skip to main content

Why do the David Austen roses grown larger here?

15 years ago

It seems to be agreed on this forum that the David Austen roses grow to be giants in the US. My question is why?

I understand here in Florida everything grows larger because we have a year round growing season, but it sounds like the roses grow large in the northern part of the US too. Is England just so cloudy that the sun never breaks through to generate photosynthesis? It can't really be THAT cloudy can it?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

jerijen
15 years ago
Long hours of daylight.

Jeri
buford
15 years ago
England is very far north compared to most of the US. It's only warm because of the Gulf Stream. So most parts of the US get many more hours of sun than the UK does, especially southern US. More sun = more growth.
Related Discussions
Why can't a Mini Parade Rose be grown indoors?
Q
Comments (17)
I've been growing roses - big and little, inside for many years but it is no job for the faint of heart. They are easy to grow outside but a real challenge in the house. For one thing, they are prone to spider mite which thrives in a hot dry environment that has none of the predators it gets ouside. You can cope with it by wrapping a paper towel around the base of the plant to keep the dirt in the pot,inverting the pot in the kitchen sink and washing off the underside with cold water - preferably using the hose attachment on the sink. It has to be done several times a week to wash those little beasties right down the drain. I can't do that with big roses so use Avid - not all that poisonous to people (about as bad as table salt) but quite expensive to start with - use 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of spray (a few drops to a quart squeeze sprayer). it kills mites dead but has to be repeated several times to get newly hatched mites. Signs of spider mite: light stipples on leaves; webs underneath leaves (bad infestation); leaves look like they are drying up. Roses require a lot of light. A south window is best though southwest or south east will do it. Otherwise you will need supplemental lights. Best to fertilize very lightly and wait until rose is growing strongly to do it. Any liqud fertiizer will do but I generally use half strength. Haven't had blackspot inside - leaves have to be wet for it to grow. It is possible to have mildew - best remedy is a dishwashing detergent solution - just wash the stuff off with soapy water. Supermarket roses are forced for bloom and are likely to drop all their leaves when in the house - so much different from greenhoue atmosphere. They will get new leaves but patience is necessary. A good idea to stand the pots in trays on gravel and put water in trays to increase humidity. Important not to over-water - they can't grow in water-logged soil. Good luck!
...See More
One of my new David Austin roses has RMV. What should I do?
Q
Comments (85)
"Propagation: Rosa Damascena is propagated through one year old stem cuttings. It can also be propagated through the divisions of old plant, lateral sprouts with roots and seeds. Stem cuttings are collected at the time of pruning in mid October to end of December; 20 cm long, 0.75-1.50 cm thick cuttings are planted in nursery; 2/3 of the stem length is inserted into soil. IB A @ 200-250 ppm is given to induce rooting. These cuttings are ready after one year for transplanting into main field." http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2478/V10133-010-0032-4 ---------------------------------------------- " The cultivars and ecotype of Rosa damascena Mill. have been grown by using cutting or two old-suckers for many years" "Stem cuttings are collected at the time of pruning in mid October to end of December; 20 cm long, 0.75-1.50 cm thick cuttings are planted in nursery; 2/3 of the stem length is inserted into soil. IB A @ 200-250 ppm is given to induce rooting. These cuttings are ready after one year for transplanting into main field." "Rooted stem cuttings are taken out from nursery and put in the pits." "The best time of transplanting of rooted cuttings in the field is mid of November to mid January. " http://www.plantsrescue.com/tag/damask-rose/
...See More
THIS is why I order Austin roses from David Austin Roses.
Q
Comments (32)
Rebecca- your roses are gorgeous but so much work. I live in Massachusetts. It is so difficult to even dig a hole 10 inches deep with all the rock, boulders and ledge so I try to buy only own root roses. I have gotten some wonderful own root roses from DA and have some more scheduled for delivery next week. I hope they add more own root to their collections. I recently ordered 'Queen of Sweden' and 'Windermere' which is by far my healthiest DA rose and covers herself with delicate soft blush pink blooms from early summer till fall. She is cane hardy in my Z5b-6a garden. The only negative is lack of the "to die for" strong perfume scent that Austins are so known for. sharon
...See More
David Austin roses vs kordes roses
Q
Comments (52)
I have a loamy clay here in zone 6. I have tried a number of Austins and I loved them, but I usually ended up with some kind of foliage issue. It's been awhile, so I don't remember what. I keep trying different roses that are thought to be good in a no spray garden and last spring I planted - Savannah and Beverly and Pope John Paul. Savannah is a Kordes - my first. It was enjoyable in it's first season. Pretty foliage and I liked the color and texture of the blooms. It didn't grow too much or produce many flowers, but I didn't expect a lot in it's first year starting off bare root from Palatine. But by the end of the season, it was suddenly showing some problem with one of the canes. Not insects, but disease. I left it alone and just hoped for the best this spring. This spring, it had some leaf buds on it, but they deteriorated as soon as they opened and while the other roses were pushing out more buds and then opening leaves, Savannah did nothing and looked worse. So I decided to cut all the canes back to the ground. And I thought that was the end of it really, but to my surprise, it sprouted new canes - about 3 of them. Right now it's about 6-8" tall and has leafed out and looks okay. Not a great start for a rose though. Beverly is another Kordes and last year it did fine and produced more flowers than Savannah and looked healthy. This year it has filled out with leaves. I usually have roses starting to open by June 1st, so, we'll see how it does this year. The foliage looked clean all season last year and so far this year too. Maybe by the end of this season I'll be able to make a better comparison.
...See More
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
15 years ago
London is at approximately 51N latitude, which is the same as Calgary, Canada!

In summer the UK has more daylight hours than in Florida, but the weather is cooler. Also England is so often overcast or hazy. Less photosynthesis, less energy, smaller plants.
jon_in_wessex
15 years ago
Jeri is right - we have longer daylight hours. This means, of course, that we have less moonshine.

Best wishes
Jon
mistergreenjeans
15 years ago
I think it also has to do with night temperatures and pruning techniques. Where Austins grow especially large is where night temperatures in summer are particularly high. England has cool night temperatures right through summer. Also, if you look at how roses, even Austins, are pruned in England, you see they are really whacked back hard. I just don't think the plants ever develop the same root structure because they never develop the leaf canopy. Americans don't prune their Austins as severely in winter. The plants have an instant canopy of leaves and never look back, establishing a larger root system and much more vigor. Combine that with more footcandle-hours and warmer night temps, and you've got bigger plants.

My two cents worth.
jerijen
15 years ago
Not necessarily.

Here, along the California coast, our temperatures are moderate.
Night temperatures almost always drop here, as the sea breeze sweeps in.
And Austin Roses for the most part grow like Jolly Green Giants.

Jeri
patriciae_gw
15 years ago
I live where night time temps rarely exceed 50 degrees and my day temps are fairly similar to the UK-plus we are nearly as far north as London..have the same long days..I have lived just north of London and the summers and winters are fairly similar-though usually a little warmer in July and August during the day and I still get tall plants. I can't explain it unless the descriptions of eventual plant size are not as accurate as they could be. Every one wants that perfect shrub that stays around 4'covered in flowers and perfect leaves so if I say I have that???

patricia
ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
15 years ago
I think Jon is on to something. In my opinion the impact of moonshine on roses hasn't been give the attention it deserves.
Perhaps a government grant for a five-year study?

Ingrid
jerijen
15 years ago
ROTFL! I want that grant!

Jeri
Molineux
15 years ago
It is the sunshine. For instance I have found many of the English Roses to be just as shade tolerant as the Hybrid Musks. In my opinion this trait is due to David Austin's use of ICEBERG in his early hybridizing program as well as the overcast conditions typical of the British Isles. According to one source, Great Britain averages between 3 and 4 hours of direct sun a day year round, with 4.5 to 6 hours during the summer (Encyclopedia Americana, 2000 ed., p.228).

Patrick

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Keep Your Cool in the Garden — Here’s What to Do in August

By Annie Thornton

Don’t let summer’s heat go to your head. These U.S. gardening guides will help you make sensible choices for all of your plantings

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Captivating Roses for an Alluringly Fragrant Garden

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Perfume your garden with aromas from richly spicy to lightly sweet, without sacrificing an inch of color

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Sweet to Spirited Pink Roses for an Enchanting Garden

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Whether you go demure or daring, there's a pink rose here to make you flush with garden pride

WINTER GARDENING Pruning Secrets for Exquisite Roses

By Annie Thornton

Encourage gorgeous blooms year after year with this time-tested advice on how to prune your rosebush in winter for health and shape

GARDENING GUIDES What Kind of Roses Should You Grow?

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Want to add the beauty of roses to your garden? Find out which ones, from old-fashioned to modern, are right for you

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Wonderfully Easy Roses for Any Gardener

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Look like an expert even if you're just starting out, with these low-maintenance gems of the rose world

Etsy Designers at Home: Jessica Rose from vol25

GARDENING GUIDES Roses: Crowning Touch of Gardens

Whether you're the Miss or Mister America of gardening or take a hands-off approach, roses can be a winning addition to your landscape

SPRING GARDENING How to Grow a Rose Garden in Pots

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Everything can come up roses, even without a plot of soil in sight. This step-by-step guide to growing roses in containers shows you how

PLANTING IDEAS Great Garden Combo: Rose + Clematis for Small-Space Impact

We all need somebody to lean on. And when a rose supports a climbing vine, the results can totally transform a small garden

Sponsored

Landscape Management Group

28 Reviews

High Quality Landscaping Services in Columbus

More Discussions

Do you have a favorite Moss rose?

20

Why is the like button showing black?

22

mislabeled rose - High country roses

14

A strange spring

9

Pink Rose - ID please

4