Rose Princess Anne

’Princess Anne’ became famous for its remarkable disease resistance and continuous flowering. According to David Austin, it became a breakthrough in breeding and allowed him to create new even healthier roses. Her flowers start out as a deep pink, almost red, fading slowly to rich pink and occasionally displaying hints of purple. The colour change across narrow petals with a hint of yellow on their undersides, creates a dappled effect as the blooms open in succession. Fragrance is moderate, of a Tea character.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Throughout this description of the rose variety ‘Princess Anne’, the colour references and/or values are based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society (2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, agricultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER

This rose variety has a good repeat flowering habit, blooms in flushes, with very short breaks, from early summer until frosts. The flowering stems are produced with a remarkable freedom. The number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.

Flower bud:

The flower buds when the petals start to unfurl are about 2.8 cm long and 1.9 cm in diameter. The bud form is pointed ovoid. When sepals first divide, the bud color is medium purple red (Group 63A). When half open, the upper sides of the petals are medium purple (Group 67A) and the lower sides of the petals are dark blue pink (Group 64C).

The calyx is star-shaped when the flower is fully open, folded back, the length is about 4 cm and the diameter is about 4 cm as well.

The arrangement of the sepals is a regular opening to a star shape. The upper surface of the sepals has light green colour (Group 145B) and the lower surface of the sepals is light green (Group 144B). The length of the sepals is 2.1 cm and the width is about 1 cm. The shape is lanceolate with glandular edges; the upper surface texture is downy and the lower surface is smooth. There are usually 3 lightly appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with glandular edges.

The receptacles are small, about 9 mm long and about 7 mm in diameter, and have light green colour (Group 144B). The receptacles are funnel shaped, and their texture is smooth.

The peduncle is short and strong, averaging to about 7 cm in length, and has glandular surface texture. The colour of the peduncle is light green (Group 144B).

Bloom:

The flowers of “Princess Anne” rose variety are medium-sized, the average open diameter is about 9 cm. They are borne mostly in small clusters having a pyramidal shape of 10 - 14 blooms together. The flowering stems are strong, about 30 cm long and 6 mm in diameter. When the flower first open the flower form is cupped. As the flower fully opens the form becomes more of the flat and informal, the outer petal edges curl back. Flowers are full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 85 on average.

The colour of the upper sides is medium purple (Group 67A) and the reverse sides of the petals are dark blue pink (Group 67C), occasional outer petals have some light yellow shading (Group 12D) emanating from the yellow spot. The base of the petals has a medium yellow spot (Group 9A). Under normal growing conditions no variegation is observed on the flowers of “Princess Anne” rose.

The general tonality of the flowers at the end of the first day is medium purple (Group 67A) and at the end of the third day becomes lighter, dark blue pink (Group 67C). Thereafter color fades slightly to medium blue pink (Group 62B).

Petals:

The surface and texture of the petals is smooth and thick. The shape of the petals is obovate, their margins are entire on some petals and some are notched. The base of the petals is pointed and the shape of the apex is rounded. The form of the petals is incurved and their arrangement is imbricated. The petals are medium sized, with a width of the outer petals of about 2.9 cm and the length of about 4 cm.

There are few petaloids present on the flowers of this variety, about 9 per flower. The colour of the petaloids is dark blue pink (Group 64C). The length of the petaloids is variable from 9 mm to 1.9 cm and the width varies from 3 mm to 8 mm. The shape is variable and the margins are irregular.

The petals usually drop off cleanly before drying. The petals last on a plant fairly long, for about 5 days under normal growing conditions and their lastingness as a cut flower has not been tested yet.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of ‘Princess Anne’ is medium, of a Tea character.

Reproductive parts:

The number of stamens per flower is around 40, they have an average length of about 5 mm.

The anthers have length of about 1.5 mm, their colour is dark yellow (Group 15A), and they are usually regularly arranged around the styles.

The filaments are dark yellow (Group 15A) and are about 4 mm long.

The pollen has medium yellow brown colour (Group 163A).

Number of pistils is 30 on average, they have a length of about 6 mm.

The styles are green-yellow (Group 1D), their length is about 3 mm.

Stigmas are light yellow (Group 2D) and about 3 mm long.

The hips of this rose variety are not observed yet.

PLANT

Rose ‘Princess Anne’ is classified as a Shrub rose, and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. It has a vigorous growth habit ,forming a compact and bushy plant well armed with many prickles. When mature and well established it forms a plant of about 90 - 125 cm in height and of about 70 - 125 cm in width.

Foliage:

The foliage is abundant on this variety’s plants. The number of leaves per flowering stem is 10 under normal growing conditions. There are usually 5 leaflets on the normal mid-stem leaf, including a terminal leaflet. The leaves are medium sized, about 12 cm long and about 9 cm wide.

The new foliage on the upper surface and on the lower surface is medium green (Group 144A) slightly tinged with dark purple red (Group 59B). The mature foliage on the upper surface is dark green (Group 137A) on the lower side is medium brown green (Group 138A).

Leaflets:

The leaflets are small to medium sized, about 5 cm long and about 4 cm wide. The shape of the leaflets is broadly oval. The base of the leaflets is rounded and the apex has an acuminate shape. The leaflet’s surface texture is smooth and glossy, leathery, the edges are serrated; the type of serration is single and medium.

Petioles have medium brown green colour (Group 138A) tinged with dark purple red (Group 59B), the length is 3.2 cm on average and the width is about 2 mm; the surface texture is smooth.

Petiole rachis is medium brown green (Group 138A) tinged with dark purple red (Group 59B), the underside is with prickles.

The stipules have medium brown green colour (Group 138A), the length is about 1.5 cm, the surface texture is glandular.

Auricle is sword shaped, the length is about 3 cm and the width is about 1.5 mm at the widest point. The colour of the auricle is medium brown green (Group 138A).

The vein color is the same as leaf color, dark green (Group 137A), the venation pattern is reticulate (net-veined).

Wood:

The colour of the new wood is medium brown green (Group 138A), the bark is smooth. The mature wood has the same medium brown green (Group 138A) and has a smooth bark.

Stems:

The length of the branches is usually about 40 cm, with a diameter of about 6 mm. Usually there are about 8 lateral branches per plant. The mature stem has a length of about 80 am and the diameter is 7 mm, the internode distance is about 9 cm. On the branches of this variety the stem pubescence is not present. The above measurements are all variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.

Prickles:

There are many prickles on the main canes from base and on the laterals from main cane, about 30 per 10 cm of the stem length. The shape is mostly deep concave and on some is linear, the length varies from 3 to 9 mm. The colour of the young prickles is dark brown purple (Group 183A), the mature prickles have dark brown purple (Group 183A) or medium brown green (Group 138A) of some.

Small prickles:

There are numerous small prickles on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes of ‘Princess Anne’” rose variety, about 30 per 10 cm of the stem length. The colour of the young prickles is dark brown purple (Group 183A), and when they mature the colour remains the same, dark brown purple (Group 183A).

Disease resistance:

The rose variety ‘Princess Anne’ has very good disease in a wide range of growing conditions. It is very resistant to black spot, mildew, botrytis and rust. 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.

This rose variety is named in honour of Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, who is among many things is patron of Riding for the Disabled. The charity offers opportunities for therapy, achievement and enjoyment to people with disabilities.

The rose carries a regal charm that befits its namesake. Introduced in 2010, this rose embodies the elegance and resilience associated with the British monarchy, making it a fitting tribute to one of the most respected members of the Royal Family.

English Shrub Roses

Award of Garden Merit (RHS/RNRS), Award of Garden Merit (RHS/RNRS), 2010;

Gold Standard Rose Trials - Gold Standard, Gold Standard Rose Trials, 2012;

Orleans Certificate of Merit, Orléans Rose Trials, 2012;

Australia - Certificate of Merit, Australian National Rose Trials, 2015;

SNHF - Premier Prix, Grand Prix de la Rose, 2016;

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The rose variety ‘Auskitchen’ / ‘Princess Anne’ is classified as a Shrub rose, and was originated by David Austin from the cross-pollination of the two ‘unnamed’ and unpatented seedlings of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The objective of this rose variety breeding was to produce a rose that retains the full-petalled character of an English rose, but has an overall character that is quite different. In particular, in this rose the young flowers are a deep pink, almost red, gradually fading to a pure deep pink that are borne on large, pyramidal clusters, where the individual blooms open in succession. The rose is also very disease resistant with thick, glossy foliage.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

Among the features which distinguish ‘Auskitchen’ / ‘Princess Anne’ from other presently available and commercial rose varieties is the following combination of characteristics:

  the large pyramidal clusters of blooms which open in order of succession;

  thick glossy foliage, compact bushy growth, excellent disease resistance;

  full blooms of deep pink colour, almost red, which fade to deep pink as the flower ages;

Asexual reproduction of this variety by budding as performed in greenhouses at Bowling Green Lane in Albrighton, The UK showed that the foregoing and other distinguishing characteristics came true to form and established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘Auskitchen’ / ‘Princess Anne’ may be asexually propagated by budding.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The ‘Auskitchen’ / ‘Princess Anne’ rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the following combination of characteristics:

whereas the seed parent has single flowers and broader growth, ‘Auskitchen’ / ‘Princess Anne’ is vigorously disease resistant and bears full flowers.

The ‘Auskitchen’ / ‘Princess Anne’ variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, by the following combination of characteristics:

whereas the pollen parent is of a lighter pink with smaller cupped flowers and a spreading growth, ‘Auskitchen’ / ‘Princess Anne’ has a compact growth and bears blooms of a deeper pink.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivar to the ‘Auskitchen’ / ‘Princess Anne’ variety is the ‘Auslounge’ / “England's Rose” and can be distinguished by the following combination of characteristics:

 the ‘Auskitchen’ / ‘Princess Anne’ produces blooms that are a little larger with more petals than those of ‘Auslounge’ / “England's Rose”. More particularly, the way in which the blooms are held on the plant differs. On ‘Auskitchen’ / ‘Princess Anne’ the blooms are held in large pyramidal clusters of 10 to 14 blooms together and on ‘Auslounge’ / “England's Rose”’ they are held in small, flatter clusters of 4 to 6 blooms.

 In addition, ‘Auskitchen’ / ‘Princess Anne’ is a more compact shrub than ‘Auslounge’ / “England's Rose” and the foliage of ‘Auskitchen’ / ‘Princess Anne’ is glossier than that of ‘Auslounge’ / “England's Rose”.

USDA 5