David Austin Roses, one of Britain’s great rose breeders, will launch three new varieties for 2017. Here’s a sneak preview with grateful thanks to http://www.gardenandgreen.co.uk for the heads up … (A quick internet search hasn’t thrown this up anywhere else as yet, but trusting this is indeed a reliable source!)
DAME JUDI DENCH – English Musk Hybrid
A beautiful rose; the blooms are a particularly rich shade of apricot, paling prettily towards the edges, lending a certain radiance. Beginning as striking, red-tipped buds they gradually open to reveal large informal rosettes, each with ruffled petals and a button eye. Maintaining their beauty throughout their time in flower, they are very resistant to rain damage and the petals drop neatly. There is a lovely, medium-strong fragrance, which combines classic tea with a fresh note of cucumber and a hint of kiwi. ‘Dame Judi Dench’ is a particularly tough, reliable and healthy variety. A vigorous grower, it produces strong, arching stems which, over time, form an attractive mound of blooms. The arching stems encourage many side shoots, which quickly produce a generous second crop of blooms. To encourage further repeat-flowering and to stop the production of hips, deadheading the spent blooms is recommended. 4 x 4ft
VANESSA BELL – English Musk Hybrid
Rounded, pink-tinged buds open to reveal deep, medium sized cups held in large, open clusters. Soft lemon-yellow, paling to white at the edges, the delicate texture of the outer petals is such that the light runs through them creating a pleasing, almost luminous effect. The inner petals frame a rich yellow eye deep in the centre of each bloom. It is very free-flowering, producing blooms almost continuously throughout the summer months. There is a lovely medium-strong fragrance, which is best described as green tea with aspects of lemon and, at times, honey. It forms a short, bushy and upright shrub, which complements both formal and informal plantings. Being extremely floriferous, it also makes a wonderful hedge. 4 x 2½ft. Named for the artist, designer and founder member of the Bloomsbury Group, Vanessa Bell – sister of the writer, Virginia Woolf. 10% from the sale of each rose will be donated to The Charleston Trust. Charleston, the home of Vanessa Bell, is managed and conserved by the charity for the benefit of the public.
JAMES L. AUSTIN – English Old Rose Hybrid
‘James L. Austin’ is not only an exceptionally healthy and reliable rose, it is also a great beauty. The blooms are of deepest cerise pink, with numerous petals forming perfect large rosettes, each with a central button eye. It flowers prolifically from early summer until the first frosts and the blooms are not affected by bad weather. The medium-strong fragrance is delicious, resembling a mixture of dark fruits: blackcurrant, blackberry, raspberry and cherry with hints of lemon zest and almond. Neat and tidy with a bushy, upright habit, ‘James L. Austin’ is a very versatile shrub. Worthy of a place in a formal rose border; it is equally at home in a large pot, with other flowers in a cottage garden style planting or grown as a beautiful, fragrant hedge. 3½ x 2ft. Named for the son of David Austin Senior and brother of David Austin Junior. 10% from the sale of each rose will be donated to two Parkinsons charities, 5% to Parkinsons UK and 5% to Cure Parkinsons Trust.
Photo Credit – David Austin Roses
The Teddington Gardener 