Ausromeo

Rose

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Ausverse' and 'Ausmove' (Tess of the d'Urbervilles)

Summary: 'Ausromeo' is an English shrub rose which has a bushier growth habit and more flowers per flowering stem than 'Ausverse' and 'Ausmove'. The petals of 'Ausromeo' are more perfectly arranged than those of 'Ausmove'. The flower colour of 'Ausromeo' is darker than the colour of 'Ausmove' and more purplish red than 'Ausverse'.

Description:

'Ausromeo' is an English shrub rose variety with a bushy growth habit. The young shoot has strong anthocyanin colouration which is purple in colour. 'Ausromeo' has concave, red thorns. There is an average number of long and short prickles on the stem. The leaves of 'Ausromeo' are medium green with moderate glossiness. There are 5 leaflets. The leaflets are leathery in texture and the terminal leaflet has an obtuse shaped base.

'Ausromeo' begins flowering mid-season and flowers almost continuously for more than 10 weeks. The variety produces a medium number of flowers per shoot. The density of prickles on the pedicel is sparse. The flower bud is ovoid in longitudinal section and red-purple in colour before opening. Sepal extensions are weak. When viewed from above the flower is round. When viewed from the side the upper and lower part is flat. 'Ausromeo' flowers are medium red and very double. The petals have a medium sized, yellow spot at the base of the inner and outer surface. Reflexing of the petal margin is absent to weak and undulation of the margin is medium.

The filament of the outer stamens of 'Ausromeo' is yellow. The style is yellow-green, medium long and the upper half is very weakly hairy. The stigma is at the same level or above the anthers. 'Ausromeo' has a medium sized, funnel shaped receptacle with no prickles.

'Ausromeo' has a strong, old rose fragrance. It is resistant to mildew, rust and black spot.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Ausromeo' originated from a cross between two unnamed seedlings which took place at David Austin Roses, Albrighton, England in 1994. The variety was selected for its flower shape and colour, its resistance to diseases and bushy growth habit.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Ausromeo' were conducted at Valderose Gardens, Pain Court, Ontario during the summer of 2001. The trials consisted of 10 plants per variety. Measured characteristics were based on a minimum of 10 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Ausromeo' with reference varieties 'Ausverse' and 'Ausmove'

Length of entire leaf (mm)

Width of entire leaf (mm)

Length of terminal leaflet (mm)

Width of terminal leaflet (mm)

Flower diameter (mm)

Flower colour (RHS)

Colour of inner surface of petal (RHS)

Colour of outer surface of petal (RHS)