Rose Susan Williams-Ellis


Aroma:

Health:


Registration code: Ausquirk
Breeder: David Austin
Year of introduction: 2010
Introduced by: David Austin Roses Limited (UK)

Main color: White
Flowering: Repeat flowering
Flower size: Medium
Aroma: Medium-strong, Old Rose
110 - 120 cm / 3' 7" - 3' 11"
90 cm / 2' 11"

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Characteristics

Main color: White

Color: White

Flowering: Repeat flowering

Flower size: Medium

Flower: Very full, cupped, rosette, in small clusters

Foliage: Dark green, medium, matte, leathery

Aroma: Medium-strong, Old Rose

Class: Shrub rose

Sub-class: English rose, Shrub rose

Type: Medium shrub

Growth type: Bushy, upright

Height: 110 - 120 cm / 3' 7" - 3' 11"

Width: 90 cm / 2' 11"


Description

She became quite a happy surprise for David Austin as a sport of ‘The Mayflower’ having delightfull pure white flowers which are very hard to achieve in modern rose breeding. Beautiful and profusely flowering rose of a typical Old Rose beauty. Her blooms have a star-like quality in the way they shine pure white and how their slightly pointed petals reflex to create a textured dome shape. It has a delicate quality, almost like layers of tissue paper and there is a touch of yellow at her center where she displays her shining petals. Same as the parent has excellent disease resistance and starts to flower very early in the season.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Throughout this description of the rose variety ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’, 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

Rose variety ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ has a good repeat flowering habit, blooms in flushes, from early 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 when the petals start to unfurl are about 2 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter. The bud form is pointed ovoid. When sepals first divide, the bud color is medium grey gree (Group 194D). When half open, the upper sides and the reverse of the petals are white (Group 155C).

The calyx is star-shaped when the flower is fully open, folded back, the length is about 5 cm and the diameter is about 5 cm as well.

The arrangement of the sepals is a regular opening to a star shape, which then folds right back. The upper surface of the sepals has medium green (Group 143C) and the lower surface of the sepals is medium green (Group 143C) with some medium red (Group 42C). The length of the sepals is 2.5 cm and the width is about 0.7 cm. The shape is lanceolate with smooth edges; the upper surface texture is hirsute and the lower surface is smooth. There are usually 3 normally appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with smooth edges.

The receptacles are small, about 8 mm long and about 8 mm in diameter, and have medium green colour (Group 143C) with some medium red (Group 42C).. The receptacles are pitcher shaped, and their texture is smooth.

The peduncle is short and strong, averaging to about 4.5 cm in length, and has smooth surface texture. The colour of the peduncle is brown red (Group 182B).

Bloom:

‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ has medium sized flowers, the average open diameter is about 6.5 cm. They are borne mostly in small clusters having a flat shape, of about 6 blooms together. The flowering stems are strong, about 16 cm long and 4 mm in diameter. When the flower first open the flower form is cupped. As the flower fully opens the form becomes more flat, rosette shaped, petals slightly curl. Flowers are full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 135 on average.

The colour of the petals is white (Group 155C) from both sides. The base of the petals has the same white colour (Group RHS 155C), there is just a touch of yellow at her most inner petals which gives the flowers the shining effect. Under normal growing conditions no variegation is observed on the flowers of this rose variety.

The general tonality of the flowers at the end of the first day is white (Group 155C) and at the end of the third day remains of the same white colour (Group 155C). The general tonality of the flowers remains unchanged until the end.

Petals:

The surface and texture of the petals is smooth. The shape of the petals is obovate, their margins have weak undulation or reflexing. The base of the petals is pointed and the shape of the apex is basically rounded. The edges of the petals are slightly quilled; their arrangement is imbricated. The petals are medium sized, with a width of the outer petals of about 3.75 cm and the length of about 3.14 cm.

There are few petaloids present on the flowers of this variety, about 3 per flower. The colour of the petaloids is white (Group 155C). The length of the petaloids is 8 mm on average and their width is about 3 mm. The shape is long and thin.

The petals usually hang on and dry, therefore the timely deadheading is absolutely required. 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 is strong, lovely, of a classic Old Rose character which complements perfectly her traditional Old Rose styled flowers.

Reproductive parts:

The number of stamens per flower is around 18, they have an average length of about 4 to 5 mm.

The anthers have length of about 0.7 mm, their colour is medium yellow orange (Group 20A), and they are tucked in calyx or partly so and some mixed with petaloids.

The filaments are light green brown (Group 160A) and are about 4 mm long.

The pollen has medium yellow orange colour (Group 20A).

Number of pistils is 48 on average, they have a length of about 10 mm.

The styles are green-yellow (Group 1D), their length is about 10 mm.

Stigmas are medium yellow (Group 12B) and about 2 mm long.

The hips of this rose variety are not observed yet.

PLANT

‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ is classified as a Shrub rose, and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. The growth habit is vigorous and strong. Forms medium sized upright and bushy plants. When mature and well established it forms a plant of about 120 cm in height and of about 90 cm in width.

For its almost disease free therefore would be a perfect choice for a spray-free garden. Tolerant, robust and particularly winter hardy, she will shine equally well in shadier or sunny spots. With her bushy, upright, twiggy growth, will have better presentation mixed in a border or in a rose border with other white roses together to create single colour atmosphere or in mylti-coloured bed.

Foliage:

On the plants of rose variety ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ there is an ordinary quantity of foliage. The number of leaves per flowering stem is 6 under normal growing conditions. The number of leaflets on a normal mid-stem leaf is variable, varies from 5 to 7, including a terminal leaflet. The leaves are medium sized, about 14.46 cm long and about 11.1 cm wide.

The new foliage on the upper surface is medium brown green (Group 137C) slightly tinged with dark brown purple (Group 178A), the colour of the lower surface is medium brown green (Group 137C). The mature foliage on the upper surface is dark green (Group 137A) on the lower side is medium brown green (Group 137C).

Leaflets:

The leaflets are small to medium sized, about 5.74 cm long and about 3.36 cm wide. The shape of the leaflets is pointed oval. The base of the leaflets is obtuse and the apex has an acute shape. The leaflet’s surface texture is matt, leathery, the edges are serrated; the type of serration is single and small.

Petioles have medium brown green colour (Group 146C), the length is 4 cm on average and the width is about 2 mm; the surface texture is smooth. Petiole rachis is medium brown green (Group 146C), the underside is with prickles.

The stipules have medium brown green colour (Group 146C) with some dark purple red (Group 60B), the length is about 2 cm, the surface texture is glandular.

The auricle is sword shaped, the length is about 6 mm and the width is about 3 mm at the widest point. The colour of the auricle is medium brown green (Group 146C) with some dark purple red (Group 60B).

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 dark brown purple (Group 178A), the bark is smooth. The mature wood has dark brown green colour (Group 146A) and the bark remains smooth.

Stems:

The length of the branches is usually about 40 cm, with a diameter of about 4 mm. Usually there are about 10 lateral branches per plant. The mature stem has a length of about 62.5 cm and the diameter is 7 mm, the internode distance is about 6 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 is an ordinary quantity of prickles on the main canes from the base, about 20 per 10 cm of the stem length. On the laterals from the main canes there are about 15 prickles per 10 cm of the stem length. The shape is mostly deep concave, and the length of the prickles is about 7 mm. The colour of the young prickles is dark brown purple (Group 183B), the mature prickles have medium brown colour (Group 175A).

Small prickles:

There is a normal quantity of small prickles on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety, about 10 per 20 cm of the stem length. The colour of the young prickles is dark brown purple (Group 183B), and when they mature the colour becomes medium brown (Group 175A).

Disease resistance:

Rose variety ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ has good disease resistance in a wide range of growing conditions. It is resistant to black spot, mildew 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.


Name origin

Named for the founder and designer of Portmeirion Pottery, who was a great enthusiast of the English Roses. Susan and her husband Euan Cooper-Willis began Portmeirion Pottery in 1960.

Susan Williams-Ellis was one of Britain’s most celebrated designers of the second half of the twentieth century. Her designs were at the forefront of contemporary style and continue to inspire the ceramics industry today.


Rose Series

English Shrub Roses


Awards

Belfast - Most Fragrant Rose / R.J. Frizzell Award, Belfast Rose Trials, 2013.


Parentage

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The rose variety ‘Ausquirk’ / ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ is classified as a Shrub rose, and originated as sport of parent rose variety ‘Austilly’ / ‘The Mayflower’ by David Austin.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

This rose variety originated as sport and it was aimed to preserve the variety of rose with large rosette-shaped white blooms of the English Rose character with a strong Old Rose fragrance that is particularly disease resistant and winter hardy.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

Among the features which distinguish ‘Ausquirk’ / ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ from other presently available and commercial rose varieties is the following combination of characteristics:

  rosette-shaped white blooms;

 very bushy growth;

 matt green foliage;

 a long flowering season;

 the variety being particularly disease resistant;

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. ‘Ausquirk’ / ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ may be asexually propagated by budding.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The parent of this sport is rose variety ‘Austilly’ / ‘The Mayflower’. ‘Ausquirk’ / ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ may be distinguished from its sport parent, by the following combination of characteristics:

 ‘Ausquirk’ / ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ is white while the parent is pink;

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivar to the new variety is the ‘Auslevel’ / ‘Glamis Castle’ which may be distinguished by the following combination of characteristics:

 the ‘Ausquirk’ / ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ has a bloom form that is a rosette shape, whereas in ‘Auslevel’ / ‘Glamis Castle’ it is a deep cup, and petals within the blooms of ‘Ausquirk’ / ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ are thinner and more delicate compared with those of ‘Auslevel’ / ‘Glamis Castle’.

 ‘Ausquirk’ / ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ also has a strong Old rose fragrance compared with ‘Auslevel’ / ‘Glamis Castle’ myrrh fragrance.

 Finally, ‘Ausquirk’ / ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ has matt green foliage whereas in ‘Auslevel’ / ‘Glamis Castle’ the foliage is glossy.


Climate zones

USDA 5



Growing tips

roses for semi-shade Sun position: Prefers to have some shade in the hottest hours.
soil reuirements Preference in type of soils: Grows well on all types of soils.
rose prunning tips Prunning: Requires deadheading after the flowering.

Health

Black spots:

Mildew:

Botrytis:

Rust:

Rain resistance:

Cold hardy:

Heat resistance:


Published Oct. 5, 2024, 10:09 a.m. by Yuri Osadchyi

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