origin of such naming.

'Phoebe' is the trade name used in the David Austin Wedding Roses market. This distinction is unusually important because David Austin previously used 'Phoebe' for the wholly different cultivar 'Ausnotice'. The current market context is therefore best written as 'AUSCP17960' / 'Phoebe', US PP36,974, while historical references to 'Phoebe' ('Ausnotice') belong to the earlier florist rose.

Rose variety ‘AUSCP17960’ / 'Phoebe' was honored with the 2025 Red Ribbon in the Cut Garden Rose category at the Society of American Florists Outstanding Varieties Competition. The competition evaluated entries for such qualities as color and commercial appeal, stem and foliage, flower shape and size, and overall quality and presentation.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety 'AUSCP17960' / 'Phoebe' is a seedling from a deliberate controlled cross, the cross was made by artificial pollination in June 2013 at Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. The seed parent was an unnamed, unpatented seedling of Rosa hybrida and the pollen parent was a different unnamed, unpatented seedling. The breeder's public patent does not disclose their breeding numbers or deeper pedigrees.

The cultivar was bred within David Austin Roses Ltd., with Carl Bennett named as inventor on United States Plant Patent PP36,974. Rose was commercially presented in 2025 in the David Austin Wedding Roses collection, alongside 'Enid' (‘AUSCP18729’), after a long selection and development period.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The rose variety 'AUSCP17960'/ 'Phoebe' reflects contemporary florist tastes and demands. Its color is neither standard blush nor ordinary mid-pink; the warm coral-apricot heart and flamingo-pink outer flower supply the tonal complexity now sought in garden-style wedding design. It also carries far more petal mass than the old 'Phoebe' while keeping the fragrance restrained enough for event use. Released with cream-and-pistachio 'Enid', it demonstrates how the modern Wedding Rose assortment has moved toward sophisticated intermediate colors and recognizable individual flower form rather than uniformity alone.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

'AUSCP17960' / 'Phoebe' is a remarkably full contemporary English florist rose whose strongest identity lies in the combination of a broad rosette warm coral-apricot central tones passing into flamingo and natural pink, and a lighter fruity-floral perfume nuanced with violet and red apple. This rose variety incorporated the following unique combination of characteristics:

  very full, rounded rosette flowers with additional central petaloids and a tiny button eye;

  a distinctive progression from apricot-orange and warm coral at the center through luminous flamingo pink to softer natural pink;

  an upright shrub greenhouse specimen, with dark, leathery, weakly to moderately glossy foliage, relatively few prickles;

  light to moderate fruity-floral fragrance with violet and red-apple nuances, combined with approximately seven-day documented cut-flower life.

  repeat flowering, almost continuous flowering habit in the greenhouse and resistance to powdery mildew, black spot, and rust.

The propagation methods suitable for the rose cultivar 'Phoebe' are stem cuttings and grafting. Because 'Phoebe' is subject to current plant-patent and plant-variety protection in relevant jurisdictions, possession of a plant does not necessarily confer the legal right to propagate it commercially.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The patent confirms both parental roles but does not disclose the identity or breeding code of either parent. At the same time 'AUSCP17960' / 'Phoebe' displays a lower petal count and longer vase life when cut from the plant compared to the seed parent. Additionally, 'AUSCP17960' / 'Phoebe' displays pink-colored blooms and a longer vase life when cut from the plant compared to the yellow-colored blooms and poor vase life of the pollen parent.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

For collectors, the most useful comparison is with the previous 'Phoebe' ('Ausnotice'), even though they are not immediately related. The old cultivar came from a different 2000 cross, was bred by David Austin, and originated from different parents. Older 'Phoebe' ('Ausnotice') forms medium-pink, quartered, strongly Fruity scented flowers and was selected for greenhouse cut production. The new 'AUSCP17960' / 'Phoebe', bred from a 2013 cross under Carl Bennett, is much fuller at approximately 105 petals, develops stronger coral and apricot shades through the flower, and has a lighter fruity-floral fragrance with violet and apple accents. These are two distinct roses united only by breeder, commercial tradition, and reused trade name. Also, older 'Phoebe' ('Ausnotice') has more compact plants 100 cm (3' 3") by 50 cm (1' 8") compared to new 'AUSCP17960' / 'Phoebe'. The 2025 'Phoebe' is therefore a new cultivar receiving a recycled trade name, not the old cultivar returning to market.

For a formal closest-cultivar comparison base on patent is made with commercially available English florists rose 'Eugenie' ('AUSIMAGE'). Rose 'Phoebe' has a higher petal count, a more rounded flower, a larger petal basal spot, and weaker leaflet-margin undulation than 'Eugenie', which also has cupped rosette shape, cream to blush-peach and apricot, with a stronger myrrh and anise fragrance; its mature cut flower can reach approximately 13 cm (5.1 in), larger than the approximately 10.9 cm maximum figure given for 'Phoebe'. 'Eugenie' is paler, frillier, and more classically blush-apricot, with an irregularly romantic outline and a deeper cupped presentation. 'Phoebe' is rounder and more color-saturated, its flatter rosette with a button-eye in the centre. 'Eugenie' therefore suits ivory, blush, champagne, and soft peach shades, whereas 'Phoebe' is more effective where coral, sunset pink, apricot, and stronger rose tones are wanted.

USDA 7

USDA Zone 7 - hardiness guide