Port Sunlight

15 years ago

I see DA's Port Sunlight is now available to the US. It is a beautiful, warm apricot/orange. Not much information available on HMF. Does anybody know anything about it?

Here is a link that might be useful: Port Sunlight

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Comments (3)

andreageorgia
15 years ago
Yes, I've been growing it since last year - although I didn't pay terribly much attention to it (or to any of my other roses) since I've had a new baby. So, for what it's worth - the rose is pretty, although not spectacular, with relatively small and sometimes slighty frazzly looking flowers, blooming in clusters. Apricot/caramel color of sorts with lighter vanilla hues toward the margins. It looks a little better in cooler weather when the colors get deeper. But it always provided a nice splash of color in the garden. I think the scent was mildly tea-ish, nothing too exciting. Very good repeat already, health ok even in my no-spray garden, if I remember correctly. All in all, cute, but not amazing.

Will take some pics this spring and post.

Andrea
artemis_pa
Original Author
15 years ago
Andrea, thanks for your input. How do you think it compares to other DA's of similar color like Pat Austin?
Congratulations on the birth of your new baby!
Related Discussions
Tell Me About Austin's Port Sunlight
Q
Comments (4)
I have this one. I was really drooling over it in pictures. Mine was a first year plant last year so the jury is still out on this one. I now have both it, and Claire Austin for that matter, set to grow up onto pillars since it appears that it wants to get rather tall like a small climber. It grew well and bloomed several times during the season. It appeared healthy with my spray program. However, its first year flowers were quite small, not much bigger than a mini-flora. The apricot color was nice when it first opened, but it faded badly. The flowers did have a nice smell. I hope for better this year, but we will just have to wait to see what it does. First year was not impressive. I was much more impressed with Carding Mill as a first year plant.
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why is my Port Sunlight only 15" high with 2" blooms?
Q
Comments (5)
Based on what I've read about Austin's here I have to say that perhaps they grow best in England? I saw a garden there recently of almost all Austins and Port Sunlight blew my socks off. It was a "must order". They other thing I noticed was that they were growing, as Austin suggests, in groups of three. Makes a big difference is size of bush--but the blooms were HUGE. Maybe they don't like the heat? I don't have my catalog handy but I know he makes recs for climate. Port Sunlight, Grace and Lady of Megginch were showstoppers. And Litchfield Angel was another stunner. I think they just grow slowly. My Jude has been around 3 years and he is still just waist high and starting to put out some big blooms. Like Jeri said, it takes time. Don't give up on these roses they are so pretty. I will post some pictures soon in the gallery. And I am generous with the water for the Austins...That seems to make a huge difference too. Susan
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Can Port Sunlight be grown in a pot?
Q
Comments (1)
Anything can be grown in a pot. The pot just has to be the right size, and in the case of zone 5, winter protection is needed. The usual recommendation for roses is a pot at least 20" in diameter for a non-baby rose. If it proves to needs more space than 20", at that point you get a bigger pot.
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Would you compare: Port Sunlight and Pat Austin
Q
Comments (3)
I have both of them. Pat Austin repeats for me fairly regularly and is several years old, I think about five years now. It has a nice orange and yellow color, but the flowers do not take heat well. It just wilts in temps in the 90s. The bush want to get rather large. Port Sunlight is new for me this year. I had it in a pot, but I put it in the ground to be grown on a pillar. I suspect it will be tall. It is also on the spindly side, but still, it is only its first year. The color is a nice apricot, but it fades badly in the sun, almost as bad as Tea Clipper. The flowers are also little bigger than a miniflora rose. I had hoped for better. They do smell good, a plus. I will withhold judgment on this one pending a couple more growing seasons. Lady Emma Hamilton and Carding Mill are both more than viable alternates. They bloom regularly and have contained growth habits. Both are in the same general apricot/orange color groups, and both are fragrant. Also pending is Summer Song. One I have has not bloomed yet, and I am supposed to get two more. If you want in-your-face orange on manageable plants, the floribunda Impatient and the shrub Kordes' Brillant are also good choices.
...See More
andreageorgia
15 years ago
Thanks, Artemis.

It's a bit early to tell (especially with the lack of attention I gave Port Sunlight last year), but I don't think this rose can hold a candle to the beauty of Pat Austin, Lady Emma Hamilton or Crown Princess Margareta. Btw, in this group Summer Song is another rose of fantastic beauty and very unusual color (a deep, burnt orange), but it's been a bit lacking in the rebloom department so far. On the other hand, its scent is one of a kind, sweet banana!

I suspect Port Sunlight comes closest in looks to Grace, although I don't grow that rose.

Andrea

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Port Sunlight

Comments (3)

andreageorgia

artemis_pa
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andreageorgia

artemis_paOriginal Author

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artemis_pa
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