Rose Wisley 2008

’Wisley 2008’ has exceptional delicacy and charm bearing some resemblance to the old Alba Roses. The flowers are shallowly cupped, the petals arranged in a most perfect rosette formation, the colour is very pure soft pink with outer petals paling a little towards the edge. It bears some resemblance to an old Alba Rose such as ‘Queen of Denmark’. The aroma is delightful, fresh, fruity fragrance with hints of raspberries and Tea.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
Throughout this description of the rose variety ‘Wisley 2008’, 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 ‘Wisley 2008’ 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 bud form is pointed ovoid. The flower buds when the petals start to unfurl are about 2 cm long and 1.9 cm in diameter. When sepals first divide, the bud color is pink (Group 49A). When half open, the upper sides of the petals are pink (Group 49A) with light blue pink (Group 69D) at the tips and the lower sides of the petals are medium yellow green (Group 150C).

The calyx is star-shaped when the flower is fully open, curls right back over the receptacle, the length is about 2 cm and the diameter is about 1.8 cm.

The arrangement of the sepals is pregular. The upper surface of the sepals has light green colour (Group 144B) with some dark purple intonations (Group 58A) and the lower surface of the sepals is medium brown green (Group 194B) with some dark purple intonations (Group 58A). The length of the sepals is 2.1 cm and the width is about 7 mm. The shape is pointed; the upper surface texture is smooth and the lower surface is hairy, their margins are hairy. There are usually 3 heavily appendaged sepals and there are 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The receptacles are small, about 1 cm long and about 0.8 cm in diameter, and have medium green colour (Group 141C). The receptacle is funnel shaped and has a smooth surface.

The peduncle is medium sized and strong, averaging to about 5.5 cm in length, and has glandular surface texture. The colour of the peduncle is medium brown purple (Group 181A).

Bloom:

The flowers are medium-sized, the average open diameter is about 8 cm. They are usually borne in small clusters having a flat shape, of 4 - 6 blooms together. The flowering stems are long, about 80 cm in length and about 3 mm in diameter. When the flower first open the flower form is cupped, and the form persists until the end. Flowers are very full, the number of petals under normal conditions is 95 on average.

The colour of the upper sides and the reverse sides of the petals are light red pink (Group 49D). The base of the petals has a light yellow spot (Group 150D). 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 light red pink (Group 49D) and the color remains the same at the end of the third day . Thereafter color fades slightly to very light pink, almost white.

Petals:

The surface and texture of the petals is velvety and smooth. The shape of the outer petals is rounded and of the inner petals is obovate. On the margins of the petals there is a weak reflexing and a very weak undulation. The base of the petals is pointed and the shape of the apex is notched on the very outer petals and rounded on all other petals. The form of the petals is incurved and their arrangement is imbricated. The petals are medium sized, with a width of the outer petals of about 3 cm and the length of about 3.9 cm.

There are usually very few petaloids present on the flowers of this variety, about 2 per flower. The colour of the petaloids is light red pink (Group 49D). The length of the petaloids is about 1 cm to 3 mm. The shape is irregular, having irregular margins.

The petals of this rose variety drop off cleanly before drying. The petals last on a plant for about 5 days under normal growing conditions and their lastingness as a cut flower has not been tested yet.

Fragrance:

‘Wisley 2008’ has moderately-strong delightful and fresh fragrance, with Fruity character. and hints of raspberries and Tea.

Reproductive parts:

The number of stamens per flower is 55 on average, they have an average length of about 5 mm.

The anthers have length of about 1.5 mm, their colour is dark purple red (Group 60B), and they are usually tucked in calyx or partly so.

The filaments are light green brown (Group 160C) and are about 3 mm long.

The pollen has medium brown colour (Group 175A).

Number of pistils is 24 on average, they have a length of about 5 mm.

The styles are medium yellow green (Group 154C) and their length is about 5 mm.

Stigmas are also medium yellow orange (Group 13B) and are about 10 mm long.

The hips of this rose variety are not observed yet.

PLANT

Rose ‘Wisley 2008’ is classified as a Shrub rose, grows as a large shrub and has vigorous growth habit. The growth is tall and elegantly arching, producing its flowers along the stems and building up into a fine, vigorous shrub. When mature and well established it forms a plant of about 150 cm in height and of about 120 - 150 cm in width.

It is a good choice for both formal and informal areas of the garden and also, perhaps, for a hedge.

Foliage:

The number of foliage on this variety’s plants is normal. The number of leaves per flowering stem is 9 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 13.5 cm long and about 9 cm wide.

The new foliage on the upper surface and on the lower surface is medium green (Group 143A) overlaid with medium brown purple (Group 181A) . The adult foliage on the upper surface is dark green (Group 136A) on the lower side is dark brown green (Group 137B).

Leaflets:

The leaflets are medium sized, about 5.2 cm long and about 3.6 cm wide. The shape of the leaflets is oval. The base of the leaflets is rounded and the apex is acuminate. The leaflet’s surface texture is smooth and semi-glossy, leathery, the edges are serrated; the type of serration is single and medium.

Petioles have dark green colour (Group 137A), the length is 4.5 cm on average and the width is about 2 mm; the surface texture is smooth with occasional prickles.

Petiole rachis has dark green colour (Group 137A), the underside is with occasional prickles.

The stipules have dark green colour (Group 137A), the length is about 3 cm, and they have hairy surface.

The auricle shape is pointed, the length is about 8 mm and the width is about 1.5 mm. The colour of the auricle is dark green (Group 137A).

The vein color is the same as the leaf colour, dark green (Group 137A), the venation pattern is reticulate (net-veined).

Wood:

The colour of the new wood is medium brown purple (Group 181A), the bark is smooth. The mature wood has the same medium brown green (Group 137C), the bark remains smooth.

Stems:

The mature stem has a length of about 80 cm and the diameter is 5 mm, the internode distance is about 6 to 8 cm. On the branches of this variety there is some stem pubescence. The length of the branches is usually about 35 cm, with a diameter of about 4 mm. Usually there are about 8 lateral branches per stem. 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 of this rose, about 10 per 10 cm of the stem length. On the laterals from main canes there is an ordinary quantity of prickles, 8 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 medium brown purple (Group 181A), the mature prickles have brown red colour (Group 182C) with light green (Group 138C).

Small prickles:

Usually, under normal growing conditions the small prickles are not observed on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes.

Disease resistance:

The rose variety ‘Wisley 2008’ is resistant to most common rose diseases such as 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.

‘Wisley 2008’ was named for the famous RHS Gardens at Wisley, where many English Roses are planted. This variety should not be confused with a rose named ‘Wisley’ which, although beautiful, was withdrawn from the market by David Austin Roses Limited (UK) as it did not march the standards for health.

English Shrub Roses

Barcelona - Best Landscape Rose, Barcelona Rose Trials, 2009;

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The rose variety ‘Ausbreeze’ / ‘Wisley 2008’ 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 for breeding rose ‘Ausbreeze’ / ‘Wisley 2008’ was to produce a flowering variety having medium soft pink blooms in a rosette formation with strong arching growth and a fruity fragrance.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

Among the features which distinguish ‘Ausbreeze’ / ‘Wisley 2008’ from other presently available and commercial rose varieties is the following combination of characteristics:

  blooms that are a very pure soft pink in a perfect rosette formation;

  fresh, fruity fragrance with hints of raspberry and tea;

  growth is vigorous, tall and elegant with flowers produced along the stem;

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. ‘Ausbreeze’ / ‘Wisley 2008’ may be asexually propagated by budding.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The ‘Ausbreeze’ / ‘Wisley 2008’ rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the following combination of characteristics:

  whereas the seed parent has yellow blooms with few petals, ‘Ausbreeze’ / ‘Wisley 2008’ produces a pure soft pink bloom. The new variety is classified as a hybrida rose and has a vigorous, elegant arching growth;

Rose variety ‘Ausbreeze’ / ‘Wisley 2008’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent, by the following combination of characteristics:

  whereas the pollen parent bears small yellow blooms with few petals, ‘Ausbreeze’ / ‘Wisley 2008’ bears larger blooms having many petals with a pure soft pink color.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivar to the variety ‘Ausbreeze’ / ‘Wisley 2008’ is the ‘Ausgrab’ / ‘The Alnwick Rose’, and they can be distinguished by the following combination of characteristics:

 the ‘Ausgrab’ / ‘The Alnwick Rose’ has a shorter growth and a deeper pink color compared to ‘Ausbreeze’ / ‘Wisley 2008’, which has a taller growth and a paler pink color;

 In addition, the ‘Ausgrab’ / ‘The Alnwick Rose’ variety has an Old Rose fragrance, while the ‘Ausbreeze’ / ‘Wisley 2008’ has a fruity fragrance.

USDA 5