Rose Port Sunlight
Aroma:
Health:
Characteristics
Main color: Apricot
Color: Apricot
Flowering: Repeat flowering
Flower size: Medium
Flower: Very full , cupped, rosette , in small clusters
Foliage: Dark green , medium , semi-glossy , leathery
Aroma: Medium-strong, Tea
Class: Shrub rose
Sub-class: English rose, Shrub rose
Type: Large shrub
Growth type: Bushy, upright
Height: 140 - 150 cm
Width: 100 - 140 cm
Description
Dark apricot buds open into medium to large sized flowers of a rich apricot colour. At first the flower form is cupped but quickly transforms to flat rosette, slightly quartered at the centre, the outer petals falling back a little and becoming paler. The flowers have a rich Tea fragrance. When young the foliage and stems have striking bronzy-red colour, becoming a fairly dark green as they mature. Forms large, rather upright plant with some branches slightly arching.
DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
Throughout this description of the rose variety 'Port Sunlight' 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 Port Sunlight rose variety are medium sized, about 1.9 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is pointed ovoid. When the sepals first divide,the bud color is dark orange (Group 28A). When half open, the upper sides of the petals are medium orange (Group 25B) and the lower sides of the petals are medium yellow orange (Group 21B).
The sepals have a length of about 2.5 cm and a width of 1 cm. The shape of the sepals is subulate, the surface texture is pubescent on the upper surface and smooth on the lower surface. The colour on the upper surface is light brown green (Group 193B) with medium green intonations (Group 144A) and on the lower surface is medium green (Group 144A). There are 3 lightly appendaged sepals with mostly apex has medium extensions and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with glandular edges.
The receptacle is medium green (Group 144A), funnel shaped and has a smooth surface. The size of the receptacle is small, about 0.8 cm long and about 0.7 cm in diameter.
The peduncle is medium sized, averaging to about 6 cm in length, the diameter is about 3 mm, it is of a normal strength and has a smooth surface. The colour of the peduncle is dark brown green (Group 146A) with dark brown purple tint (Group 184A).
Bloom:
The flowers are medium-sized, the average diameter of the open flower is about 9 cm. When first open, the flower form is cupped at first, and when the flowers fully open they reveal more of the cupped quartered rosette shape with button-eye. Flowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 90. They are born small in clusters of 5 - 7 blooms having corymb shape. The flowering stem has normal strength, long, and has an average length of about 75 cm.
When first open the colour of the upper sides of the petals is medium orange (Group 24A) and the reverse sides of the petals are light yellow orange (Group 23D). The base of the petals has a large yellow basal spot of medium yellow orange (Group 22B). On the flowers there is no variegation observed.
The general tonality at the end of the first day is medium orange (Group 24A), at the end of the third day the general tonality becomes lighter, medium yellow orange (Group 22C).
Petals:
The texture of the petals and the surface is smooth; the shape of the petals is obovate, the margins are notched, to varying degrees. The apex is emarginate and the base of the petals is obtuse, and the petals form is slightly incurved. Average length of the petals is about 4 cm and the width is about 2.7 cm. The arrangement of the petals is a quartered rosette.
Normally there are no petaloids present on the flowers under normal growing conditions.
The petals of this rose variety have good self-cleaning quality. Under normal climate conditions the petals last fairly long, on the plant they last for about 5 - 6 days, as a cut flower they last for about 3 - 4 days.
Fragrance:
The fragrance of the rose 'Port Sunlight' is strong, of a Tea character.
Reproductive parts:
The number of stamens is 13 on average per flower, the length is about 6.5 mm, they are regularly arranged around styles.
The anthers have a length of about 1.5 mm and medium yellow orange colour (Group 17C).
The colour of the filaments is medium yellow orange (Group 13B), their length is 10 mm on average.
The pollen is medium yellow orange (Group 17C).
The number of pistils is 20 - 25 on average, they are about 9.5 - 10 mm long.
The colour of the styles is light yellow green (Group 1C) and are about 9 mm long.
Stigma are about 0.5 - 1 mm long and are dark yellow orange (Group 22A).
The hips of this rose variety have not been observed yet.
PLANT
The rose variety ‘Port Sunlight’ is classified as a Shrub rose. The growth character is vigorous and powerful. Forms bushy, arching and spreading plant. Mature and well-established plant has a height of about 140 - 150 cm and the width of about 100 - 140 cm.
Its large size makes it ideal for the back of a mixed border where it will compete well with other plants. It is also very resistant to diseases and in overall a very good, reliable variety.
Foliage:
There is a normal foliage quantity on the plants of this rose variety. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves varies from 5 to 7. The average flowering stem has about 14 leaves. The foliage is medium sized, about 15 cm long and about 9 cm wide.
The colour of the juvenile foliage on the upper side is dark brown green (Group 146B) with brown red (Group 181B) while the lower side is medium brown green (Group 146C). The mature foliage on the upper side is medium brown green (Group 137C) and on the lower side is medium brown green (Group 137C).
Leaflets:
The size of the leaflets is medium, about 5 cm long and about 3 cm wide. The shape of the leaflets is oval, the shape of the leaflet tip is acuminate and the base shape is obtuse. The surface texture of the leaflets is wrinkled, leathery and semi-glossy. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is single and medium.
The petiole has dark brown green colour (Group 137B) with some patches of grayed-red (Group 181A), is about 3 cm long and 2 mm in diameter, and has a prickly surface texture.
The petiole rachis is medium brown green (Group 138A) with some patches of grayed-red (Group 181A), and has prickles on the underside.
The auricle is awl-shaped, has a length of about 3 cm and about 1.5 mm wide. The colour of the auricle is light green (Group 144B).
The stipules are 2.2 cm long, have a glandular surface and light green colour (Group 144B).
The veins have medium brown green (Group 137C), the venation pattern is reticulate.
Wood:
The new wood of this rose variety has dark brown purple colour (Group 183A) , the bark is smooth. The mature wood is dark brown green (Group 146B), the bark remains smooth.
Stems:
The number of lateral branches is 8 on average, they have a length of about 30 cm and the diameter is 3 mm on average. The mature stem has an average length of about 90 cm and the diameter of 4 mm, the internode distance is 10 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 are few prickles present on the main canes from base, about 5 cm of the stem length. On the laterals from main canes there are few prickles, 3 per 10 cm of the stem length. The shape of the prickles is hooked downward, the length is about 10 mm. The colour of the young prickles is dark purple red (Group 60A) and the mature prickles have dark brown colour (Group 177A).
Small prickles:
The small prickles typically are not observed on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety.
Disease resistance:
The rose variety ‘Port Sunlight’ has good resistance to most common rose diseases, in particular it is resistant to mildew, downy mildew, blackspot and rust 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.
Name origin
It is named after the model village in the Wirral, where they have a beautiful garden of English Roses. Port Sunlight was built by Lever Brothers to accommodate workers in its soap factory; work commenced in 1888. The name is derived from Lever Brothers' most popular brand of cleaning agent, Sunlight.
Rose Series
English Shrub Roses
Awards
Award of Garden Merit (RHS/RNRS), Award of Garden Merit (RHS/RNRS), 2007.
Parentage
ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY
Rose variety ‘Auslofty’ / ‘Port Sunlight’ 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 variety breeding was to produce a very healthy repeat flowering variety having apricot blooms with a strong fragrance and vigorous upright growth.
SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY
Among the features which distinguish the new variety from other presently available and commercial rose cultivars known is the following unique combination of characteristics:
apricot blooms with a strong fragrance;
vigorous upright growth;
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 seed and pollen parents of ‘Auslofty’ / ‘Port Sunlight’ are two unnamed seedlings. The ‘Auslofty’ / ‘Port Sunlight’ may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the following combination of characteristics:
whereas the seed parent has pink blooms, the variety ‘Auslofty’ / ‘Port Sunlight’ bears flowers of apricot colour and a strong tea fragrance.
The ‘Auslofty’ / ‘Port Sunlight’ may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the following combination of characteristics:
whereas the pollen parent bears small yellow blooms, ‘Auslofty’ / ‘Port Sunlight’ bears medium size flowers of apricot colour.
COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR
The most similar rose cultivars to the ‘Ausloftyt’ / ‘Port Sunlight’ is the ‘Auswinter’ / ‘Crown Princess Margareta’ and may be distinguished from the ‘Auswinter’ / ‘Crown Princess Margareta’ variety by the following combination of characteristics:
‘Auslofty’ / ‘Port Sunlight’ has has more petals, and a stronger anthocyanin color on the new growth compared to ‘Auswinter’ / ‘Crown Princess Margareta’.
Climate zones
USDA 5
Gardening design tips
Growing tips
Health
Black spots:
Mildew:
Botrytis:
Rust:
Rain resistance:
Cold hardy:
Heat resistance:
Published Oct. 29, 2024, 7:19 p.m. by rosesabc_admin
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