MODERN ROSES

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Photobucket has of course deleted the photos but this is still very interesting)

HYBRID TEA ROSES

The usual rose you see at the florist. Long-stemmed, elegant, high centered buds that open into large shapely flowers.
The bushes typically grow 3 to 6 feet tall, with long, straight, upright stems, with flowers which are rather one on a stem than in clusters, have a good repeat flowering. Many cultivars can be grown successfully in gardens but some need careful protection due to a lack of disease resistance and susceptibility to cold temperatures. Protection is required in cold winters at temperatures below -15ºC when they can be killed or damaged by cold or wind.
The most popular class of garden rose of the 20th century, nowadays, they are slowly replaced in the gardens by other classes which don’t require such a high maintenance. However, the hybrid tea remains the standard rose of the floral industry, and is still favoured in small formal gardens.

The first HTs were initially created by cross breading Hybrid Perpetuals with Tea roses in the late 1800s. From Hybrid Perpetuals they received the vigor, hardiness, firm flower stems and from the Teas the elegant leaves, long stems, persistent growth, and so the continuous bloming, the scent and the form of the flower.
The first HT is considered to be ‘La France’ introduced by a French nurseryman J B Guillot.


Even if its parentage it is uncertain ‘La France’ combined some of the best qualities of the Teas and Hybrid Perpetuals, and became the prototype for a new class of roses. With pink, large, high centered flowers, on reasonable firm stems and crisp semi glossy foliage it still can be find in historical gardens. The date of introduction, 1897, is one important in the evolution of roses as all the roses grown before are considered Old Garden Roses and those which appeared after, are considered Modern Roses.
At that time the controlled breeding was not yet usual, more of the roses were obtained by sowing the seeds collected from the existing roses. It was an English farmer and cattle breeder, Henry Bennet, who applied breeding principles, he had learnt with cattle, to roses, crossing HP with Teas. At a meeting in France, he presented a group of the new varietes he had obtained and so a new class was born, the Hybrid Teas. From there was no stop. A lot of crossing were done first between Teas and Hybrid Perpetuals and then within the class. Today there are around 10,000 cultivars, most of them grown under glass for selling as cut flowers. The palet of colour is very large; the novelties are tints of brown, green and blue.
At the beginning, the Hybrid Tea roses were in shades of white, pink and red. Important ancestors of the class are ‘Cheshunt Hybrid’ (red), ‘Lady Mary Fitzwilliams’ (pink), Mme Caroline Testout’ (pink).

‘Lady Mary Fitzwilliam’ ‘.Mme. Caroline Testout’
The yellow was lacking until the French breeder Pernet-Ducher made crossings with R. foetida and obtained ‘Soleil d’Or’ (1898). It had not pure yellow flowers but the colour was introduced and the rose was used in future crossing to obtain yellow flowers.
‘Soleil d’Or’
The hybrid tea class is important in being the first class of roses to include genes from the old Austrian brier rose (Rosa foetida). This resulted in an entirely new color range for roses: shades of deep yellow, apricot, copper, orange, The new color range did much to rise the hybrid tea popularity at the beginning of the 20th century, but these colors came at a price: Rosa foetida also passed on a tendency toward disease-susceptibility, scentless blooms, and an intolerance of pruning, to its descendants. .
Another milestone is ‘Mme Antoine Meilland’.
‘
Created by Francis Meilland in France, it was smuggled out in USA on the last day before the Germans invasion. It was introduced in 1945 as a symbol of freedom and peace and named ‘Peace’ in USA, ‘Giona’ (joy) in Italy and ‘Gloria Dei’ (Glory of God) in Germany. In 2005 it was celebrated 60 years from its introduction which is unusual for a rose. ‘Peace’ is one of the most famous roses well known and sold all over the world as well as used in breeding being parent for many roses. There are as well sports (natural mutation) from it such as
‘Chicago Peace’ and ‘Kronenbourg’


In the late 1940s everyone wanted roses. And the Hybrid Teas were dominant. ‘Peace’ on the first place, then ‘Crimson Glory’ (for a long time regarded as the best red rose) 'McGredy's Yellow' 'Glory of Rome'

New varieties with better blooms, better disease resistance, and better growth succeeded them. The light lemon ‘Grandpa Dickson’ and the exhibitors’ favourite ‘Red Devil’ from Pat Dickson;

‘Ena Harkness’ (seedling of ‘Crimson Glory’) and ‘Kordes Perfecta’ from Kordes;

‘Mischief’ and the bicoloured ‘Piccadilly’ from Sam McGready;

the geranium red, fragrant ‘Fragrant Cloud’ and the vermilion ‘Super Star’.

‘Admiral Rodney’ caused a sensation in 1973.

All these were followed by thousands of others, created by famous breeders such as Kordes. and Tantau in Germany, Harkness, Dickson and Cocker in the UK, Meilland and Delbard in France, McGredy in New Zeeland , Zary and Warriner in USA.
Here are some photos of just a very few of them
With white flowers

'Pascali' 'Polarstar' 'Silver Anniversary'


shades of yellow,

‘Elina’ ‘Freedom’ ‘Glorious’ 'King's Ransom'


'Norwich Cathedral' 'Diamond Jubilee'

apricot, peach, orange


WhiskyMac’ ‘Alpine Sunset’ ‘Beaute’ 'Grandmere Jenny'

'Valencia'

Many hybrid Teas come in shades of red, crimson, with velvet-like petals

‘Chrysler Imperial’ ‘Olympiad’ ‘Ingrid Bergman’

‘Alec’s Red’ ‘Loving Memory’ ‘Pride of England’
or dark rich red close to black

‘ Tower Bridge’ ‘Papa Meilland’ ‘Black Baccara’
the mauve, lilac shades are accompanied by fragrance

‘Intermezzo’ ‘Blue Moon’ ‘Blue River’
then come the shades of pinks, soft, rich or silver

'Grace de Monaco' 'Royal Highness' 'Congratulations' 'My choice'

'Rose Gaujard' 'Silver Jubilee'


and here two bicoloured

'Eternally Yours' 'Imperatrice Farah'

The HTs we have today have a very complex ancestry as many crossings were made within the class. Some are fragrant and here is interesting to cite the work of Ivon Flament from Switzerland, who isolated the substances that give the scent and found that these are different from those of the old roses, the new fragrances were created by the complex hybridization.
From those which are very fragrant here are some


'Yardley Baroque' ''Indian Summer' 'Double Delight'


'Velvet Fragrance' 'Mme Louis Laperriere' 'Nostalgia'


Pruning
When
With the vigorous varieties it is good to cut back to about 2 feet from the ground in late autumn after the bush goes into dormancy. This will protect the bush from damage from winter winds that could cause canes to rub against each other or loosen the roots.
Otherwise, prune your HT roses in early spring when they start to show signs of new growth, that is, the buds begin to swell. In mild areas where there is no danger of frost the pruning can be done in autumn. On the continent, the roses are pruned around the time when the Forsythia is blooming. If they were covered with soil, to protect the bud union, this has to be pulled away.
Why
- to encourage the bush to put out new canes. We have to keep in mind that the best flowers will grow on stems that are 1-3 years old. After that, it becomes difficult for new growth to emerge from the hardened bark.
- to shape the bush
- to open up the centre of the bush which will lead to a better air circulation and less spread of disesases
How
First, remove any dead, damaged or diseased wood.
Open up the centre by removing canes that grow inward. Cut out the ones that cross each other or rub against each other.
Remove the stems that are older than 3-4 years as well as the thin, weak ones.
Choose 4-7 stems that form a bowl shape and are evenly distributed around the bush. Always chose the younger and more vigorous ones. Remove all the others (if you have). Then cut back the stems to about 6 inches from the ground, that will mean above 4-5 buds.
The rule is to cut above an outward facing bud eye and about 1/4 inch above it, at an 45 degrees angle. The lowest point should be opposite and slightly higher than the bud. If the angle is toward the bud water will drain into it and may damage it.. If the cut is too high the stem will die back and become diseaded. If the cut is too low the bud can die.

Always the cuts should reveal good, clean wood, with a white or greenish color, not brown.
When entire canes are removed dont left stubs which will die back and give way to disease.
Remove any suckers- They are shoots that grow from under the bud union and have a different foliage. Rather than cut them pull them off from where join the root, scrape away the soil if necessary.
With HTs we have the choice of light, moderate or heavy pruning. Doing a light prune we cut less (and this is recomended for the first two years) but will have smaller flowers. With a heavy pruning we will have less buds from where the flowering stems will grow and thus larger and better looking flowers. The same is true with the number of stems. If you want flowers from exhibition do a severe pruning and leave only one year stems, if you want for decoration in the garden leave more stems and you can leave also one year stems on 2 years stems.


Deadheading

If we leave the plant to follow its cycle of life, it will grow, have flowers and set seeds.
By cutting the faded flowers in summer after the first flush, we trick the plant that will try again to complete the cycle and so we will have other flowers.
Deadheading is done firstly to promote re-bloom but it helps to keep the bush looking tidy and to eliminate debris accumulation in the garden. The faded flowers are a good place for pests to hide. Usually it is recommended to cut the bloom stem above the first five-leaflet leaf from top to down. (usually the first one or two leaves below the flower have three leaflets)
But, when we deadhead we have to keep in mind that a flower stem can be no larger in diameter than the stem from which it grows. Furthermore the subsequent flowers will be proportionate in size with the stem from which emerge. That means that if we cut lower we will have larger flower stems and bigger flowers but it will take longer for the bush to re bloom, If we cut higher we will have smaller flowers but sooner. The new growth will occur at the first bud below where we cut off the bloom. Actually, there has to be a balance as if we cut too much foliage we reduce the food manufacturing capacity and that may weaken the plant.
On a recently planted rose, remove the faded flower above the uppermost 3-leaflet leaf.
Its good to cut the leaf above which you cut too as so the plant will use the energy for the new growth. If you leave the leaf there, you will observe that after a while it will get yellowish as the plant concentrateS only on the new growth.

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Before starting with Part 2 I thought I would show you how I pruned my Hybrid tea roses.
Here is one before pruning


and after pruning


and another one, not so severe pruned


[the center was open up


and then the stems cut back



Part 2

POLYANTHA ROSES
(also known as Polypompoms, Poly-poms, Dwarf Polyanthas)

Little pretty things that will fill any space with masses of colour. Not as well known as other classes of roses, they are an important link in the history of roses.
Origins
Polyantha roses appeared on the scene at about the same time as the hybrid tea roses. Around 1860, a new rose, different from what was then in Europe was sent (as a plant or seeds) from Japan to Europe. It was R. multiflora, a species rose with small, honey-scented flowers in clusters.

In France, J B Guillot sowed seeds from R. multiflora obtaining varied seedlings. From one of those he sowed seeds again and there was the first polyantha ‘Paquerette’, a short (2 feet tall) bush with white double unscented flowers about an inch across, in large clusters. The novelty was the large sprays of flowers on low growing compact bushes. Yes, the same Guillot who introduced the first hybrid tea ‘La France’. He introduced ‘Paquerette’ in 1875.

History and development of the class

The first polyanthas were crosses between R. multiflora and China roses, combining the small-flowered cluster habit of the first with the dwarf bush and continuous blooming habit of the second.
The result was short, compact plants, 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide with continuous blooms of clusters, suitable for bedding, edging, hedging or mass planting. They were winter hard and disease resistant. The usual colours were pink, white and red
More than most roses, polyantha roses bloomed not only on old canes but also on new canes that spring from or close to the ground. This tendency to have canes and stems at different stages of maturity at the same time ensured a steady supply of flowers for a long time.
Other early polianthas were ‘Mignonette’ (contemporary with ‘Paquerette’ but not introduced until 1881) with double flowers in a blend of white and pink.


‘Gloire des Polyanthes’ (1887), bright pink fragrant flowers in small clusters.

‘Katharina Zeimet’ (1901) small upright bush with an abundance of pure white small flowers in large clusters


Bearing the large clusters, polyanthas were successful roses, but their flowers taken apart tended to be small and not so nice. The logical step was to cross them with other classes to improve the form and the colour of the flowers.
The first crosses were made to Tea roses. One of the earliest crosses would produce one of the most beloved and enduring polyantha - ‘Mlle Cecile Brunner’ (The Sweetheart Rose) On a charming, 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide compact bush, the thornless stems expose large clusters of light pink blooms, each one a perfect replica of a traditional tea rose in a reduces form.


‘Perle d’Or’ (1884) resembles ‘Cecile Brunner’ even if has other parentage. The orange-apricot buds open to golden pink flowers about an inch across. The flowers are in clusters from five on up. Highly fragrant, disease resisstent and virtually thornless.

‘Marie Pavie’ a short 18x18 inch bush with scented flowers white with ivory cream centres. Free of thorns and diseases it is an excelent plant for low hedges or a container.

‘JENNY WREN’ is a creamy apricot blend with strong fragrance


Others crosses were made with ramblers (R. wichuraiana, R. rugosa, R. multiflora descendents)
infusing more complexity to the class
A cross between ‘Gloire des Polyanthes’ and ‘ Crimson Rambler’ (a vigorous climber with nice double bright crimson flowers)
gave
‘Mme Norbert Levavasseur (1903) a nice rose but the crimson flowers faded to blue. It had about 6,000 descendants being an important step in the development of the polyanthas.


The most important descendant from Mme N. Levavasseur was the famous, typical of many true polyanthas, ‘Orleans’ (1909). It had rosy crimson flowers with a white centre, a bushy habit, glossy foliage and free intermittent bloom all season.

This rose as well as other polyanthas was very willing to sport. ‘Orleans' sported happily to 24 sports and some of the sports in turn sported again. But at the same time ‘Orleans’ produced, as a result of crossing with ‘Richmond’ a HT, the first floribunda ‘Rodhatte’ in 1912, a class that would overwhelm the polyanthas as a class.
In 1917 ‘Orleans’ sported to ‘Miss Edith Cavell’ , brilliant huge,red trusses of blooms that achieved a carpet effect in massed plantings.



At that time it was a success but in time retreated to an undeserved obscurity. In 1985 there was only one bush in an octogenarian’s garden in Norfolk from where was propagated and rescued from disappearance. It flowers reasonably well in shade.
Another sport of ‘Orleans’ -‘Coral Clusters’ with orange pink flowers, introduced a new colour to the class.

Another sport ‘Superb’ with crimson blooms produced ‘Gloria Mundi’ with clusters of orange vermilion very double little pompons against shiny, bright green foliage

‘Paul Crampel’ a sport from ‘Gloria Mundi’

had brighter and larger orange flowers.
Finally in 1932 ‘Orleans’ sported to ‘Cameo’ a combination of coral, orange and salmon

A cross between ‘Mme Norbert Levavasseu’ with ‘Dorothy Perkins’ (with R wichuraiana blood) gave ‘Ellen Poulsen’ with large double cherry pink flowers

Another polyantha with wichuraiana blood is ‘Yvonne Rabier’ with double pure white flowers

The pretty ‘Margo Koster’, with globular soft coral flowers was another polyantha starting a dynasty by spawning a chain of color sports


‘The Fairy’, one of the best known today, was introduced in 1931 by Ann Bentall.
Arching growth, glossy leaves bearing many dark green glossy eaflets, panicles of small salmon pink flowers make this a choice rose for the border.


‘The Fairy’ is in constant bloom from late June through autumn .While the bush is small and compact, it’s very healthy and vigorous.
Like the other polyanthas it sported too but it was used extensively in hybridization but the resulting roses were placed in different classes polyantha, floribunda, shrub, miniature.


Oddities
A few roses being dwarf and resembling the polyanthas were classified as so even if had different parentage.
‘White Pet’ a short sport of ‘Felicite et Perpetue’ (a hybrid sempervirens)

‘Baby Alberic’ a seedling of ‘Alberic Barbier’ ( rambler)

‘Baby Faurax’ a sport of the climber ‘Veilchenblau’

‘Verdun’ a small plant with tidy clusters of lilac pink has unknown parents


By the end of the great interest in producing Polyanthas in the 1930s, these roses had undergone a substantial transformation from dwarf, compact bushes with small flowers to much more robust plants with large foliage and flowers. Their characteristics were muted as more and more crosses were made with tea, ramblers, climbers, and china. The characteristics disappeared as crosses with tea hybrids produced larger bushes with larger flowers and clusters resembling more the hybrid teas than the original polyanthas. Firstly, the new varieties were called Hybrid Polyanthas but the Americans changed it to Floribunda.
Today in commercials catalogue polyanthas can be find sometimes in other categories reflecting their usefulness like as small shrubs, patio, ground covers.
Although the polyanthas are largely surpassed today by their showier and bigger relatives several are still worth growing They can be grown in containers, in front of a border, under a standard rose, are healthy and demand little maintenance.
On a quick search I found that Peter Beales and David Austin have polyanthas for sale.

Pruning
Polyanthas are hardy plants that, like many old garden and shrub roses, seldom suffer winterkill. They are therefore pruned more like old garden and species roses than like hybrid teas or floribundas.
Prune them very lightly removing no more than one fourth to one third of the growth. Leave them on the bushy side and don't remove thin growth - stems stay quite thin in polyanthas - unless you want to open up the center a bit. Remove any diseased, dead, damaged or too old parts. Deadheading throughout the season of flowering will promote more flowers for a longer time.

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FLORIBUNDA ROSES (CLUSTER FLOWERED ROSES)

As you may remember the first Polyantha Roses were the result of the crossings between R. multiflora and the China Roses.
At the beginning Polyantha roses were short, compact bushes, 1- 2 feet with small flowers in large clusters. Crosses with other classes, mainly the Hybrid Teas (HT) led to the Hybrid polyanthas (a class which was renamed as florbunda later) The goal of the crosses was to increase the size of the flower keeping the abundance. A dominant part in the founding of the hybrid polyantha class had the Poulsen family in Denmark. Dines Poulsen introduced in 1912 Rodhatte a cross between a polyantha and a HT [Mme Norbert Levavaseur (pol)x Richmond (HT)]

Today is considered by some rosarians as being the first floribunda. Anothers think about Grus an Aachen (a salmon pink, cluster-flowered, repeat blooming variety created by Geduldig in 1909 in Germany) as the first floribunda even if it is derived from a cross between Frau Karl Druschki, a Hybrid Perpetual and Franz Deegen, a Hybrid Tea.

In Denmark, Dine’s brother, Svend Poulsen took over the breeding, with a desire to produce varieties which could stand the cold winter and which would produce many blooms in the short summers. His first introductions, in 1924 were
Else Poulsen and Kirsten Poulsen
from the same parents, Orleans Rose (pol) x Red Star (HT)
With these started a new class Hybrid Polyanthas, which became a bridge between the old polyanthas and the new Floribundas.
These two roses were quite tall and vigorous, Else with semi-double rose-pink flowers whilst Kirsten had single carmine pink flowers, in large clusters on long stems providing massive color displays. Other notable creation of the Poulsen family are China Town and Nina Weibull
By further crosses between polyanyhas with hybrid teas, on the newly established class the influence of the HTs became much evident (much vigorous bushes, larger and nicer flowers but in smaller clusters). They could be called neither polyanythas nor HTs. First they were called hybrid polyanyhas but in the 1950s after quite a lot of argument they were renamed as Floribundas, Jackson&Perkins in USA being the first commercial rose grower to use this term.

The old original hybrid polyanthas were low and compact to about 2 feet with small flowers in large clusters, the first floribundas were taller, reaching 3-4 feet, spreading bushes with smaller clusters of larger and more shapely flowers. The modern floribundas tend to be dense growers, 3-5 feet with a tendency to produce immense clusters.
One of the early floribunda was Minna Kordes created by Wilhelm Kordes in Germany. It was introduced in America in 1039 at a world fair and renamed, because of commercial purposes, as ‘World’s Fair’

Others early varieties worth mentioning are
Joseph Guy (Lafayette). introduced by Nonin in 1924. Flowers bright crimson, in clusters of up to 40; growth vigorous, bushy. Parentage: ‘Rodhatte’ x ‘Richm
Fresham raised in 1940 by an amateur Albert Norman
Dainty Maid 1940 LeGrice
Large semi-double flowers of soft cool pink with carmin-pink reverses, the parent of David Austin's Constance Spry


Floribunda means ‘flowering in abundance’
Floribundas bear their flowers in clusters or sprays with many blooms opening simultaneously. They are generally hardier, lower growing and bushier than HTs They produce more blooms and continue to produce them over a long period almost continuously spring through autumn. If the HTs look nice in the vase floribundas look great in the garden, They are spectacular planted in mass, in beds and borders, or forming hedges with the taller varieties. Can be grown in containers and some of the strong stemmed varieties can be used in flower arrangements. The flowers may be single (5 to 12 petals), semi-double (13 to 25 petals), or fully double (25 to 45 petals) some have flowers with high centered HT form, whilst others have decorative, flat or cup shaped blooms.
You will find floribundas in every possible colour a rose can have.
Floribundas have many advantages over HT. The flowers are in clusters so the display of colour is bigger. The buds don’t open all at the same time so the flowering period is longer. The flowers are not only on the top but also on the sides of the bush.
Not too many are scented but some are extremely fragrant
‘Margaret Merril’, ‘Angel Face’, ‘Sunsprite’, ‘Intrigue’, ‘Scentimental’, ‘Escapade’, ‘Schocking Blue’ are a few with strong fragrance.

In 1940 Kordes created ‘Pinocchio’ , a floribunda with large clusters of double salmon pink flowers

The rose was sent in America to Jackson &Perkins where Eugene Boerner was working, who included ‘Pinocchio’ in his breading program.
He created Holiday
And in the second generation ‘Masquerade’ with yellow buds opening to red flowers which fade to dark crimson 1949 (Goldilocks x Holiday)
Other roses with Pinocchio as parent or grandparent
‘Fashion’ (1947) Red Pinocchio and ‘Lavander Pinocchio’
a cross between Pinocchio and Grey Pearl (aka The Mouse) (McGredy 1945) Grey pearl was an unusual rose with brown grey flowers
These two roses led to all the brown and pink -lavender roses we have today.
Angel Face (Swim, USA 1968) has Pinocchio and Lavander Pinocchio in its ancestry
Another introduction from Boerner was ‘Goldilocks’ in 1945 (Doubloons x seedling) with Doubloons as a cross between Hybrid of setigera x Hybrid of foetida bicolor

the best yellow floribunda of its day. (the first yellow floribunda being Poulsen’s Yellow, 1938
Proving that floribundas could have double flowers as HTs, Goldilocks was a rose which had many descendants. One of them is Allgold (LeGrice 1956) which is one of the purest and intense yellow

Boerner was very active developing many floribundas, more than 60 during his 45 year career. In the rose world he is known as ‘Papa Floribunda’ Many of his roses are still in commerce or live in their descendants.
‘Vogue’ ‘Ma Perkins’
‘Spartan’ ‘Orange Sweetheart’
‘Bridal Pink’
‘Chic’

Moving back to Europe, in Northern Ireland Sam McGredy IV inherited at the age of 2, in 1934, a rose nursery which was producing 1,000,000 plants per year. When Sam IV took over the business,in 1952, his inheritence was neglected, the roses being kept alive only for tradition sake. During the WW II the land in Europe was used for growing vegetables, the war being a disaster for the European rose industry. In 1952 he knew next to nothing about roses having no idea about what to do. Determined to carry on the family name and the McGredy breeding strain he set out to learn (and how well he learnt!) He went to Germany at Kordes, Denmark at Poulsen (with both of them developinmg laasting friendships) and invited Boerner to his nursery.
He introduced the first roses in 1958 and had the first real success in 1959 with ‘Orangeade’ a floribunda which will be a parent for many other floribundas.
In 1972, because of the terrorist activity, he moved to New Zealand, the following years being very successful for him.
In the early years of his career he introduced
‘Daily Sketch’ ‘Elizabeth of Glamis’ ‘Tiki’ ‘Arthur Bell’
‘Variety Club’ ‘Ice White’
‘City of Leeds’ ‘Irish Mist’
In 1971 ‘Piccaso’ was the first of the “hand-painted’ roses for which McGredy is re-knowed (one colour splashed or stirped with another)

Eye paint has 'Picasso' as one of the parents
Painted Star (a cross between Eye Paint and a miniature Anytime)
In 1984 the famous ‘Sexy Rexy’ with creamy pink massive sprays
followed by ‘Singing in the rain’

‘Great expectation’ , Rose of the year 2001

‘Oranges’n’Lemons’ another “hand painted”
as well as Michelangelo (aka The Painter) i163.photobucket.com/albums/t286/rosenfreund/Modern%20Roses/floribunda/the_painter_1.jpg[/IMG]


In Germany the Kordes family continued to develop the nursery founded by Wilhelm Kordes I in 1887. Interested in breeding frost resistant roses Wilhelm II worked with species such as R. sinossissima, R. Eglanteria, R.Wichuraiana
The Spinossissimas led to shrubs such as ‘Fruhlingsmorgen’ or ‘Fruhlingsgold’ which will play a huge part in the hand painted roses of Sam McGredy.
Rosa Eglanteria gave Clare Grammerstrof in 1957 from which have come strong vigorous hardy yellows ( Arthur Bell, China Town)
In 1933 Kordes created Eva, a shrub classified as Hybrid Musk by crossing ‘Robin Hood’ a Pemberton hybrid musk(with the polyantha 'Miss Edith Cavell' as parent) with 'J.C. Thornton' a HT.

which will have a big influence in the developing of the floribundas. Was a parent for ‚Pinocchio’, and ‚Orange Triumph’ IMG]http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t286/rosenfreund/Modern%20Roses/floribunda/orangetriumph.jpg[/IMG]
as well as grandparent for ‘Baby Chateau’ (large, double red fragrant flowers) 'Baby Chateau' is important because transmitted the scarlet geranium colour to the modern roses, through this variety’s descendant Eva entered the ancestry of most of our modern orange-toned roses ('Independence', 'Floradora', 'Cinnabar')
Independence (aka 'GeraniumRed')1951 (Baby Chateau x Crimson Glory) is the first modern rose in the colour range of orange-red. The key for this coloration was the pigment pelargonidin responsible for the scarlet colour of geraniums.

Another rose from Kordes was, in the same year, 'Rosenelfe' the first Floribunda to have flowers like the Hybrid Tea but smaller
In 1954 Magenta, as descendant of Lavander Pinochio showed mauve blended, fragrant flowers.

In 1955, Korona, a turning point for floribundas. A vigorous healthy shrub with semi double scarlet flowers, paler at the eye, with cream stamens. They faded to salmon pink; up to that time the bright reds nearly all turned to purple.
1956 Café russet, creamy coffee, scented

In 1958 Reimer Kordes introduced the international well-known perhaps the most famous floribunda Iceberg (Schneevittchen) with large decorative sprays of pure white blooms (Robin Hood x Virgo)
Iceberg sported to Blushing Pink Iceberg’ which has white flowers blushed with a very delicate pale pink, giving them a hand painted look This sport sported to Brilliant Pink Iceberg’ a dark pink which sported again giving Burgundy Iceberg’ with deep, velvet burgundy flowers As you know there is a climbing sport too from Iceberg.
Other earlier floribundas Lili Marlen


Antike
Lavaglut black red in dense clusters, long lasting flowers

Shocking Blue strongly scented light violet

Friesia (aka 'Sunsprite')

i163.photobucket.com/albums/t286/rosenfreund/Modern%20Roses/floribunda/803.jpg[/IMG]
And later
Nicole cream white with a red edge
Blue Bayou
Bad Birnbach aka BUSY BEE
Innocentia Rotilia Aprikola Champagne Moment Rose of the year 2002
Golden Memories, Rose of the year 2004

Another German family, well-known for rose breeding is Tantau. The first Mathias Tantau started a nursery at Uetersen in 1906. He was first interested in trees and then in roses. Starting to sow seeds of Polyantha roses, in 1928 he introduced a successful rose ‘Johanna Tantau’ considered today as a floribunda.
Mathias Tantau senior bred one of the first worldwide successful cut rose varieties called Garnette. (Rosenelfe x Eva) xHeros HT

It was bred in 1947 and supplied to the cooperation partner Jackson & Perkins in the United States. After the Second World War, especially in the nineteen-sixties, several million plants of this variety were planted in the Netherlands for cut rose production. It was a floribunda in granat-red with an extremely vase-life and high productivity.
Using ‘Baby Chateau’ (you remember, it was raised by Kordes) Tantau made a number of crosses with R.roxburghii; Floradora, Cinnabar, Tantau’s Triumph being offsprings from this cross. These will have numerous offsprings contributing much to many other breeders efforts.
Floradora introduced in 1944 (vermilion red) was one of the first descendants from Baby Chateau with vermilion but double flowers
Cinnabar, 1945 from the same crossing
The Tantau family, the most private and reserved of rose breeders, keeping the secret about the parentage of their roses introduced some outstanding floribundas
Oh la la Montana Paprika Geisha i163.photobucket.com/albums/t286/rosenfreund/Modern%20Roses/floribunda/ffgeisha12T.jpg[/IMG] Julischka
Glad Tidings
Ballade
Goldelse Showbiz


In Scotland, Alec Cocker, re-establishing the family business undertook rose breeding and together with his wife Anne gained international recognition. Alec’s introduced his first floribunda Rob Roy in 1970

Also introduced in 1970 was ‘Anne Cocker’

With vivid luminous vermilon flowers it was used as a seed parent giving very many descendants: Corso, Cairngorm, Dainty Dinah. May Lyon, Vital spark Stirling Castle
Since then the Cocker family (Alec with Anne and then his son Alex) has introduced many floribundas, some of them famous in the all world.
‘Burma Star, 22 petals of a light apricot yellow

‘Playboy

A single petal floribunda, was exported to many countries including USA where became one of the most popular garden and exhibition variety. It was also used as pollen parent for other famous floribundas such as Playgirl’ (Ralph Moore) ’Scentimental’ and ‘Betty Boop’ (Tom Carruth)
‘After the death of Alec in 1977, Anne and Alex Cocker have carried on the family tradition introducing many well known floribundas
‘Honey Bunch’ ‘
Toprose’ brilliant unfading yellow in exhibition form
Friend for life Ray of Hope White gold
Hi Society
Rose 2000 Clarinda Sunsplash

[Deleted]

Another well-known family, Harkness founded the first nursery in 1879 in Yorkshire. Jack Harkness began developing new roses in 1962 in Hitchin and today Harkness roses are known and grown word wide.
In 1967 Jack Harkness created Escapade a rose which is still well known. has big fragrant flowers, about 12 rosy violet petals with a white centre
Escapade
and in 1977 Margaret Merril a very fragrant white floribunda

Ann Harkness
the successful Living Easy
followed by Amber Queen
Many Happy Returns
Midsummer Night’s Dream
Buzy Lizzie
Cream Abundance
Princess of Wales
Keep in Touch
Pink Abundance
Princess Alice
Remembrance
Keep in Touch
Easy Going


The Dickson family started breeding roses around 1879 and today Colin is the sixth generation who carries on the tradition.
The first notable floribunda Shepherd’s Delight was created in 1959 folowed by
Anisley Dickson
Melody Maker Rose of the year 1991
Dearest
Irish Eyes Rose of the year 2000
In the latest years Dicksons has introduced floribundas predominantly in shades of yellow- apricot- gold- peach
Forever Young
Desert Island
Absent Friends more than 20 blooms per stem
Night Sky
Spice of Life
Three Cheers
Together Forever


In France Meilland used Orange Triumph from Kordes to create Alain in 1948

and Floradora for Cocorico 1951
then from a cross between Alain and Floradora resulted
Concerto
it was followed by Passionate Kisses a free flowering rose good for cutting .
Anthony Meilland golden yellow
Charles Aznavour
Marmalade Skies

On the other side of the pond Boerner’s work at J&P was continued by William Warriner. He began a reformation in the strength of floribundas around 1980 with the introduction of varieties which had flowers with the symmetry of HTs but at a reduced size.
Cherish
Evening Star large double blooms white with yellow center, recurving petals, strongly scented
Simplicity (Iceberg x seedling)
Razzle Dazzle Dazzling bright tangerine-orange flowers which are large for a floribunda and beautifully formed.
French Lace
Impatient bright red petals with ruffled edges
Intrigue a low shrub with violet purple and intense lemon scent
Summer Fashion

In 1997 Tom Carruth, an American rose breeder who learnt the rose business from Warriner and then started a breeding program at Weeks Roses, captured the attention of the world introducing Scentimental

A fragrant red&white striped floribunda with flowers of an old fashioned form.
One of the other 1997 releases was the semi double mauve Blueberry Hill
followed by George Burns a red and yellow striped
and Betty Boop ivory red bicolour
for his popular striped roses his nickname is ‘Mr. Stripe’
In 2003 he won another AARS award with a russet, smoky orange rose - Hot Cocoa hugely popular in USA (known as Hot Chocolate in UK)
In 2006 Ebb Tide smoky purple with a spicy scent


TICKLED PINK - Rose of the year 2007

It is a floribunda introduced by Fryer with full petalled scented pink blooms in large clusters. The bush is of medium height suitable for low hedging or mass planting




Grandifloras
In 1954 Lammerts introduced in California ‘The Queen Elizabeth Rose’ a carmine pink from a crossing between a hybrid tea (Charlote Armstrong) and a floribunda (Floradora).

The flowers of this large bush resemble those of the hybrid tea but they are in clusters like those of the floribunda. It is regarded as the first grandiflora, a class invented by the Americans. USA recognize this class as a separate one whilst the international rose community classifies them with the HTs and often refer to the whole bunch as Large Flowered.
Grandifloras appeared as a result of the numerous crosses made between floribundas and hybrid teas. Thease roses are large bushes with large hybrid tea shaped flowers that are produced in large clusters. (so the idea is being ‘grand’)
Grandifloras grow quite tall 4-5feet and upright. These are useful landscape shrubs for against a house or at the back of the border or as a screen.
There were about 50 grandifloras registered during the 20th century

Love (Warriner, 1980) Matilda (Meilland, 1984)
Lagerfeld (Christensen 1986)

English Perfume (Zary, 1989)

Cherry Parfait ( Meilland 2000)

About Face (Carruth, 2003)

Strike it Rich (Carruth, 2005)

Tigress (Zary, 2005)

Wild Blue Yonder (Carruth 2006)

Sundance (Zary, 2005)


A few words about how to take care of floribundas

Usually floribundas are easy to care of.
Pruning is pretty much the same as with the hybrid teas but the stems should be cut longer (above 6-10 buds) so you will have more buds to give shoots and so more flowers and more colour in the garden. Of course remove all diseased, dead and damaged wood. Remove the stems older then 3-4 years, those that are crossing the centre
When flowering, the central bud in the cluster will flower first and will fade first. If you want to avoid this you can pinch out the central bud from the beginning and you will have a nice display of the cluster. When the entire cluster has faded cut down the inflorescence above a well formed bud and the bush will repeat flowering. Don’t forget feeding, as Floribundas need energy to give us so many flowers.

I will end this long presentation although there is still much to say (I hope you are not too bored and enjoyed it, at least the photos) with a rose introduced in 1958 by Shepherd, USA, a deep pink semi double with strong fragrance.
CHUCKLES

Hope you like it, Chuckles

[fozzie]

Part 1 of Modern Shrubs

[Curtains]
[Enter stage right with slight swaying stagger, old age? Bushmills?]

Just when you thought it safe, here I am back with more on roses!

Rosefan has very eloquently and knowledgably walked us through ‘Hybrid Tea’, ‘Polyantha’, ‘Floribunda’, ‘Poly Pom’ and ‘Grandiflora’ .

There are other Modern Roses groups, and it is these that I will attempt to bring to you. I am aiming to cover ‘Shrub Roses’ (Musk, Austin, Ground Cover, et al) and Climbers and Ramblers . I have included ground cover as nice thought but I believe, not a very practical one.

What is the difference between a shrub and a shrub rose, absolutely nothing? A shrub rose is just that, a shrub that happens to be from the family Rosa , therefore it can be used as any other shrub. Some are once flowering, although most are repeat or continuous, so one up on most other shrubs, some are tall; some are short or even prostrate. Some are bushy in growth other will double up as either small climbers or tall shrubs. The real climbers we will look at separately. The quantity of ‘Shrub Roses’ available is legion. I will try to be unbiased in the pictures used to give a fair cross section.

Rosefan may have already, in part, covered some of the information or names I will introduce, for that I apologise. I include them for continuity.

Continuing on, chronologically speaking, from where we stopped in ‘Old Roses’. We are at or about 1900, and entering the world of ‘Shrub Roses’ . One Peter Lambert, a nurseryman from Germany, introduced a rose cultivar named ‘Trier’ . Its destiny was to be the forerunner of a new group of roses. Her parentage, like those of some ‘Old Roses’ is contentious, originally reported as a seedling of ‘Aglaia’ crossed with ‘ Mrs R G Sharman-Crawford’ . Some research has suggested that the union did not happen. So I am led to believe she is a seedling, or maybe a selfed seedling from ‘Aglaia’ . Now ‘Aglaia’ has ‘R.multiflora ‘ and ‘Reve d’Or’ as her parents. As I am sure you are fully aware the latter is a ‘Noisette’ , which has a strong ‘Tea’ influence as well as, in its distant past, ‘R.moschata’ .

‘Trier’ 1904. Lambert. Dubious parentage. Erect shrub, or small climber, with small, near single flowers. Will get to 8 foot. Nothing really special to warrant space in the average garden but is important as a parent.
Her parents are;
‘Aglaia’ [/b] ‘Mrs R G Sharman Crawford’

Those plants introduced by Lambert were originally named ‘Lambertiana Roses’ before eventually being swallowed up by ‘Hybrid Musks’ . Here are a few more..
‘Lessing’ 1914 ‘Trier x ‘Entente Cordial’ She will get to about 5 foot, what would you call that? a sort of rose/blush coloured small flower.

‘Heinrich Conrad Soth‘ 1919 ‘Trier’ is in there somewhere possibly a grandparent. Growing to 6 foot or so, it’s a shrubby/rambler with large trusses of pink flowers that will repeat, also has good dark glossy foliage.
‘Excellenz von Schubert’ 1909 Another one for good foliage colour. She has small pink/crimson flowers that will repeat. She again could be used as a shrub or small climber.

The above ramblings on parentage was to show you just how little ‘Musk Rose’ there is in ‘Trier’ . Be that as it may, the group that she, or a close relative, was the main seed parent, is for some perverse reason called ‘Hybrid Musk’ . Their parentage from ‘Trier’ backwards, will contain all types of garden roses. The actual crosses that produced them would be mainly ‘Hybrid Tea’ as the pollen parent. So you can see they are a very mixed bag and the group title is somewhat far fetched, but there again, no more than say ‘Noisette’ , which is how they are known on the near continent.

‘Autumn Delight’ (Hybrid Musk) 1933. All but prickless, dark green foliage, apricot buds opening to a creamy yellow single flower, grows to approx 5 foot.

‘Buff Beauty’ (Hybrid Musk) 1939 This one was by Bentall and possibly his best. The flowers are an apricot yellow, fully double, in early flower they are borne singly or in clusters. The later flowers, midsummer to autumn, tend to be in panicles. She has a lot going for her. In addition to those flowers, her young stems and foliage are bronzed. Her scent is very ‘Tea Rose’ and those flowers when in bud, are tinted coral. Ah yes, nearly forgot she will grow to about 6 foot.

Nevertheless, many good examples of garden shrubs have come from these lines and from several sources. They have, strange though it may seem, enough horticultural similarities to put them in the same group. Most of them have a good fragrance. This would come from ‘Trier’ , which in turn would have acquired it from ‘R.multiflora’ . ‘Hybrid Musk’s’ have the ability to fill the still, summer evening air with their scent.

I found this for the romantics.

”But above all the Musk,
With classic names, Thisbe, Penelope,
Whose nectarous load grows heavier with the dusk,
And like a grape too sweetly muscadine.”

The mixture of ‘Hybrid Musk’ with say, a Mock Orange can be very heady indeed; the white of the “philly” will also sit comfortable with any grouping of ‘Shrub Roses’ . Of which the ‘Hybrid Musk’ is a fine example.

‘Trier’ was one of a half dozen or so plants that Lambert raised between 1900-1922’ish. As said previously at one point they were known as ‘Lambertiana Roses’ , their flowers were small and recurrent. They would be best described as loose bush or small climber/pillar rose. Of those Lambert roses I can only find ‘Trier’ in any current catalogue, even then listed as a rambler, when really she should be classed as a ‘Hybrid Multiflora’ , either way, they were a useful step along the way to ‘Hybrid Musks’ and beyond!

‘Thisbe’ (Hybrid Musk) 1918, Pemberton, a cross between ‘Marie Jeanne’ (Polyantha) x ‘Perle des Jardins’ (‘Tea’) . Very pronounced musk fragrance, semi double ”rosette” style flowers of yellow fading to a mellow buff with good stamens. Grows to about 4 foot up and across.

‘Penelope’ (Hybrid Musk) 1924, Pemberton, a cross between ‘Ophelia’ (HT) x unknown. Seedling Another plant with a good fragrance, will normally attain 5 foot or so and produce flowers in clusters. The flowers are a soft pink fading to near white in sunshine. The repeat flowers will appear in trusses. She is a very good bed partner for Ceanothus, in any hue from light – dark blue, or similar blue shrubs.

‘Hybrid Musks’ are a healthy group of ‘Shrub Roses’ , they have an endearing and lasting beauty, which is worthy of your perusal. Yes I know they are not Old Roses, but age alone does not make a good rose!
They produce blooms in very large clusters that are both fragrant and recurrent. It is said that deadheading will stimulate autumn repeat flowering, but left alone you can still expect them to flower from spring to autumn. Many produce heps, generally quite dainty. Some will climb if given the chance, most will grow to 5-6 foot. So are not out of place anywhere in the garden. You could use them as shrub/climbers, where they would provide cheerful background colour. As shrubs they look good in a mixed border or as specimens, you could also use them as freestanding hedges. They fill the colour spectrum from soft pastels to startling vibrant scarlet.

‘Cornelia’ (Hybrid Musk) 1925, Pemberton. Parents unknown, having said that it does not take a trained eye to spot the “class” characteristics so ] ‘Trier’ is there somewhere! A somewhat vigorous, medium shrub to some 8 x 5 feet. Has good shiny foliage. The earlier flowers of a soft yellow fading pink seem to be smaller than those which appear later in the season.

‘Daybreak’ (Hybrid Musk) 1918, Pemberton. Parents are ‘Trier’ x ‘Liberty’ (Hybrid Tea). She has brown stems and stalks, with dark ruddy/brown foliage. Her flowers are a light yellow and nearly double with prominent golden stamens. A good musk scent and all on a plant that will get to about 3-4 foot.

‘Nur Mahal’ (Hybrid Musk) 1923, Pemberton. From a cross between ‘Chateau de Clos Vougeot’ (Hybrid Tea) x unknown Seedling

‘Hybrid Musks’ are the product of the toil of one Rev Joseph Hardwick Pemberton, who developed them in his garden in Havering-atte-Bower, Essex. They were a mixed group and assuming his notes were correct, it is difficult to see any defined plan or target, apart from a good shrub. He did seem, however, to have a high regard for scent in his plants. The Rev produced some 2 dozen plants, based mainly on ‘Trier’ . These being brought to market by Bentall. Of these 15 or so are still in cultivation, with only 9 being in the forefront of ‘Shrub Roses’ or, as some say, shrubs in general. After the Rev had joined the “choir invisible”, Bentall continued the work by raising a half a dozen or so new shrubs, of which perhaps only 2 are still in cultivation. It is probably fair to say that the work of these two hybridisers was not appreciated at the time, with the few excellent examples being lost in the “dross” (or you could use the wheat/chaff or Swans/Geese comparisons). This coupled with the popularity, at the time, of Hybrid Tea and Polyantha style roses, meant that the Hybrid Musk did not really find a home in the modern garden of that era nor many if any catalogues of the period.

It may, or maybe not, surprise you. I have one in my present garden and very pretty she is too!





Both are my ‘Francesca’ (Hybrid Musk) taken in my garden. See, told you she was pretty. Introduced in 1922, by Pemberton. The result of a cross between ‘Danae’ (Hybrid Musk) x ‘Sunburst’ (Hybrid Tea) She has dark ruddy/brown shoots and prickles, with dark green leaves. The flowers you can see for yourself are quite endearing. You can see the ‘Tea’ influence in her leaves, growth habit and sometimes the scent. She should be quite hardy despite the ‘Tea’ influence, but mine is suffering at the moment and you know my pragmatic approach to that situation.

As intimated above, the Rev’s work was before its time, as it was not until around the 50’s (1950’s that is) that Shrub Roses, which is what I believe he was aiming at, started to increase in popularity. They became a useful shrub in the border with their colour and fragrance. Their flowers would arrive in July, just as the Old Roses are turning over and so be in time to compliment the other summer flowering shrubs. To extol their virtues further, in winter they will also add some colour to the winter border via their heps.


‘Clytemnestra’(Hybrid Musk) , 1915, Pemberton ‘Trier’ x ‘Liberty’ (Hybrid Tea) Yes the same parents as ‘Daybreak’ and I know which I prefer I cannot get used to those petals. She has copper/salmon buds opening to those yellow crinkled petalled flowers. Will get to 3-4 foot as a spreading bush!

‘Kathleen’(Hybrid Musk) 1922, Pemberton from a cross between ‘Daphne’ x ‘Perle des Jardins’ (Tea) . Downside first, she will suffer from rain spotting on petals. Other than that quite a good shrub having the characteristic coppery tint to leaves and stems. She carries her flowers of pink in long clusters, she will grow to around 3 foot all round, so good as a filler or for the front if you like those flowers!

These next two are not only from a different breeder but also from the same parents and may even be sibling seedlings, if there is such a thing, but I am sure you understand what I am waffling on about.
The breeder was Kordes, I suspect Wilhelm II, given the dates. The cross used was ‘Robin Hood’ (Hybrid Musk by the Rev 1927) x ‘J C Thornton’ (Hybrid Tea).
‘Eva’(Hybrid Musk) 1933. She appears not to have a great following as a garden plant. Without getting too technical she was a tetraploid and therefore very popular as a parent rather than her garden worthiness. Her single flowers are carried on stout stems and she gets to about 6 foot. She is very close to a Floribunda , which may account for lack of popularity.

‘Wilhelm’(Hybrid Musk) 1934 She again is a tetraploid and heavily into breeding. She can be a bit vigorous and showy she will get to 6 foot all round, maybe larger. Very little scent, with flowers of an “old” colouring, crimson edged plum. They are semi double, opening from dark, near black buds, are borne in trusses and fade to a dark crimson-mauve. If you have both “old” and “new” then this is the plant to use as a physical link between the two. Also good as a Pillar Rose.

From now on we are looking at roses that have no direct connection to that other group Old Roses most would be the result of deliberate breeding. En passant, it is interesting to note that, the most prolific of seed and pollen parent connected with most of them is R.rugosa [/b]. The group we so broadly call Shrub Roses are so diverse in character and varied in content that it is possibly best to look at them in “like for like” groups. That is to say how they grow rather than botanical. Well at first anyway.

There is a group of once flowering. These are mostly soft pinks and or white, as such will sit comfortably with Old Roses . The following are good in a wild/nature area or scrambling over things. Often included in here are hybrids from R.macrantha viz ‘Daisy Hill’, ‘Harry Maasz’, ‘Raubritter’, ‘Lady Curzon’ and ‘Max Graf’ , which you may have heard of as a “ground cover”, given her dense sprawling growth.

‘Daisy Hill’ Introduced by Kordes in 1906. Large single, pink flowers, mild scent; growing to 8 feet.


‘Harry Maasz’ Introduced Kordes 1939 Parents are ‘Barcelona’ (HT) and ‘Daisy Hill’ above. Often called a crimson R.macrantha . The flowers are carried along the trailing stems that can get to 10 feet or more in a single year. So good for climbing fences, trees, over small mounds or through other shrubs/hedges.

‘Lady Curzon’ Introduced by Turner, England, 1901. A very vigorous grower, so be warned if left to its own devices she will soon grow to a very tangled mound some 8 foot by foot, which the petty light pink single flowers would completely cover. She will also if “trained” grow into trees or through hedges and other shrubs. The NT use her at several locations and each time with a complementary rambler.
‘Max Graf’ Introduced by Bowditch, USA, 1919. Not a ’Macrantha Hybrid’ her parents are ‘Rugosa’ and R.wichuraiana It is best known as ground cover. She will produce a dense mat of growth no more than 2 feet high. She will increase in size using the same method as her close relative the humble “strawb” and is as invasive above ground as mint is underground, given time. Therefore also good for banks and walls. She has a botanical claim to fame; for many years she was “infertile”, you know my views on that! Then all of a sudden she produces tetraploid seeds, which have been used in several breeding programmes. Why would you keep checking a so called “infertile” plant for “fertile” seeds/seedlings??


Of the more substantial shrubs, most of which will descending from ‘Rugosa’ , we have the ‘The van Groots’ as I call them. Or to give them their correct names ‘F J Grootendorst’, ‘Pink Grootendorst’ and ‘Grootendorst Supreme’ . Other examples would be those ‘Hybrid Musks’ from above. There are many others that I could name like ‘Adam Messerich’, ‘Fritz Nobis’ and ‘Gypsy Boy’ aka ‘Zigeunerknabe ‘ . You’ll remember him from that little diversion into ’Rugosa’ on the other topic, in fact you could nearly include all of those ’Rugosa Hybrids’ here.

‘Pink Grootendorst‘ Introduced by F J Grootendorst, 1923. She is a pink sport of ‘F J Grootendorst’ below ‘F J Grootendorst’ Introduced by De Goey, Holland, 1918. Parents are ‘Rugosa rubra’ x ‘ Mme Norbert Levavasseur’ (Poly Pom) . Like all the Groots it has no scent, which many believe is their downfall. She will grow to 6 foot and flower continuous through to autumn.

‘Adam Messerich’ Introduced Lambert, Germany, 1920. Parents, complex but here we go ‘Frau Oberhofgartner Schulze’ (Polyantha) x (‘Louise Odier’ (Bourbon) seedling x ‘Louis Philippe’ (China)) hope you followed that. As a result she is a good sturdy shrub with few prickles and semi double, cupped flowers. They are pink and will have a heavy first flush in summer and like “Aunty” a few repeats in the autumn. She will grow to 6 x 5 foot. Often classed as a ‘Bourbon’ which may be true but what’s in a name? It is still a shrub.

‘Fritz Nobis’ Introduced Kordes, Germany, 1940. Parents ‘Joanna Hill’ (HT) x ‘Magnifica’ (Hybrid Rubiginosa) . She will grow to 6 foot or so. The flowers are semi double, clear two tone pink, some say a clove scent can be detected.


In this particular “grouping” there is one shrub, ‘Nevada’ , which stands head and shoulders above all others. In every meaning of the phrase





‘Nevada’ Introduced by Dot, Spain 1927 Parents are ‘Giralda’ (HT) x R.moyesii Hybrid So, she should be classed as a R.moyesii Hybrid and is probably exactly what you would expect from the genes of those parents. Those big arching branches with flowers along their entire length are from ‘Moyesii’ . I will not describe the flowers as you can see them, but they will get to 4-5 inches across. As a mature plant she can reach 10-12 foot in all directions, and as I am sure you can imagine when covered in flower is a splendid sight

Just thought of a couple more for this bit! ‘Aloha’ and for the back of the border, so you can hide her modesty, with some smaller shrubs or perennials, or even annuals try ‘Sarah van Fleet’ .
‘Aloha’ Introduced by Boerner, USA, 1949. Parents ‘Mercedes Gallart’ (HT) x ‘New Dawn’ (Hybrid Wichurana) . That’s the modern way of saying ‘Hybrid Wichuraiana’ Why? No idea. She has very full flowers of a good rose pink with darker reverses and a hint of “orange” at the centre. She will repeat several times through to autumn and gets to around 7 x 4 foot of good sturdy upright growth. Oft classed as a ‘HT’ but she is too sophisticated for that so we will call her a shrub or you can train her as a Pillar Rose, she will not mind!

‘Sarah van Fleet’ Introduced by van Fleet, USA, 1926. Parents R.rugosa x ‘My Maryland’ (HT) Classed as a ‘Hybrid Rugosa’ She has few peers that match her habit of producing a mass of very prickly upright stems. Ideal as a tall security screen or hedge or for planting at back of the border. Seemingly always in flower which gives a massed effect. The flowers are in clusters, with both the young shoots and leaves having a bronzed tint. She is a large shrub getting to 8 x 6 foot or so.



Next we have the early flowering, now the most famous here are the ‘Fruhlings’ . (I’ll not insult you with a translation, but it’s the season that precedes summer) Rosefan introduced you to a Herr Kordes, from Holstein, Germany. Well these are Wilhelm II’s babies, and very fine babies they are too. Wilhelm used ‘The Burnet Rose’ aka R.Pimpinellifolia or R.spinosissima as the pollen parent with various ‘Hybrid Tea’ , usually ‘Joanna Hill’ as the seed parent.




‘Fruhlingsgold’ Kordes, Germany 1937 ‘Joanna Hill’ x R.pimpinellifolia ‘Hispida’ I’ll let the pictures tell their own story, all I will say is she will best any other shrub for charm, scent, growth and flowering, apart from, maybe, a hand full of ‘Species Rose’ . She will get to 6 x 6 feet




‘Fruhlingsmorgan’ Kordes, Germany, 1941. (‘E G Hill’ (HT) x ‘Cathrine Kordes’ (HT)) x R.pimpinellifolia ‘Grandiflora’ . Again stunning, but I prefer single tones/colours. Having said that both of these are outstanding and a fine example of the breeder’s art and very close to perfection, if by luck or design is questionable, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. But there is only one breeder that achieves perfection by design

Here they all are in date order, I’ll not go into great descriptive detail on the pictures; ‘Fruhlingsgold’ (1937), ‘Fruhlingsmorgan’ (41), ‘-zauber’ (41), ‘-tag’ (49), ‘-duft (49)’, ‘-anfang’ (50) and ‘-schnee’ (54) This is my personal opinion now, and you may beg to differ, which of course is fine. The first two are the only ones to stand out; I would put ‘Nevada’ after -gold but before -morgan . But we are talking gnat’s whiskers here. Perhaps Rosefriend would provide the translation(s) if needed.

Now most of you will know that my preferred roses are ‘Old Roses’ or if really pushed then ‘Species Roses’ . So this is going to sound strange coming from me. I would not hesitate to put ‘Fruhlingsgold’ and ‘Nevada’ in my top ten of 5 petalled roses, with ‘Fruhlingsmorgan’ just outside. If it was Wilhelm’s plan to produce a most beautifully stunning shrub rose then he succeeded. You have heard me banging on about the fragrance of Maidens Blush Great’ and how she fills the garden with her scent, well ‘Fruhlingsgold’ runs her a very, very close second.
‘Fruhlingszauber’ Same parents as ‘-morgan’ But not close in any other way. Gets to 6 foot a bit of a sparse sprawling shrub.

‘Fruhlingstag’ ‘McGredy’s Wonder’(HT) x ‘Fruhlingsgold’ possible the one with least garden merit, not even sure if it is still available. ‘Fruhlingsduft’ ‘Joanna Hill’ (HT) x R.pimpinellifolia ‘Grandiflora’ . The only one that has a double, near HT flower. Its biggest asset is one you cannot see; she has a very rich scent. Reaches 8 x 6 foot.
‘Fruhlingsanfang’ ‘Joanna Hill’ (HT) x R.pimpinellifolia ‘Grandiflora’ . Very rich green shrub against which the flowers are displayed. One of the bigger examples and will get to 9 foot or so. Again a rich fragrance
‘Fruhlingsschnee’ ‘Golden Glow’ (HT) x R.pimpinellifolia ‘Grandiflora’ . Strong fragrance. Once-blooming spring or summer. Wrinkled foliage. Growth 6 x 4

There are some ‘Hybrid Tea’ , that can be “classed” as ‘Shrub Roses’ I would use them as ‘Sarah’ above at the back of the border with other plants in front to cover the bare lower stems. I give you theses as examples. ‘ President Herbert Hoover’, ‘Buccaneer’, ‘Queen Elizabeth’ and ‘Helen Traubel’

‘President Herbert Hoover’ Introduced by Coddington, USA, allegedly named on the day Hoover was elected as the 31 incumbent of that post and available 2 years later so that would be 1928 and 1930 respectively. Parents are ‘Sensation’ (HT) x ‘Souvinir de Claudius Pernet’ (HT) . The flowers are double and a typical class shape, the colour is a mix of orange, rose and gold lighter on reverse, The shrub will get to 6 foot or so,

‘Queen Elizabeth’ Introduced 1954, to celebrate the accession of Elizabeth II in 1952, by Lammerts, USA. Parents are ‘Charlotte Armstrong’ (HT) x ‘Floradora’ (Floribunda) Flowers again are typical of the class, has been known to get to 8-10 foot and 5 foot across, although 6-8 is more likely. Flowers in flushes through season.
‘Helen Traubel’ Introduced by Armstrong circa 1953, bred by Swim 1951, USA. Parents are ‘Charlotte Armstrong’ (HT) x ‘Glowing Sunset’ (Hybrid Foetida/HT), whatever that is! Grows to 6 foot or so and flowers in flushes through season.

All will answer to ‘HT’ but strictly speaking ‘Queen Elizabeth’ is an example of ‘Grandiflora’ , only fitting really for one so named

“Ground Cover” , some of the early contenders namely ‘Max Graf’ and ‘The Fairy’ would have been happy accidents, the latter is sometimes listed as a ‘Polyantha’ , so what’s new! Latterly there has been work on purpose bred ground cover plants to wit ‘Grouse’, ‘Pheasant’, ‘Partridge’ and ‘Snow Carpet’ . I would also include ‘Dapple Dawn’ and ‘Red Coat’ . As previously stated, I am not convinced re roses as ground cover. I could not imagine a more painful task, than that of weeding through a prostrate rose. Particularly if like me you cannot work in gloves.

‘Grouse’ Introduced by Kordes, Germany, 1983. Parents are ‘The Fairy’ (Polyantha) x seedling of either (R.luciae or R.wichurana or R.wichuraiana.) depending on which nomenclature you follow. She has a lax spreading growth getting to about a foot high with a spread of around 10 foot.

‘Partridge’ As ‘Grouse’ save colour, so same breeder and parents.

‘Pheasant’ Kordes, Germany, 1986, Similar in growth pattern to others in series but for some reason this is classed as a miniature. For parentage substitute ‘Zwergkonig 78’ for ‘The Fairy’ to save me typing all that nonsense again.

‘Snow Carpet’ Researching this little soul gave me a few smiles or where they grimaces. Bred by Samuel Darragh McGredy IV and introduced by McGredy Roses International 1980. It has an American patent!! McGredy is therefore its “inventor”! Perhaps moving from NI to NZ has something to do with it. Anyway back to reality the parents are ‘New Penny’ (Miniature) x ‘Temple Bells’ (miniature) . This is the smallest in height only getting to 8 inches with a spread of 4 foot or so.

There are many, many more that I could show you the choice is legion. If you’ll excuse me, I give you a flavour and I’ll try not to pick all the ones I like! You’ll find a couple of Austin but these are pre “English Roses”.

‘Martin Frobisher’ Introduced by Dr Svejda of something called Agriculture Canada,(Experimental Farm) Ottawa in circa 1961. She is a ‘Rugosa Hybrid’ , one of a group of 18 or so, called “Explorer Series”. Very disease resistant and hardy down to an alleged –40C. Grows to 6 x 4 foot with repeat flowerings. She is a seedling from ‘Schneezwerg’
‘Bonica’ A Shrub rose introduced by Meilland in 1985. Sometimes class as ‘Floribunda’ . We will call her a shrub, flowering almost continuously, mid pink at the centre lighter towards the edge. . Parentage: (R.sempervirens x 'Mlle Marthe Carron’ (Hybrid Wichurana)) x 'Picasso' (Floribunda) . May get to 4 x 6 foot.

‘Fimbriata’ Introduced by Morlet, France 1891 Parents are R.rugosa x ‘Mme Alfred Carriere’(Noisette) . There appears to be more ‘Rugosa’ than the other parent. If you think it looks like a carnation then you are not alone cos one of its other names is R.rugosa.dianthiflora It is what I would cal a “fussy/pretty” flower. They are not very double, with shorter petals at the centre; all petals are serrated or “frilled” at the edges. She will get to about 5 x 5 foot and hardy down to –30C. In fact she will do better in cooler climes, rather than warmer climes.



‘de la grifferaie’ Introduced by Vibert, France 1846. It is a ‘Multiflora Hybrid’ but pollen parent unknown. Hope you’ll pardon her inclusion here, only she does not fit in “Old” or “Climbers”. She is a tall shrub to some 8 feet or so. Her habit is a little sprawling with long whippy stems. The flowers are produced in clusters along those stems and are well scented. For many years she was used as rootstock only to out live the scions and produce a bonus shrub, so buy one get one free, several years later!!

‘Chianti’ Introduced by Austin England, 1961 Despite other references to the contrary, I am assured that the parents are (R.macrantha x ‘Vanity’(Hybrid Musk) a medium sized shrub at 5 x 5 foot, with good foliage and growth pattern. A fragrant addition to the border.

‘The Alexandra Rose’ Introduced by Austin, England 1993 I have taken the liberty of putting her here as is really a ‘Modern Shrub’ rather than an ‘English Rose’She will get to 4 x 4 and flower continuously through to autumn.
‘Cerise Bouquet’ Bred by Tantau, introduced by Kordes, both from Germany 1937/1958. Parents R.multibracteata x ‘Crimson Glory’ (HT) . The seed parent is responsible for the long arching branches of grey/green leaves. The flowers, on the other hand, are more from the pollen parent and borne in clusters and having a “sweet/fruity” scent. She will get to approx 9 x 12, so a medium/large shrub – small climber which flowers in the summer and repeats in the autumn.
‘Dupontii’ Raised in the 1800’s by Dupont, he of Luxembourg Gardens fame and the one that built Josephines’ garden at Malmaison. I include her cos she is undoubtedly a shrub, not Modern I agree but only in date of conception! Surely you would not exclude her on that basis. Parents Very confused lets just say unknown. How’s this for a growth description; Arching, bushy, climbing, spreading, upright, well-branched growth habit. Medium mat, green foliage. 5 leaflets. Height of up to 7', width of up to 7’. So a medium shrub, of not a little beauty with the flowers as singles or in clusters along those arching growths and near prickle less.

‘Paulii’ Introduced by Paul, England 1903 Possible parents are (R.rugosa x R.arvensis) x R.rugosa.repens alba) Another I debated whether to include or not, but someone out there may have the space and location for this all conquering specimen. She is very ‘Rugosa’ in flower and prickles
‘Gabrielle Noyelle’ Introduced Buatois, France, 1933. Parents ‘Salet’ (Moss) x ‘Souvinir de Mme Kreuger’ (HT) Strictly speaking she is a modern ‘ Hybrid Moss’ . She is very free flowering and being a small/medium shrub will get to about 5 x 4 foot. Single spring/summer flushes of bloom, with an occasional repeat in autumn.

‘Gypsy Boy’ Bred, Geschwind, Hungary, 1909 Introduced Lambert Germany 1909. Possibly a descendant of ‘Russeliana’ (Multiflora Hybrid) . She makes a dense graceful shrub of 5 foot and considerably, if not twice, wider, the stems are prickly and arching and along with the leaves are in the style of ‘Rugosa’ . She will flower one a year, in clusters along the stems.

‘James Mason’ Introduced by Beales, England, 1982. Parents ’Scharlachgkut’ (Gallica) x Tuscany’ (Gallica) . As you can see both are ‘Gallica’ , so in my eyes a good shrub, but it would have been regardless as long as it looked the same. She is a neat mid border shrub getting to 5 x 4 feet.


‘Karl Foerster’ Introduced Kordes, Germany 1931 ‘Frau Karl Druschki’(HP) x R.Pimpinellifolia ‘Grandiflora’ . Strange choice of bedfellows! She make a strong growing shrub, which in good condition will get to 5 x 4 foot. She does however inherit her mothers’ lack of scent.

‘Magenta’ Introduced Kordes, Germany 1954 Parents Unknown Floribunda seedling x ‘Pink Pinocchio(Floribunda) So you would think she is a ‘Floribunda’ , lets just say we will call her a shrub. She will get to 4 foot, she has clusters of flowers a la ‘Floribunda’ , as you can see they are in ‘Old Rose’ style but want you cannot see is the delicate Myrrh scent.

‘Marguerite Hilling’ Introduced Hilling, England, 1959. She is a natural sport from ‘Nevada’ , only this time pink. She appeared for the second time in 1959, having appeared previously in 1954. The same coloured sport also appeared in NZ in 1958. All aspects are as parent

‘Nymphenburg’ . Introduced by Kordes, Germany, 1954. Parents ‘Sangerhausen’ (Hybrid Musk) x ‘Sunmist’ (Floribunda) . She is not happy as a shrub so best used as a small climber to about 10 foot. The leaves are large, glossy and dark green. The flowers have a “apple” scent, I am told.

‘Sophie’s Perpetual’ And that’s all that is known about her. She is a poor orphan foundling and named by one Humphrey Brook (?) You can grow her as a medium/large shrub to 8 foot or as a climber to about 15 foot.

‘Theresa Bugnet’ bred by Bugnet, and introduced by Wright, Canada, 1950. A very complicated parentage, but here goes. The seed parent was an unnamed seedling from the following (R.acicularis x R. rugosa. kamschatica) x (R.ambiyotis x R.rugosa. plena) this was then crossed with the pollen parent ‘Betty Bland’ Lots of ‘Rugosa’ in there which may well account for her hardiness and as she grows quite happily in N Alberta she needs to be hardy. She will get to 6 foot or so and shoots may well get to that length in a single season, has a strong fragrance.

Part 2 below

[fozzie]

Part 2 of Modern Shrubs

The Austineers amongst you would have noticed that the last two “ground cover” roses named above are the produce of Mr A, not the traditional ground cover, as in prostrate, plants. They will grow to 4/5 foot, but will be a very wide spreading plant that will flower down to ground level, something maybe Mr A is working on! Which leads us nicely onto the group of shrubs know as ‘ English Roses’ .

(The only comment I will make is that he is a man after my own heart!)



‘Red Coat’ Introduced Austin, England, 1981.Parents are unnamed seedling x ‘Golden Showers’ (Clg HT) She will get to about 5 foot the “ground cover” bit comes from the fact that she is a very full shrub all the way down to ground level. So not as much as a prostrate shrub, more like “long skirted” (?). She is fully double and will repeat flower. ‘Dapple Dawn’ Introduced Austin, England 1983. A sport from ‘Red Coat’ A medium shrub of some 6 foot, with dark foliage and nearly prickless. You can not see from picture but the reverse of the petals have a silver hue.

It was in the 50s, as an impressionable young farmer, he first became influenced by the beauty of ‘Old Roses’ . I think it was those ‘Gallicas’ and ‘Damasks’ that did it! Not for him were those garish and brightly coloured upstarts of the time. Mr A’s vision was, similar to those 19th century breeder, to combine all the best aspects of the ‘Old Roses’ , with the best bits of ‘Modern Roses’ in particular the progress made with the continuous flowering and health/disease resistant aspects of ‘Modern Roses’ . He was keen to focus on the shape and form of the open flower. Something seemingly ignored in favour of the opening bud, in other ‘Modern Roses’ . In broad terms you could liken him the Rev mentioned above. You could even take that analogy further by saying that Mr As shrubs are an extension of the Revs ‘Hybrid Musks’ . But Mr A’s shrubs have gone that little further by reducing the overall shrub size and are definitely more consistent in flowering through to autumn. It is my understanding that Mr A’s objective was to produce a class of roses that gave us a good healthy, graceful shrub that carried flowers of the unsurpassed style of ‘Old Roses’ . Whose forte were fully petalled, fragrant flowers of soft hues. Has he succeeded? That I leave to you. Suffice it to say I have not found a completely objectionable sample of his work! Like most things there are some better than others, and I, prefer his earlier offerings. From now on all the pictures are ‘English Roses’ so I will only give date of introduction. Rightly or wrongly I always refer to those post 1980 as ‘English Roses’ . Those pre 1980 were just practicing, and getting the gene pool in place. A process he started in the mid 60’s.

‘Constance Spry’ 1961, no introduction required. She was the first of many, a very strong grower and will get to 7 x 7 foot and has that Myrrh fragrance.

‘The Wife of Bath’ Another one of the early output, at 1969. But is oft stated as an ‘English Rose’ Parents ‘Madame Caroline Testout’ (HT) x (Ma Perkins’ (Floribunda) x ‘Constance Spry’) . Although carrying the Myrrh scent from ‘Constance’ , she does not have the same build being only 3 x 2 foot.


‘Gertrude Jekyll’ 1986, has been voted best shrub rose, I would beg to differ. But, then I would. Parents ’The Wife of Bath’ x ‘Comte de Chambord’ (Portland) . She will grow to about 5 foot or so, which would mean that the flowers are carried at a good height to appreciate the very good scent. Another feature are those small good shaped, pink buds that the flowers emerge from.

The first Austin output was ‘Constance Spry’ , as pictured above, a cross between ‘Belle Isis’ (Gallica) and ‘Dainty Maid’ (Polyantha) . Yet another diversion, some of you may know that all modern day professional breeders have a unique identifier, usually the first three letters of their name. So for Kordes it would be KOR, Mr A’s would therefore be AUS. It is used to register any new plant with the various national and International Rose Societies. In the case of ‘Constance’ she is registered as AUSfirst . There, wasn’t that worth the ramblings of an old man?

‘Brother Cadfael’ 1990, parents ‘Charles Austin’ x unk seedling Strong, bushy growth getting to 3-4 foot, possibly higher in warmer climes. Has dark green, 7-leaflet foliage. And to quote Mrs F “It looks like a peony!”

‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ circa 1999, named after Hardys hapless heroines called Tess Durbeyfield, don’t go there! That’s what comes of ‘A’ level Eng lit! She will get to between 4-6 foot, could be used as a pillar rose if trained. Parents ‘The Squire’ x unk seedling , she also has a strong scent and will repeat flower.

‘Perdita’ i983. Parents ‘The Friar’ x (unk seedling x ‘Iceberg’ (Floribunda) Hope your following all these literary references, (there are more) this one is ‘A Winters Tale’ (William of Stratford fame.) Grows to 5 foot, has a very good scent, in fact won best-scented rose in 1984. It is supposed to resemble myrrh or musk or violets or lemons, I suppose it depends on the receptor, so take your pick.

Mr A continued his development plan using ‘Constance Spry’ crossed with various repeat flowering roses such as ‘Monique’ (HT), ‘Mme Caroline Testout’ (HT) and ‘Ma Perkins’ (Floribunda) . These would not necessarily be simple crosses but may have involved unnamed seedlings, from any combination(s) and some back crossing to get the desired results. Needless to say, Mr A does have the advantage of modern science when crossing plants for a specific requirement. So detailed records and “stock parent plants” would be vital. This aforementioned particular group of crossings gave him the pink strain that is still around today. ‘Wife of Bath’ being an example. The next generation, again, assumingly from back crossings, gave stronger growing roses like ‘Heritage’ . Newer roses in this “pink” group include ‘Charles Rennie MacKintosh’ , which has very large flowers with a hint of lilac pink.

‘Heritage’ 1984 Parents unk seedling x (‘The Wife of Bath’ x ‘Iceberg’ ) . She will get to 5 foot all round and carries those flowers in clusters. Another with a complex scent myrrh/lemon, either way quiet a strong scent.

‘Charles Rennie Mackintosh’ 1988. A good strong bushy plant for the front on the border, she will get to 3 foot all round. Parents (‘Chaucer’ (Aus) x ‘Conrad Ferdinand Meyer’ (Hybrid Rugosa)) x ‘Mary Rose’ (Aus). The colour of the flower is very “Old Rose” being pink with lilac tones. The growth pattern she would get from the ‘Rugosa’ genes, also perhaps why she is a little prickly.

‘William Morris’ circa 1999. I thought it would be nice to have these two together, spanning as they do nearly a century of design. You could have them as bedfellows, so to speak, in your garden. Will get to about 5 feet, flowers in sprays and repeats well. Parents ‘Abraham Derby’ (Aus) x Unknown Seedling.

All we need now are those red and yellow hues, to get those further strains were added to the mix, so for the red Mr A introduced ‘Dusky Maiden’ (Floribunda) and ‘Tuscany’ (Gallica) into his Hybridisation programme. If you look at both of these you will see that Mr A was on reasonably safe ground re colour. Add in that two thirds of ‘Dusky Maiden’ , id est. the unnamed seedling used as pollen parent, were also red, which Mr A would have known, and you have a near racing certainty. Examples from this breeding programme are ‘Chianti’ and ‘ The Knight’ . Another donor ‘Château de Clos Vougeot’ (Hybrid Tea) was added later, to improve the colour. You will recall that the Rev used her in his quest for red in ‘Hybrid Musks’ , smart move on Mr A behalf, why do all that research when someone’s already done most of the leg work. Now, if there is a criticism regarding the red strain then it is of weaker growth and smaller shrubs, particularly in the early examples. Mr A himself has recognised this and I suspect is working to, if not already accomplished, to improve the situation. It is not hard to see the potential problem. There is an awful lot of ‘Hybrid Tea’ and consequently ‘Tea’ in the mix. That unnamed seedling above had two ‘Hybrid Tea’ as parents. That late addition ‘Chateau’ is a grandparent to ‘Dusky Maiden’ . Maybe all this inter/cross breeding has weakened the progeny. Mr A has all but withdrawn ‘The Knight’ as not meeting required quality standard, if you are a collector then it might still be available on request.

‘Dusky Maiden’(Floribunda) .
‘Tuscany’(Gallica) .

‘The Knight’ 1969 a ‘Chianti’(Aus) seedling. She is a short bushy plant getting to about 3 foot and is quiet prickly.

‘The Squire’ 1977 has an upright growth to about 4 foot, those flowers do not fade that stay as that till the petals drop. Parents ‘The Knight’ (Aus) x ‘Chateau de Clos Vougeot’(HT)

I have added the ‘The Squire’ , to confirm the suspicions of those amongst you, who like me, were “asked” to study a certain English writer. I could have also added ‘The Reeve’ and ‘The Miller’. ‘The Friar’ you would have already noticed in some of the genealogy. Yes there is a theme and you all know what it is. Looking through Mr A’s catalogue they will leap off the pages at you!! I notice they are not all in the current issue. To carry on the theme, loosely, here are a couple of off spring from one of the travellers.

‘L D Braithwaite’ 1988. Another strong, bushy plant, , getting to 4 x 4 foot. Flower throughout the season. Parents ‘Mary Rose’(Aus) x ‘The Squire’(Aus)

‘The Prince’ 1990. A small shrub at 2 foot, so presumably would also suit a container. Its colour is very “old Rose” and it has a scent to match. This may be the best “modern Rose” take on that colour. Parents ‘Lilian Austin’(Aus) x ‘The Squire’(Aus)

The yellows, well you could say these are a lucky accident, the best known would be ‘Graham Thomas’ , yes it does ring a bell, you have heard of him. She was raised from ‘Charles Austin’ (AUSfather) and an ‘Iceberg’ seedling. If we take the former, it is apricot, if we take the latter and make a rash assumption that it is white. So, how yellow? Just for interest sake I did a little digging and a couple of prime suspects from the “Old World” appeared. Remember ‘Parks’ well she appeared a few times, while ‘Smiths Yellow’ and Desprez’ (Noisette) put in a single appearance. All appear in the ancestry of ‘Charles Austin’ . The yellow appeared again in ‘Tamora’ a ‘Chaucer’ x ‘Conrad Ferdinand Meyer’ cross, the former is a Mr A rose with ‘Constance’ and a Gallica as parents, the latter is a ‘Rugosa Hybrid’ . I give you all this seemingly trivial detail so you can get some idea of the how the gene pool is being built up and added to all the time. The yellow was further reinforced in ‘Jayne Austin’ , an offspring from ‘Tamora’ and ‘Graham Thomas’

‘Charles Austin’ 1973. A strong growing shrub to so 5 – 6 foot, may repeat later in season, if pruned after flowering, but possibly best as a once flower. Which means enjoy the heps! Parents ‘Chaucer’ (Aus) x ‘Aloha’ (Clg HT) [/b]. Just to emphasize the yellow connection, she has sported a yellow version!

‘Graham Thomas’ [/b] 1983. The story goes that they both stood surveying a field of seedling and GT said he wanted his rose to be yellow, there were only a few examples and this was the best rich, deep yellow on view. Normally grows to 4 foot as a shrub but can be trained as a small climber to about 8 foot, with light pruning. The other aspect that would have appealed to GT would have been the Tea scent. Parent ‘Charles Austin’ (Aus) x (’Iceberg’(Floribunda) x unk seedling)
‘Jayne Austin’ 1990. Parents as stated above. Light green foliage on this upright bushy plant, getting to 3 x 4 foot. It maybe cos I know, but I can see ‘Noisette’ in the petals, she has carried through the ‘Tea’ scent.


Mr A’s work has attracted its fair share of critics, not unexpected given his objectives of producing a best of both worlds’ shrub. The big critiques being not enough colours, they are like copies of old masterpieces and therefore not genuine! Mr A has all the correct colours in his developments, if I wanted bright, brash and gaudy then I know where to go to get them.. As for not genuine, he is not attempting to introduce new ‘Gallicas’ or ‘Alba's’ so I fail to see the argument! As alluded to above Mr A has bred these roses to meet certain ideals of growth scent and repeat flowering. But, most importantly “open” flower beauty. The fact that many do not have that scrolled bud of other modern roses is well compensated for. Another critique is that some are of “lanky” growth; this would normally be the larger growing plant. Well, give them time. How many gangly, awkward youths have you seen that with time blossom into a Venus or an Adonis?

A little game, can you spot the “impostor”? That is, the non-Austin rose? More importantly does it matter?


Shrub A

Shrub B

Shrub C


Another little aside for you.

Mr A had another stroke of luck with regard to scent, a lot of his output has somehow acquired the fragrance of myrrh. This first appeared in roses some 200 or so years ago in an ‘Ayrshire Rambler’ , you will remember, from the other roses thread, that it next appeared in ‘Belle Amour’ (Alba Hybrid?)’ , some say that it can be detected is some ‘Floribunda’ , although not I. There is no obvious or discernable trace back into Mr As gene pool.

‘Kathryn Morley’ 1990. A small shrub of some 2-3 foot, in the UK, so good for a small bed, garden or even container. May grow to twice that in warmer climates. Parents ‘Mary Rose’(Aus) x ‘Chaucer’(Aus) Kathryn was the daughter of Eric as some of you may remember.

‘Evelyn’ 1991. Grows to about 4 x 4 foot, the flowers are mostly singular the petals will sometimes reflex. Another with good scent.


‘Pruning’

I am sure most of you will know my views on pruning, wait 3 or 4 years for the plant to establish itself, then the 3 Ds and judicial removing of older stems to encourage new growth and maintain shape and size.

When?

Theses roses are no different than any other shrub, so only one rule, immediately after flowering. Temper that with

1) Do you want a show of heps in the winter, if so then adjust the timing.

‘Shrub Roses’ in general will be quiet happy if not pruned. All these roses will throw up new shoots from the base, the best flowers are produced on the side shoots from last years big growth. So the more you encourage these new growths the better your return in flower display.

With ‘Hybrid Musk’ and ‘English Roses’ , they will be alright if left unpruned, but will benefit if pruned like above,, again with an eye on heps or no heps.

Method - good question. Me, I try and avoid it but will use anything between Felco No 2 and hedge trimmer. It depends on what you are attacking and the purpose or aim of the exercise. If you have seen Mr As people at work and the resulting growth and flower displays. Then you will never again approach the task with trepidation.
Just have a plan or a picture in mind of the end result, and be bold. They have been around for thousands of years. It is virtually impossible for you to do any lasting damage to the plant.

Mr A ‘s collection must be near 250ish, I have only given you only a small sample, but here are a few more.

Oh yes! That odd one out. The answer is Shrub B , she is ‘Gruss an Aachen’ (China Hybrid) bred by Geduldig 1909. The others were ‘Glamis Castle’ and ‘St Cecelia’ respectively

‘Alnwick Castle’ 2001, but seems no longer in catalogue? Used to grow to about 5 foot, as a bushy shrub, continuous flowering. Parents unknown seedling x ‘Golden Celebration’(Aus)

‘Leander’ 1983 A bushy summer flower shrub reaching 5 x 5 with good foliage and a “fruity” fragrance! Parents ‘Charles Austin’ x unknown seedling I assume you all know the story of Leander and Hero, but did you know Byron repeated the swim?

‘Lucetta’ 1983 Grows to a 5 x 5 foot arching shrub with large 5-6 inch flowers, either singular or in clusters, You could also train her as a climber. Parents Unknown or more likely not registered. Back to Willy S for literary source of this one.

‘The Countryman’ 1987 Parents ‘Lilian Austin(Aus) x ‘Comte de Chambord’(Portland) Hence the leaf shape being distinctly ‘Portland’ She has an upright growth habit reaching 3 x 3 foot, with a good scent.

‘Alan Titchmarsh’ 2005 A tough and healthy variety that grows to 4ft., taller if lightly pruned, good repeat flowering. Parents unknown seedling x unknown seedling Her Aus name is Ausjive , fitting for Alan?

‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’ 2007. Large double blooms of a warm pink shade, tea scented with a hint of lemon. So that would be lemon tea then? Height to 3.5 feet. Very health with good repeat flowering.

‘The Dark Lady’ 1991. A spreading shrub 3 x 3 foot, has prickly stems and carries her flowers in clusters. Parents are ‘Mary Rose’ (Aus) x ‘Prospero’ (Aus) . Another Will S source this time those sonnets, don’t remind me.

‘Sweet Juliet’ 1989 Another small but upright shrub getting to 4 x 3 foot, will flower continuous through season. Parents ‘Graham Thomas’ (Aus) x ‘Admired Miranda’ (Aus) . No reference to Willy S on this so not sure. However, the next one. Well!

‘Scepter’d Isle’ 1992. Another low but upright shrub to about 3 x 3 foot, the flowers appear to be held aloft above the foliage and are produced all summer. Has the characteristic myrrh scent. Parents ‘The Wife of Bath’ (Aus) x ‘Heritage’ (Aus) , Named after Albion and inspired by John of Gaunts’ speech from Richard II. John was the Duke of Lancaster a son of a King and father to a King. I did this so know a little about it. The name comes from what is possibly Will’s most patriotic speech. It is quiet long but this is the bit most people will recognise;

“This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,—
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England. “

There is also a sting in the tail a dig at “The Royal Establishment “ of the time, that appears latter in the speech

That England that was wont to conquer others
Hath made a shameful conquest of itself.
Ah, would the scandal vanish with my life,
How happy then were my ensuing death!


And on that note I am also leaving too, till next time!