Rose Sir Edward Elgar

Distinguished English shrub rose, celebrated for its unusually luminous cerise‑crimson blooms that glow like jewels in the garden. Each flower opens from rich burgundy‑red buds into large, very full cupped heads that later gently recurve into domed shapes, revealing a silvery‑pink reverse. In bright sunshine, the color deepens to true crimson; as the petals age, they soften to a delicate, white‑washed pink. Its wiry canes are adorned with small red prickles and dark green foliage that, while occasionally susceptible to mildew in cool, damp climates, thrives with good airflow. The fragrance is strong, Tea and subtly honeyed, intensifying in drier, warmer weather.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Throughout this description of the rose variety 'Sir Edward Elgar' is provided with color descriptions using terminology of the "Methuen Handbook of Colour" published by Eyre Methuen Ltd. (1963), 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 'Sir Edward Elgar' rose variety are medium sized, about 2.6 cm long and cm in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is globular, pointed ovoid. When the sepals first divide, the bud color varies from violet brown / maroon (Group 11F8) to brownish violet / wine red (Group 11D8). When half open, the upper and the lower sides of the petals are greyish ruby (Group 12C7) but brighter on the outer edge changing to dark red / deep red (Group 11C8) in the center. Calyx is star-shaped when fully opened with the sepals folding back.

The shape of the sepals is lanceolate, the surface texture is leathery and ridged. The colour of the sepals is greyish green / bracken green (Group 29E7) with violet brown (Group 11E7) blush. There are 3 slightly appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacle is deep green (Group 29D8), cup shaped and has a smooth surface. The size of the receptacle is small to medium, about 1 cm (3/8 inches) long and about 1 cm (3/8 inches) in diameter.

The peduncle is medium to short averaging to about 3 cm (11/4-2") cm in length, erect and has a glandular surface. The colour of the peduncle is greyish green / lattuce green (Group 30D7) with brownish violet blush (Group 11D7).

Bloom:

The flowers are medium, the average diameter of the open flower is about 8 cm (21/2"). When first open, the flower form is globular with a flat top, as the flower ages the form flattens, outer petals curl back. Flowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions varies from 65 to 75. They are born singly, or several together in clusters having irregular shape, of 1-6 blooms together. The flowering stem has medium strength and length, and has an average length of about 45 - 60 cm (18 to 24 inches).

When first open the colour of the upper and of the reverse sides of the petals is greyish ruby (Group 12C7) and ruby / cerise (Group 12C8) on the outer edge of the petal changing to greyish rose (Group 12B4) and mallow (Group 12B5) towards the center of the petal. The colour of the base of the petals is pastel yellow (Group 2A4). The general tonality of the open flowers is greyish ruby (Group 12C7). Under normal growing conditions no variegation is observed on the flowers of rose variety.

Petals:

The texture of the petals is fleshy, thick and the surface is smooth; the shape of the petals is round, deltoid to heart-shaped, and the petals form is cupped. The arrangement of the petals is quartered, with few petaloids in the center.

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 long, on the plant they last for about 7 to 10 days, as a cut flower their lastingness varies from 5 to 7 days.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of the rose 'Sir Edward Elgar' is strong, of a Tea rose character with honey notes.

Reproductive parts:

The number of stamens is 70 on average per flower, they are tucked in calyx or partly so, mixed with petaloids.

The anthers have yellow colour and they are medium sized.

The colour of the filaments is ruby / cerise (Group 12C8).

The pollen is golden yellow.

The colour of the styles is pale green (Group 30A3).

Stigma are pastel yellow (Group 2A4).

The hips of this rose variety have not been observed.

PLANT

The rose variety 'Sir Edward Elgar' is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. The growth character is moderately vigorous, upright, compact, bushy. Mature and well-established plant has a height of about 110 - 150 cm (3'5" - 5') and the width of about 90 - 150 cm (2' 6" - 5') .

A descendant of the ‘Aloha’ line, its vigor is tempered—making it slightly more compact yet reliably free‑flowering from late spring through summer. ‘Sir Edward Elgar’ flourishes under full sun, appreciates a warm, well‑drained site, and rewards gardeners with repeat blooms when given regular feeding, deep watering, and a spring pruning to remove spent canes. This rose is a fitting tribute to Britain’s great composer, bringing both color and elegance to borders, containers, and cutting gardens alike.

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 normally 5, including the terminal leaflet. The foliage is medium sized, about 14 cm (11/2") long and about 12.7 cm (1") wide.

The colour of the juvenile foliage on the upper and on the lower sides is greyish green (Group 28E7) with violet brown / garnet red (Group 11E8) on margins. The mature foliage has dark green colour (Group 28F7) .

Leaflets:

The size of the leaflets is medium, the shape of the leaflets is oval, the shape of the leaflet tip is cuspidate and the base shape is round. The surface texture of the leaflets is leathery, semi-glossy. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is single and small.

The petiole has greyish green / grass green colour (Group 30E7) with brownish violet / claret blush (Group 11D8), there are normally few prickles on the underside of the petiole, 1 to 2 per internode.

The petiole rachis also has greyish green / grass green colour (Group 30E7) with brownish violet / claret blush (Group 11D8).

The stipules are medium sized, about 1.27 - 1.8 cm (½ - 3/4") long.

Wood:

The new wood of this rose variety has deep green colour (Group 29E8) with violet brown blush (Group 10E7), the bark is smooth. The mature wood is dark green (Group 29F7)and the bark is smooth, slightly ridged.

Stems:

The stem pubescence is not observed on the stems of this rose variety.

Prickles:

There are many prickles present on the main canes from base. On the laterals from main canes there is an ordinary quantity of prickles. The shape of the prickles is hooked downward, they are medium sized. The colour of the young prickles is violet brown (Group 10E8) and the mature prickles are brown.

Small prickles:

There are many small prickles on the main canes of this rose. On the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety there are few prickles. The color of the small pricklesis brown.

Disease resistance:

The rose variety 'Sir Edward Elgar' has good resistance to most common rose diseases, in particular it is resistant to mildew, blackspot and rust under normal growing conditions. The pest resistance has not been tested.

Rose variety is recommended for growing in climate conditions similar to USDA 5 and requires winter protection in more colder climates.

This rose variety was named in honor of the great composer Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934 ).

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Ausprima’ / 'Sir Edward Elgar' originated by David Austin by crossing female parent (seed parent) - English shrub rose ‘Ausmary’ / ‘Mary Rose’ with the male parent (pollen parent) - English shrub rose ‘Aussquire’ /‘The Squire’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The primary objective of this rose variety breeding was to create a new rose variety with a pink, quartered, scented flowers on a bushy plant which repeatedly flowers.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

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

 Compact growth;

 Deep pink flowers;

 Very regularly flat flowers;

 Very floriferous.

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.

USDA 5