Hi tree hugger. I've worked with dozens of different Austins in various gardens and haven't seen this kind of washing out, tho many roses including non Austins do bleach some in the heat of our triple digit summers. You might want to take a look at the many Austin photos I post on Humpty Dumpty House Facebook (link is below) to see the amount of paling we get, since I show the full range of colors we experience thru the year. To my eye, even when paled some by summer sun, the colors seem vivid and distinct. We do make healthy soil building a big priority, but I have no clue whether that affects bloom color. If it's something you want to try, I can explain what we do in detail.

On the other hand, if you buy roses that are very pale to begin with, perhaps they will bleach to white in strong summer sun. Below I've posted a picture of Alnwick in summer.

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Treehugger, like Sew What, I have found that some Austins, the paler varieties and especially ones with hybrid musk history, do fade more both in the full sun and as the flowers age. I've also found that younger plants frequently do not produce the more vivid bloom colors of mature (5-year-old and up?) plants. I believe that sometimes soil conditions affect color, and maybe some of our forum growers can speak to that issue. Weather is a big contributor. Cool weather in my garden porduces deeper blackish reds on those cultivars, deeper pinks in my blush roses, and tans and grays in roses with potential for those shades. In hot weather, Black Magic, a deep reddish black hybrid tea, turns fire engine red and Blush Noisette is almost white. -Carol

Sow, It's funny you should show Alnwick rose (gorgeous!). I am thinking of replacing a row of Heritage with Alnwick because it is a deeper pink. But if you are saying Alnwick rose bleaches white in sun/heat it would be pointless to spend the money again. Your pic here looks great but so did DA's catalog with Heritage. Does Alnwick bleach white or does it really look like this medium pink in person. I really appreciate your help.

Thanks,

Terri

Portland, Thanks for the comment. Perhaps it is the age of the rose then, as my shrub and climber are about 3 years old. I wish I knew what the issue was.

I know for me, the intense sun and heat will fade out some of the first introduced Austins. I have a Mary Web. It is on its own root, stays small for an Austin and probably have had it for 12-15 years. I got it when it was introduced. It is supposed to be a very light yellow. It is a very light yellow for about 30 seconds and then fades to white.

I thought for sure that his Princess Alexandra of Kent and his Munstead Wood would also fade in the heat and sun. Nope. I find the colors deeper in cooler weather but they don't fade like Mary Webb does.

Everyone here raves about Jude the Obscure. I remember reading and believing the hype from Heirloom when they first got this rose and were the only ones licensed to sell it. It fades for me as well and this rose did not live up to the hype in my garden.

I remember I had Heritage at one time and got rid of it. It didn't do well in my heat (I knew that going in but thought I would give it a try anyway). Same for another of his earlier introductions, Emily. In fact I don't think he offers Emily any longer. For me, I find his later introductions to be much better roses then the first ones. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the comments. As much as I hate to bin Heritage and St. Swithun, I think I will. They are gorgeous close up and have a nice fragrance but there is not enough impact to warrant the space. I thought to replace Heritage with The Alnwick rose. Does anyone know how that one holds up color-wise?

My Alnwick gets morning sun and evening shade. It holds its colour very well here in Texas.

I have Alnwick and absolutely love it. Mine doesn't get any sun after 4 and it holds its color great. It does fade with age but not til several days later but never white. My heritage gets very pale very quick too. I only have one but won't get anymore. Judy

Treehugger, I have pictures of Alnwick at all stages posted on Humpty Dumpty House Facebook (link will be here somewhere). Alnwick is a shape shifter, and you'll see all its different forms, and all its different colors, from palest to darkest. Ironically, Alnwick was a pale chalky pink in spring (I loved that color, and didn't consider it washed out), and the pink actually deepened in summer when the weather heated up. My Alnwick unfortunately gets morning shade and afternoon sun. Lots of details and pictures on facebook, including the good, the bad, the ugly, so you can see if this rose is for you. I LOVE it, but that doesn't mean you will, or that it'll do well in your conditions, so the best thing is to look at the evaluations on our facebook (we did lots of different roses), and judge for yourself.

. . . . . Visits to Humpty Dumpty House on facebook are much appreciated during this difficult time. If you like what we do, please give us a page "like". This simple act can help us get the gardens and our work back up and running during my absence due to an injury. ~Thank you!

https://www.facebook.com/HumptyDumptyHouseFacebook for Humpty Dumpty House