Spirit of freedom

Spirit of freedom, Austin 2002

English rose 

Abraham Darby X Unknown seedling 

A magnificent rose in all respect and a wonderful example of the old Austin varieties. 

It's parent Abraham Darby dislikes rain and is a blackspot and rust martyr but Spirit of freedom can stand rain and is much more healthy. 

I never grew this specific variety but I bought it for my rose aunty back in 2004. Today, it's still one of her treasured beauties as it grows on an 2,50 meters obelisk in full sun. We prune it lightly so never more than 1/3 is removed.

It's a tall rose and it def needs support. Its much taller than wide so approx 250X100 cm or 8X4 feet. Foliage is light green and healthy. The buds appear in small clusters and open into big, very full blooms. First cupped like Constance Spry or a Centifolia but later they open up more. A delicious, almost Bourbon, fragrance adds to their beauty.

Spirit of freedom is a good reblooming rose and can deliver up to three flushes. Zone 6b to 9b. Rain and partial shade tolerant. They do burn in very hot sun. 

I must admit that it's a rose I would buy for in my Tea rose garden because she looks like my Bourbon roses such as Coup d'Hebé. 

A very recommended DA rose 

Shade tolerant roses?

On so many rose sites you read about "Shade tolerant roses" but that's a wrong description. There are very few shade tolerant roses but there are roses coping with less sunlight. Not one rose would choose for a shady option as all wild roses thrive in full sun. They have their thorns to cling onto other plants or structures to rise up and get as much sunlight as possible.

Our cultivated roses are all descendants from those wild species so full sun is what they love most. There are however cultivated roses which can cope with partial shade, especially in the afternoon, when the sun is at her strongest. Dark red roses don't prefer partial shade but we give it to them to prevent burning of their beautiful dark flowers. Dark red roses don't mind the hot sun as long as they can produce seed but we like pristine flowers so we give them partial shade to protect the color.

So if it was up to our roses they would never prefer partial shade let alone full shade. Here are some roses coping with a partial shade position: Alba roses such as Félicité Parmentier (mine has partial shade), Madame Plantier and Königin von Dänemark Are Extremely Hardy and can cope well with shade. They only flower once. 

Gallica roses such as Charles de Mills, Officinalis etc... again they only bloom once for a few weeks. 

Westerland, Ghislaine de Feligonde, Ballerina, ramblers, Lady Hillingdon climbing, Mme Alfred Carrière, Mme Isaac Pereire, Bourbon queen, Coup d'Hebé. All these roses can bloom in partial shade.

But what if you only have full shade or a North facing garden. Then I would only recommend the Alba roses as they are the most tough. They won't perform at the best of their abilities but you'll have flowers for sure.

Don't forget that many many roses can grow in big pots so you can let them grow on a terrace or patio with full sun or partial shade. If you only have a 100% shady garden I would try the Alba's.

Hyde Hall

Hyde Hall, David Austin senior, before 2004

English rose 

Graham Thomas X Unnamed seedling crossed with unnamed seedling X unnamed seedling. It is said that Thérèse Bugnet was a pollen parent

A forgotten Austin, especially in Europe and that's a shame as it's considered as one of the best English roses. 

Hyde Hall is a very vigorous shrub which forms a big rounded shrub of approx 150 X 150 cm or 5X5 feet and sometimes even higher.

Flowers are ligt pink with apricot shading, rosette shaped, in clusters. Fragrance ranges from moderate to strong fruity. The rose blooms in flushes throughout the season 

Zone 6b to 11b (which is strange for an Austin) and the flowers are rain tolerant.

Hyde Hall is a very reliable, beautiful rose which deserves more attention. Sadly she'll probably get canceled by Austin as this is their policy the past decade. Nevertheless, a recommended rose 

The Shepherdess

The Shepherdess, Austin 2007

English rose 

Parentage undisclosed 

A charming little rose in every aspect. Due to its small size, 100X80 cm or 3X3 feet, it's an ideal rose for front of the border or in pots.

Very cupped, Apricot, light pink to cream petals with some golden stamen. They are medium large and stand solitary or in groups of three to four. A delicious fruity fragrance makes the picture complete especially on warm days. 

This is a more "old fashioned" Austin with sturdy branches supporting the flowers enough. She reminds of Sharifa Asma with her dark green leathery foliage. Blooms reminds us of Brother Cadfael but they are smaller 

Zone 6b to 9b and rain tolerant. I don't know how this rose is health wise because she's very difficult to obtain in Europe. 

Again a beautiful little rose that has been forgotten after not even two decades. 

Rosemoor

Rosemoor, David Austin Roses 2004

English rose 

Sharifa Asma X unknown seedling 

It's a shame that this beautiful rose is completely forgotten and isn't available at nurseries. So you have to search to buy one. 

A daughter of the exquisite Sharifa Asma so expectations are high. The flowers are big, globular shaped and light pink with darker shades. They stand in small clusters and have a good strong fragrance. The outer petals are green in the beginning giving the flower a distinct feature. 

Reblooming is good as long as you keep deadheading the spend flowers. 

Rosemoor has a good rounded shape and can get 100X100 cm or 3X3 feet. Zone 6b to 9b

One of the last really good Austin roses... 

Madame Lambard

Madame Lambard (Bloomfield cemetery Tea), Lacharme 1877

Tea 

Seedling of Madame de Tartas

One of the most beautiful old Teas this Madame Lambard. In America she's called Madame Lombard but that's 100% historically incorrect!

Deep pink with salmon shine, quintessential Tea/China shaped flowers. Her appearance has a wide range of colors. She can grow light pink flowers to even white. When fully open the flowers are rather full, Maman Cochet style. The fragrance is very good. Madame Lambard has a very long blooming season. Almost non stop in flower.

It's a vigorous tea that can reach 150X150 cm or 5X5 feet. Some say even bigger. Foliage is healthy. Zone 6b to 11b. Rain and heat resistant.

Madame Lambard is one of the parents of the famous Tea legend Maman Cochet and it definitely shows. 

Recommended rose

Leander

Leander, Austin 1982

English rose 

Charles Austin X unknown seedling 

Leander is a child of Charles Austin and a brother of a Shropshire Lad and it definitely shows. Clusters of magnificent rosette shaped old fashioned blooms in the good old Austin style. Big and in cream/orange /peach and apricot. There's a strong fruity fragrance present, much like Charles Austin. 

Leander is a slender upright going rose and if you let it go or give some support she will reach 300 cm or 9 feet. If you prefer her as a shrub then prune her back by half in spring. Right after the first flush you can deadhead quite deep, let's say at least 30 cm or 1 foot. If you want her to climb then you prune very light in spring. Remember to grow her as horizontally as possible when bred as a climber.

Zone 5b, heat and rain tolerant.

Leander was one of the first DA roses to get canceled and again this was a big mistake as it has good sturdy canes which can uphold the flowers very good. Beautiful flowers and a good fragrance. 

Recommended rose