Rose Troilus

‘Troilus’ enchants with large, deeply cupped blooms in tones of warm honey buff, apricot and cream, releasing a beguiling fragrance of honey and myrrh. Though demanding in cultivation, this rose rewards patient care with exceptional flower form and scent - especially in warm, dry climates.

FLOWERING

This rose variety ‘Troilus’ has a recurrent flowering habit. Blooms in flushes with breaks from summer until frosts, especially when regularly deadheaded. The number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.

The flowers of ‘Troilus’ are medium to large sized, very full, and classically cup-shaped, often forming a substantial rosette of up to 8 cm (3.1 in) in diameter when the flower fully opens. In ideal conditions, particularly in warm climates, the blooms are superbly globular, developing from tulip-like buds into voluptuous cups of honey buff, apricot-pink and cream, with deeper amber shadows toward the centre. Outer petals tend to reflex gently, giving the blooms an elegant ruffled finish. In cooler or damp conditions, the blooms remain smaller, tighter, and may be prone to balling or rot in persistent rain.

The flower form is not the only appeal of this rose, it also possesses a wonderful fragrance, which is a compelling blend of honey and myrrh, a hallmark of several early David Austin cultivars, and one of the most praised aspects of ‘Troilus’. It is a sweet, rich scent with exotic undertones that lends the rose an antique, almost literary character befitting its Shakespearean name.

Blooms appear in heavy clusters, sometimes overly packed, on long, upright stems, making them attractive for cutting and floral arrangements, especially in hot, dry summer gardens. While not the most prolific bloomer in temperate zones, the rose does repeat flower, particularly when deadheaded and given regular feeding and irrigation.

PLANT

Rose variety ‘Troilus’ is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. It forms a medium sized shrub, with a vigorous yet narrow and upright growth habit, generally reaching 125 cm in height and about 100 cm in spread (4.1 × 3.3 ft).

The plants have large, medium to dark green leaves, moderately glossy, with a rather modern appearance for an early English Rose. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is typically 5, including the terminal leaflet. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is large and single. The new growth of this rose is tinted red, and the canes are marked by scarlet prickles, lending ornamental interest even when the plant is not in bloom.

While vigorous in warm climates, this rose is not for the novice gardener. ‘Troilus’ is highly susceptible to mildew, blackspot, and rust, particularly in humid or rainy climates. However, its needs are straightforward: it benefits from deep organic mulching, consistent watering, and preventive fungicidal care. In the right setting, particularly sunny, dry climates with good air flow, the rose will settle over time and display a steadier flowering rhythm. The performance of the plant improves noticeably with maturity and attentive care.

Best placed in a warm, sheltered border, ‘Troilus’ is ideal for rose gardens in Mediterranean or arid settings, where its blooms achieve full form and fragrance. It combines well with pale lavender, blue salvia, silver artemisia, and other plants that favour dry air and strong sun. Given its form and colour palette, it suits romantic and classical themes, and is also suited to container growing in controlled conditions.

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

This rose was named after the character of Shakespeare's tragedy “Troilus and Cressida”, a nod to both literary and classical inspiration. In myth, Troilus was a Trojan prince, known for youthful beauty and tragic love.

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Ausoil’ / 'Troilus’ is part of the David Austin’s earlier generation of English Roses, originated by crossing:

 the seed parent unnamed and unpatented rose seedling which was a result of the cross pollination of the Old Rose ‘Duchesse de Montebello’ with pollen parent English shrub rose ’Auscer’ / ’Chaucer’

 with the pollen parent an English shrub rose ’Ausfather’ / ‘Charles Austin’.

Therefore the parentage of this rose can be expressed with the following formula:

 (‘Duchesse de Montebello’ x ’Auscer’ / ’Chaucer’) x ’Ausfather’ / ‘Charles Austin’

USDA 6