The 6 best varieties of Austin roses

David Austin is a world famous breeder who has dedicated his life to flowers. Austin roses, albeit unofficially, are considered by growers to be a class of their own, calling them “English roses.”. This is also the name by which they are mentioned in literary works. Their captivating beauty and magical scent leaves no one indifferent. We’ve ranked the best Austen roses, according to florists and breeders.

Ranking of the best varieties of Austin roses

Top 6 Austin Roses

Lady of Shalott

Rating: 4.9

Top of the ranking is Austin’s best rose variety for frost resistance. This plant can thrive even in the latitude of St. Petersburg. Roses grow to a diameter of about 1.5 m and a height of up to 1.8 m. Petals have a yellowish-orange color. Buds are oval in shape, pointed at the top, reddish in color. Lady of Shalott has a very long flowering season: it begins in mid-May and ends when the first frost arrives.

The flowers themselves are terry, medium-sized, with an average of 40-45 petals, in shape they resemble peonies. The heart is open and the scent is very strong and deep, with notes of pear, clove and apple. Inflorescences consist of 4-7 buds. Medium sized, glossy leaves densely covering the stems.

Advantages

• Resistant to powdery mildew and black spot;
• luxurious fragrance;
• High cold tolerance;
• Extremely long blooms;

Flaws

• Demanding to the light: uncomfortable feeling in the sun, tolerates only light shading;
• does not grow well in low places.

Golden Cele
ation

Rating: 4.8

Accurate upright bush reaches 120 cm high and 100 cm wide. Young stems and leaves have a bronze tint, gradually turning green with age. Large, terry flowers in the unfolded form have a diameter of 11-12 cm and are cup-shaped, they abundantly cover the bush. Closed buds are dark red with orange flecks. petals orange, almost tangerine, bright. Its scent is strong, with fruity and citrus notes; it peaks at 9-11 a.m. and then gradually subsides.

One inflorescence consists of 3-6 buds. The flowering period begins in early June and ends in August. The plant is very hardy, but sensitive to overwatering of the soil, does not bloom for a long time in rainy periods.

Advantages

• High resistance to powdery mildew and spotting;
• repeated flowering.

Disadvantages

• Petals quickly fade in the sun from orange to almost white.
• The variety does not tolerate sunshine, prefers moderate light.

Graham Thomas

Rating: 4.7

Wouldn’t be complete without the rose, which was introduced in 1983. The plant is very popular among gardeners because of the specific lemon-abricot shade of the petals. blossoms during all warm seasons: from May till October. The broader, terry-shaped buds, 10-12 cm in diameter, fade in the sunlight and become pastel white.

The bush is 110 cm wide and 120-130 cm high. With age, the bottom of it does not bare, flowering continues on the tips of the shoots and underneath. The foliage is dark green with a waxy sheen. The Graham Thomas variety is often planted next to arbors, near house terraces. When decorating flowerbeds, it is advisable to place the plant in the center of the composition, planting smaller flowers around it: this rose goes well with neighbors of blue, purple, white hues.

Advantages

• very long flowering time;
• good winterhardiness;
• The fragrance, with its tea tree scent, lasts until frost sets in;

Disadvantages

• Medium resistance to spotting and powdery mildew;
• The plant does not tolerate periods of prolonged rain;
• Poor drought tolerance;

The Mayflower

Rating: 4.7

The variety stands out from the rest of Austin’s rose rating: its small, swollen flowers, measuring 6-8 cm in diameter, don’t droop. The petals have a deep pink hue, the middle of the fully opened bud is yellow. The blooming period begins in early June and lasts until early fall.

The branchy dense bush of the plant is relatively small: 80-100 cm in height. It reaches a similar size in width. Leaves are light green with a bronze like shimmer, darken over time, their shine diminishes, the surface becomes almost matte. Flowers have an intense scent of rose oil. Gardeners love The Mayflower because it is virtually disease-free.

Advantages

• shade-tolerant;
• Hardly ever afflicted by disease.

Disadvantages

• The plant has an average winter-hardiness, requires reliable shelter during the cold season;
• some of the buds do not open all the way.

Mary Rose

Rating: 4.6

The bush is very neat, never looks unkempt, even with very infrequent pruning. Strongly branched, with firm, bouncy stems. Height – up to 150 cm, width – approximately 120 cm. Mary Rose variety flowers are delicate pink, swollen, reach 8 cm in diameter. Their shape strongly resembles peonies. The open buds expose a bright yellow core, the outer petals gradually curve out, fading in the sun, becoming whitish.

Flavor of moderate intensity, with almond notes. Brushes contain 4-7 flowers. Blooming, as with all Austin roses, is long: starting in June, it ends by late September. This rose requires careful frost protection.

Advantages

• Ideal bush shape: the plant is well suited for planting in the center of a composition;
• Continuous abundant blooms;

Disadvantages

• The variety has an average resistance to powdery mildew and spotting;
• Matte unsightly foliage;
• The petals on cut roses will quickly crumble;

Which variety of Austin roses to choose

When purchasing Austin rose seedlings, you need to be guided by the climatic characteristics of the region in which you plan to plant them: the average amount of rainfall, temperatures in winter. One must remember that most varieties of Austin roses require constant care, particularly pruning. If the slightest signs of disease lesions appear on individual shoots, they must be removed in a timely manner to prevent further spread. So if you plan to spend a limited amount of time on taking care of your plants, you might prefer, for example, the neat Mary Rose or the extremely mildew- and black spot-resistant The Mayflower.