Rose Portia

‘Portia’ is not quite as consistent as the other varieties from David Austin’s Wedding and Event Roses collection, and was widely used for weddings when it was first introduced. It bears very full flowers, blush at first, opening to pure white, with a wonderful and strong myrrh fragrance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following detailed description of the rose variety ‘Portia’ 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 3 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. When sepals first divide, the bud color is light red pink (Group 36B). When it is half opened, the upper sides of the petals are light yellow orange (Group 158B) with a tint of light red pink (Group 38B); and the lower sides of the petals are light green (Group 157A).

The sepals are subulate their surface texture on the upper surface is smooth, and the lower surface is pubescent. The length of the sepals is 4.7 cm and the width is about 0.8 cm. The colour of the sepals in the upper surface is medium brown green (Group 137C) with shade of medium brown (Group 176A) in center, and on the lower surface is medium brown green (Group 139C). There are 3 heavily appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with glandular edges.

The receptacle is medium sized, about 1.2 cm long and about 1 cm wide, has funnel shape and smooth surface. The colour of the receptacle is medium green (Group 144A).

The peduncle is long, averaging to about 8.5 cm in length and strong. The surface of the peduncle is smooth and has medium green colour (Group 144A).

Bloom:

‘Portia’ is a large flowered florist rose, when fully open the average diameter is about 12 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 full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 86 on average.

The flowers are borne several together, of 2 to 5 flower buds together in corymb shaped clusters. For cut flower production buds may be nipped out to leave a single bloom. The flowering stems are strong and long, the average length is about 80 cm with a diameter of 5 mm. Single plant is able to produce about 20-22 flowering stems per season.

The colour of the upper and of the under sides of the petals is white (Group 155D) with a pink blush. The bases of the petals are light yellow (Group 5D). The major color of the flowers is white (Group 155D). 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 white (Group 155D) . 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.

Petals:

The petals of ‘Portia’ variety have a satiny texture and smooth surface. The length of the petals is 5.5 cm on average and their width is about 6.8 cm on average. The shape is obdeltoid, the margins of the petals are notched and reflexing, with weak undulation. The shape of the apex is cuspidate and the base is pointed. The form of the petals is incurved, upper third is recurved. The petals arrangement is informal.

Under normal growing conditions the petaliods are not observed on the flowers of this rose variety.

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 6-8 days on a plant and about the same period of time when used as a cut flower.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of ‘Portia’ is strong, with powerful and prominent myrrh character.

Reproductive parts:

There are usually 25 stamens per flower. The length of the stamens is 10 mm on average.

The anthers are dark yellow orange (Group 22A) and are about 3 mm long; they are regularly arranged around the styles.

Filaments have dark yellow colour (Group 13A) and are about 7 mm long.

Pollen is dark yellow orange in colour (Group 22A).

The number of pistils is 55 on average and they have a length of about 9 mm.

The styles are light yellow (Group 2D) with pink colour closer to the base (Group 48C) and have a length of 8 mm on average.

Stigmas are about 1 mm long and have medium yellow colour (Group 9C).

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

PLANT

The rose variety ‘Portia’ 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 100 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, occasionally 3, including the terminal leaflet. The average number of leaves per flowering stem is 9. The leaves are medium sized, about 12.3 cm long and are about 11.3 cm wide.

The new foliage on the upper side is dark green (Group 137A) while the lower side is 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 146B) with a tint of medium brown (Group 176B). The upper surface of new and old foliage is matte.

Leaflets:

The leaflets are large, pointed oval, about 7 cm long and 4.5 cm wide. The leaflets have obtuse base shape and acuminate apex. The surface texture is leathery, matte and smooth. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is double and medium.

The colour of the petiole is medium brown (Group 176B). The petiole rachis has medium brown colour (Group 176B) and the underside surface is covered with prickles.

The stipules are about 1.7 cm long and bearded. The auricle has a subulate shape.

The veins have light green colour (Group 144D), the venation pattern is reticulate.

Wood:

The new wood has medium brown green colour (Group 138A) and smooth bark. The mature wood is dark brown green (Group 137B), the bark is smooth as well. The internode dispense on the stems is about 5.5 cm.

Prickles:

There are from none to few prickles on the main canes from the base of this rose variety. On the laterals from main canes there is a normal quantity of prickles, about 12 per 30 cm of the stem length. The shape of the prickles is straight, pyramidal, and they have a length of 9 mm on average. When young the prickles have pink colour (Group 39B) with medium yellow green (Group 151C) at base. The mature prickles have grey brown colour (Group 199B).

Small prickles:

The quantity of the small prickles on the main canes from the base is few, about 8 per 5 cm of the stem length. On laterals from the main canes confined to a dense cluster there are about 7-20 prickles per 5 cm length at the lower part of the stem and there are usually no small prickles at the upper part of the stem. The colour of the young prickles is pink (Group 39B) with medium yellow green (Group 151C) at the base. When mature the small prickles have grey brown (Group 199B).

Disease resistance:

The rose variety ‘Portia’ 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.

Unfortunately we do not have information about the origin of the name of this rose.

Wedding and Event Roses collection

As of the date no infarmation available on the awards this rose has recieved. It is also possible that this rose has not gained any awards yet.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The rose variety named ‘Ausneil’ / ‘Portia’ 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 with a hint of blush, a strong myrrh 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:

 White blooms with a pink blush.

 Upright and bushy growth.

 Strong myrrh fragrance.

 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

‘Ausneil’ / ‘Portia’ has white blooms touched with a blush of pink and a strong myrrh fragrance which differs from the white blooms with no fragrance of the pollen parent and the pale pink blooms borne in small clusters of the seed parent.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The most similar rose variety to ‘Ausneil’ / ‘Portia’ available on the market is rose ‘Auslevel’ / ‘Glamis Castle’ which has a greater number of petals and is creamy white color.

USDA 7