Rose Sir Walter Raleigh

This rose is distinguished by its exceptionally large, full blooms, some of the largest among English Roses. The flowers are a warm, glowing pink with slightly paler undersides, opening from rounded red buds into shallow, cupped blooms that resemble those of a tree peony. At the center, a prominent cluster of golden-yellow stamens adds a vibrant contrast and a charmingly informal touch. Fragrance of 'Sir Walter Raleigh' is prominent - strong and pleasing, Old Rose, sweet and nostalgic, lingers in the air with each bloom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Throughout this description of the rose variety 'Sir Walter Raleigh' 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 continuous flowering habit. The flowers appear in loose clusters of three to five throughout the season, although its repeat flowering can be somewhat irregular.

Flower bud:

The flower buds of 'Sir Walter Raleigh' rose variety are medium sized, about 3 cm long when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is ovate pointed. When half the upper sides and the lower sides of the petals are greyish yellow (Group 1B7) at base turning to very deep red. Calyx is star-shaped when fully opened with the sepals folding back.

The shape of the sepals is lanceolate, The colour on the upper surface is light green and there are very short fine hairs on the surface. The lower surface is medium green with occasional glandular hairs and they are either finely hairy or glandular hairy at the edges, with occasional narrow lobes on the lower surface.

The receptacle is fairly shallow cupped and has medium green colour.

The peduncle is straight, rigid, averaging to about 5.5 cm in length, and has numerous red aciculas on the surface. The colour of the peduncle light green tinged with red. There are some prickles on the peduncles that are sparse and slightly recurved at base to straight at the top.

Bloom:

The flowers are large, the average diameter of the open flower is about 10 cm. When first opened, the flower form is cupped, as the flowers open the shape becomes flattish and slightly quartered, the flower form persists until the end. Flowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 66 on average. There is a high percentage of solitary flowers on the plants of this variety, most stems present one primary and up to three small buds bunched in tight clusters.

When first open the colour of the upper sides and of the reverse sides of the petals are lemon / citron yellow (Group 3B8) at base turning to purplish red / violet red (Group 13B6) towards the edges.

When fully open the color of the flowers on the upper surface of the petals changes to pastel yellow (Group 2A4) at base transitioning to pale red / Venetian pink (Group 10A3) towards the edges, while the reverse sides of the petals are pastel yellow (Group 2A4) at base transitioning to greyish magenta (Group 13B3) and deepening to very greyish magenta (Group 13B5) at centre.

When finishing blooming the flowers on the upper side of the petals are pale / yellowish white (Group 2A2) at base transitioning to rose pink (Group 13A3) to the edges; the reverse sides of the petals are pale / yellowish white (Group 2A2) at base transitioning to lighter rose pink (Group 13A4) to the edges.

Under normal growing conditions no variegation is observed on the flowers of the rose variety 'Sir Walter Raleigh'.

Petals:

The texture of the petals is slightly silky and the surface is smooth; the shape of the petals is spatulate. The petals of this rose variety have good self-cleaning quality, they normally drop off cleanly from the plants. The petal arrangement is relaxed and slightly ruffled, enhancing its natural, old-fashioned character.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of the rose 'Sir Walter Raleigh' is strong and pleasant, old fashioned.

Reproductive parts:

The number of stamens is 86 on average per flower.

The anthers have golden yellow colour.

The colour of the filaments is yellow.

The number of pistils is 79 on average.

The colour of the styles is pale green and they are finely hairy.

Stigma has a yellow colour.

This variety does not produce seeds in normal garden conditions, but only when cross-pollinated.

PLANT

The rose variety 'Sir Walter Raleigh'is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. The growth character is dense, tall and bushy. The plant forms a tall, upright, and somewhat arching shrub with a sturdy and rugged presence. Mature and well-established plant has a height of about 120 - 180 cm (4 to 6 ft) and the width of about 90 - 120 cm (3 to 4 ft). The branches can develop a characteristic zigzag growth pattern. When grown on its own roots, the plant may spread slightly via stoloniferous shoots, so it benefits from generous spacing.

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 varies from 3 to 5 most common, including the terminal leaflet.The foliage is medium sized.

The foliage is dark green with a slightly rugose texture, and new growth often emerges with a reddish tint. The colour of the juvenile foliage on the upper side is olive green (Group 3D8) overlaid with red and the lower side is violet brown (Group 11E7). The mature foliage on the upper side is dark green (Group 29F8) and on the lower side is dark green (Group 29F6).

Leaflets:

The size of the leaflets is medium, the shape of the leaflets is broadly ovate. The surface texture of the leaflets is slightly ruglose, rough on the under side, dense dark green, mattish. The edges are serrated, the serration is dentate with red tips.

The petiole has medium green colour, concave, with glandular hairs and occasional small prickles on the under surface.

The stipules are medium sized, medium green in colour and have a glandular, hairy surface, with dark green wings.

Wood:

The new wood of this rose variety has deep green colour (Group 29E8), the bark is smooth. The mature wood is dark green (Group 29F8), the bark remains smooth.

Prickles:

There are many prickles present on the main canes from base and on the laterals from main canes. The shape of the prickles is slightly recurved, the length is varying in size from very small to very large. The colour of the young prickles is brownish / red cardinal (Group 10D8) becoming agate / brown coloured (Group 7E8) as they mature.

Small prickles:

There are numerous small prickles on the main canes of this rose and on the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety. They are sparse and slightly recurved at base to straight at the top. The colour of the small prickles when young is brownish violet / wine red (Group 11D8) at base becoming gate / brown (Group 7E8) to the tip.

Disease resistance:

While it has impressive size and charm, 'Sir Walter Raleigh' is not without its challenges. It is moderately susceptible to rust and mildew, particularly in humid climates, and may not thrive as well in cooler, damp conditions. However, in warmer and drier regions this rose can perform admirably, especially when planted en masse or given good air circulation. The pest resistance has not been tested yet.

Rose variety is recommended for growing in climate conditions similar to USDA 6 and requires winter protection in more colder climates.

This English shrub rose was introduced by David Austin to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first English-speaking colony in America, established by its namesake explorer. Sir Walter Raleigh (1554-1618) was an English explorer and politician, the founder of the settlement, was a favorite of Elizabeth I

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Ausspry’ / 'Sir Walter Raleigh' originated by David Austin by crossing female parent (seed parent) - English shrub rose ‘Ausli’ / ‘Lilian Austin’ with the male parent (pollen parent) - English shrub rose ‘Chaucer’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The primary objective of this rose variety breeding was to create a new rose variety with vigorous, abundant and continual blooming taken with the perfection of the very full flowers of an old-fashioned type.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

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

 hardy and bushy plant suitable for cut flowers and garden decoration;

 large double flowers with open centres exposing a bunch of golden stamens;

  abundant and continual blooming the unusual blend of colouring and shaping of the flower.

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 6