Rose The Wedgwood Rose

‘The Wedgwood Rose’ quickly forms a superb climber, sending up many shoots from the base of the plant. The large, soft pink bloom have delicate, gossamer-like outer petals, creating a charming effect. There is a medium-strong fruity fragrance with hints of cloves. Its ample foliage is dark green and glossy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Throughout this description of the rose variety ‘The Wedgwood Rose’, 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, 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 3.2 cm long and 2 cm in diameter. The bud form is globular. When sepals first divide, the bud color is light blue pink (Group 69D) with red flecks. When half open, the upper sides of the petals are light blue pink (Group 68D) and the lower sides of the petals are light blue pink (Group 69D).

The calyx is star-shaped when the flower is fully open, folded back, the length is about 6 cm and the diameter is about 6 cm as well.

The arrangement of the sepals is pointing downwards. The upper surface of the sepals has medium brown green colour (Group N138D) and the lower surface of the sepals is medium green (Group 143A). The length of the sepals is 3 cm and the width is about 1 cm. The shape is acuminate; the upper surface texture is mossy and the lower surface is leathery. There are usually 3 normally appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacles are small, about 1.5 cm long and about 1 cm in diameter, and have medium green colour (Group 143A). The receptacle is pear shaped and has a smooth surface.

The peduncle is medium sized, and moderately strong, averaging to about 6.5 cm in length, and has prickly surface texture. The colour of the peduncle is dark brown purple (Group 178A).

Bloom:

The flowers of ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ are medium-sized, the average open diameter is about 9 cm. They are borne in small clusters having a pyramidal shape of 4 - 14 blooms together. When the flower first open the flower form is globular. The form persists until the end, the outer petal edges curl back. Flowers are full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 70 on average.

The colour of the upper sides is light blue pink (Group 62D) with salmon shades and the reverse sides of the petals are light blue pink (Group 62D). The base of the petals has a light yellow orange spot (Group 11D), with a small light yellow spot (Group 13D) on the reverse side. Under normal growing conditions no variegation is observed on its flowers.

The general tonality of the flowers at the end of the first day is salmon pink (Group 62D) and at the end of the third day becomes lighter, light red pink (Group 36D). Thereafter color fades slightly to cream or light yellow orange (Group 11D).

Petals:

The surface and texture of the petals is smooth. The shape of the petals is rounded, their margins 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 irregular. The petals are medium sized, with a width of the outer petals of about 3 cm and the length of about 4 cm.

The petaloids are present on the flowers of this variety, about 19 per flower. The colour of the petaloids is light blue pink (Group 62D). The length of the petaloids is about 3 cm to 2 cm. The shape is narrow elliptical and they have medium undulating and reflexing margins.

The petals of this rose variety hang on and dry, therefore the deadheading is required for this rose variety. The petals last on a plant for about 4 days under normal growing conditions and their lastingness as a cut flower has not been tested yet.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ is strong, of warm Fruity character with clove aspects closer to the center.

Reproductive parts:

The number of stamens per flower is 65 on average, they have an average length of about 13 mm.

The anthers have length of about 3 mm, their colour is dark yellow orange (Group 22A), and they are usually regularly arranged around the styles.

The filaments are medium red (Group 44B) and are about 10 mm long.

The pollen has dark yellow orange colour (Group 22A).

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

The styles are medium red (Group 44B) with dark yellow orange (Group 22A), their length is about 3 mm.

Stigmas are also medium red (Group 44B) dark yellow orange (Group 22A) and are about 3 mm long.

The hips of this rose variety are not observed yet.

PLANT

Rose ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ is classified as a Shrub rose, and grows as a large shrub, but it is most suitable for straining as a climber. It is generally regarded as an English Climbing rose. The growth habit is vigorous and strong. Form large, dense and bushy plants with long and arching branches, which often require some support. When mature and well established it forms a plant of about 150 - 350 cm in height and of about 100 - 150 cm in width.

Foliage:

The foliage is abundant on this variety’s plants. The number of leaves per flowering stem is 12 under normal growing conditions. The number of leaflets on the normal mid-stem leaf is variable, and varies from 5 to 7 leaflets, including a terminal leaflet. The leaves are medium to large sized, about 16 cm long and about 12 cm wide.

The new foliage on the upper surface is grey brown (Group N199A) and on the lower surface is dark brown (Group 166A). The adult foliage on the upper surface is dark green (Group 137A) on the lower side is medium green (Group 144A).

Leaflets:

The leaflets are medium sized, about 5 cm long and about 3.5 cm wide. The shape of the leaflets is pointed oval. The base of the leaflets is cordate and the apex has an obtuse 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 147C), the length is 3.5 cm on average and the width is about 2 mm; the surface texture is with prickles.

Petiole rachis has medium brown green colour (Group 147C), the underside is with prickles.

The stipules have medium green colour (Group 144A), the length varying of about 1 - 2 cm, and they are bearded.

The auricle shape is pointed, the length is about 1 cm and the width is about 1 mm. The colour of the auricle is medium green (Group 144A).

The vein color is medium brown green (Group 139B), 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 the same medium brown green (Group 178A) with light green (Group N144D) and the bark becomes rough.

Stems:

The mature stem has a length of about 25-30 cm and the diameter is 1 cm, the internode distance is about 5 cm. On the branches of this variety there is some stem pubescence. The length of the branches is usually about 15 cm, with a diameter of about 5 mm. Usually there are about 5 lateral branches per stem. The above measurements are all variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.

Prickles:

There is a normal quantity of prickles on the main canes from the base of this rose, about 6 per 10 cm of the stem length. On the laterals from main canes there are many prickles, 12 per 10 cm of the stem length. The shape is deep concave, the length is 8 mm on average. The colour of the young prickles is dark brown purple (Group 183A), the mature prickles have medium brown purple colour (Group 186A).

Small prickles:

There are few small prickles on the main canes of ‘The Wedgwood Rose’, about 2 per 10 cm. There are many small prickles on the laterals from the main canes. The colour of the young prickles is dark brown purple (Group 183A), and when they mature the colour turns closer to black (Group N186A).

Disease resistance:

The rose variety ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ has very good disease resistance in a wide range of growing conditions. It is very 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.

Wedgwood is an English fine china, porcelain and luxury accessories manufacturer that was founded on 1 May 1759 by the potter and entrepreneur Josiah Wedgwood. Named to mark the pottery company’s 250th anniversary.

English Climbing Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The rose variety ‘Ausjosiah’ / ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ 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 an exceptionally vigorous flowering rose variety having delicate individual blooms of a soft rose pink with a lovely fragrance, which is fruity on the outer petals and clove in the center.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

Among the features which distinguish ‘Ausjosiah’ / ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ from other presently available and commercial rose varieties is the following combination of characteristics:

  beautiful and delicate individual blooms of a soft rose pink with a lovely fragrance which is fruity on the outer petals with clove in the center;

  exceptionally vigorous growth sending up many shoots from the base and forming a large rampant shrub;

  ample foliage that is dark green and glossy;

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. ‘Ausjosiah’ / ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ may be asexually propagated by budding.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The ‘Ausjosiah’ / ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the following combination of characteristics:

  whereas the seed parent is not as disease resistant and has larger more open blooms, ‘Ausjosiah’ / ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ bears individual blooms of a soft rose pink with a lovely fragrance which is fruity on the outer petals with clove scents in the center;

Rose variety ‘Ausjosiah’ / ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent, by the following combination of characteristics:

  whereas the pollen parent is an overall poorer quality plant, ‘Ausjosiah’ / ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ is exceptionally vigorous.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivar to the variety ‘Ausjosiah’ / ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ is the ‘Ausrumba’ / ‘Gentle Hermione’, and they can be distinguished by the following combination of characteristics:

 the ‘Ausrumba’ / ‘Gentle Hermione’ is a medium height rounded shrub, whereas the ‘Ausjosiah’ / ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ is a vigorous shrub;

 the ‘Ausrumba’ / ‘Gentle Hermione’ produces blooms having a fragrance of strong old rose with a hint of myrrh, compared to ‘Ausjosiah’ / ‘The Wedgwood Rose’, which produces a fruity fragrance with clove;

 In addition, the bud color of the ‘Ausjosiah’ / ‘The Wedgwood Rose’ is pink, and the buds of ‘Ausrumba’ / ‘Gentle Hermione’ are apricot-colored.

USDA 5