Rose Spirit of Freedom

This rose variety embodies the classic beauty of Old Roses, showcasing large flowers. They are deeply cupped, brimming with petals, and gently curved towards the center. Their color starts as a soft pink and gradually transforms into a lilac-pink hue as they age. Positioned gracefully on the branches, these flowers emit a delightful fragrance with subtle notes of myrrh. The foliage leans towards a greyish-green shade, creating a perfect complement to the blooms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
The following detailed description of rose cultivar with color descriptions using terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society (London) Colour Chart (2001), except where ordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated.

FLOWER
‘Spirit of Freedom has recurrent blooming habit, flowers in flushes from early spring until frosts.

Flower bud:
The flower bud is large, about 2.6 cm (approximately 1 inch) long and 2 cm (about 0.8 inches) in diameter when the petals start to unfurl. The bud form is globular. When sepals first divide, the bud color is medium green (Group 144A). When half open, the upper sides of the petals are light violet (Group 75B); and the lower sides of the petals are light blue pink (Group 75D).

The colour of the sepals on the upper surface is medium green (Group 144A) and on the lower surface is lighter medium green (Group 144A). The length is about 2.9 cm (around 1.1 inches) and the width is about 1.3 cm (approximately 0.5 inches). The shape is pointed, the surface texture is hairy on the edges, also the upper surface is slightly hairy and the lower surface is smooth. There are 3 normally appendaged sepals and 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacle is pitcher-shaped, medium sized, about 1.5 cm (approximately 0.6 inches) long and 1.2 cm (roughly 0.5 inches) wide, having a smooth surface. The colour is medium green (Group 144A).

The peduncle is medium, erect, averaging about 5 cm (approximately 2 inches) long. The surface is prickly, medium green in colour (Group 144B).

Bloom:
The flowers are large, with an average open diameter of about 7.1 cm (around 2.8 inches). They are usually borne several together in a small, flat clusters of up to 5 to 10 blooms, the clusters being of irregular shape. When they first open the shape is deep cupped, almost globular. As the flower ages the cupped shape remains, the outer petals curl back. Flowers are very, very full, th enumber of petals under normal conditions is about 200.

The flowering stems are strong, with average length of about 50 cm (approximately 19.7 inches) with a diameter of 0.6 cm (approximately 0.24 inches).

Colour on the upper sides of the petals is light blue pink (Group 75D) at their outermost portion, light violet (Group 75C) in the middle, and darker light violet (Group 75B) towards the base. The reverse sides of the petals are light blue pink (Group 75D) at the outermost portion and light violet (Group 75B) towards the base. The base of each petal has a medium yellow (Group 9B) spot. The major color on the upper side is light violet (Group 75B). No variegations were observed on the flowers.

Discoloration process is following: The general tonality at the end of the first day is not changing, but at the end of the third day is fading to light violet (Group 75C).

Petals:
The petals of the ‘Spirit of Freedom’ are thick, have smooth surface. The shape of the petals is rounded, notched; margin is weak reflexing, the apex shape is rounded and the base is pointed; the general shape of the petals is rounded with slightly recurved tips. The petals has the average width of about 3.7 cm (approximately 1.5 inches) and 3.8 cm (about 1.5 inches) long on average. They are informally arranged.

There are few petaloids on the flower, they are tucked in calyx.

Petals hang on and dry. On the plant the petals last fairly long, about 4 days; as a cut flower they have short life - about 3 days.

Fragrance:
The scent of the flowers is moderate to strong, with a hint of myrrh.

Reproductive parts:
There are about 96 stamens on a flower on average. They have length if about 0.2 cm (approximately 0.08 inches), they are tucked in calyx.

The anthers are dark yellow (Group 14A) and are about 0.2 cm long (approximately 0.08 inches).

Filaments are light green (Group 145C) and about 0.4 cm (about 0.16 inches) long.

Pollen is medium yellow orange (Group 17B).

The number of pistils is 15 on average.

Styles are light green (Group 145A), have length of about 0.6 cm (approximately 0.24 inches).

Stigmas have medium yellow green colour (Group 150C), usually 0.1 cm (around 0.04 inches) long.

Hips have dark green colour (Group 141B), cupped shaped, about 2 cm (approximately 0.8 inches) in diameter.

PLANT

The rose variety ‘Spirit of Freedon’ has very vigorous growth strength. Forms large, upright, bushy shrub. Mature and well-established plant can grow to 125 – 250 cm, depending on the pruning, and up to 90 - 125 cm in diameter. It will form a large shrub or can be trained as a short climber if provided a support and pruned accordingly.

Foliage:
The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is 7, including the terminal leaflet. The leaves are medium sized, about 17.5 cm (around 6.9 inches) long and 13 cm (approximately 5.1 inches) wide. There are normal quantity of leaves on the plant.

The new foliage has dark brown green colour (Group 146B) on the upper side; and medium brown green colour (Group 146C) on the lower side. The old foliage on the upper side is dark green (Group 139A) and medium brown green (Group 147B) on the lower side.

Leaflets:
The size of an average leaflet is about 7.2 cm (approximately 2.8 inches) long by 4.7 cm (about 1.9 inches) wide. They have broadly oval and pointed oval shape, the base is cordate shaped, and the apex is cuspidate. The texture of the leaves is leathery. The edges are serrated, the serrations type is double and small.

Petiole has brown red colour (Group 178B); petiole rachis is light green (Group 144B) with prickles on the underside Auricle has long point shape. Stipules are about 3 cm (around 1.2 inches) long and smooth.

Veins have dark brown green colour (Group 146B), venation pattern — branching.

Wood:
New wood has medium brown colour (Group 176C) and smooth bark. The old wood is medium green (Group 144A) and has rough bark.

Stems:

Prickles:
‘Spirit of Freedom’ is quite well sarmed with thorns. The quantity on main canes from base is about 62 per 70 cm (approximately 27.6 inches) length. On laterals from main canes are fewer, about 8 per 40 cm (about 15.7 inches) length.

The prickles have hooked downward form, the length is about 8 mm (approximately 0.3 inches) on average. The colour when young is medium brown (Group 175B), when mature is lighter medium brown (Group 176C).

Small prickles:
There are also many numbered small prickles on the main and on the laterals. When young they are brown red (Group 178B), and when mature is medium brown (Group 175B).

Disease resistance:

The variety is resistant to mildew, blackspot, and rust under normal growing conditions. In colder and very wet weather tends to be slightly susceptible to botrytis and mildew.

Pest persistence not tested.

Named for the Freedom Association which campaigns for the preservation and extension of freedom in Britain.

English Shrub Rose

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY
Shrub rose ‘Ausbite’ / ‘Spirit of Freedom’ originated by David Austin by crossing the variety ‘Auscot’ / ‘Abraham Darby’ with an unnamed seedling.

Parentage:

Seed parent - Unnamed Seeding, unpatented.

Pollen parent - ‘Auscot’ / ‘Abraham Darby’

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY
The primary objective of the breeding was to produce a new rose variety having soft pink flowers, good fragrance, and high disease resistance.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY
The objective was substantially achieved by the breeder, along with other desirable improvements, as evidenced by the following unique combination of characteristics that are outstanding in the ‘Ausbite’ / ‘Spirit of Freedom’ and that distinguish it from its parents, as well as from all other varieties:

1. Soft pink, cupped flowers with numerous petals.

2. Vigorous, bushy growth.

3. Good fragrance with a hint of myrrh.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by budding, was performed at Albrighton, England, and showed that the foregoing and all other characteristics and distinctions came true to form and established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS
‘Auscot’ / ‘Abraham Darby’, is a well rounded shrub bearing large apricot cup-shaped flowers.

The female parent has large globular flowers of a deeper pink than ‘Ausbite’ / ‘Spirit of Freedom’.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR
‘Austop’ / ‘Barbara Austin’ has blush pink blooms on a shrubby, twiggy plant, whereas ‘Ausbite’ / ‘Spirit of Freedom’ has soft pink, deep cupped blooms and forms a substantial bushy shrub.

USDA zone 5 and warmer