Sophy's rose

Katie (South Australia, Mediterranean climate)

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I thought I would share a picture of something nice: my 'Sophy's Rose,' planted three winters ago. At the time I chose it because it was a David Austin (and I had just discovered the world of DA roses), it was a smaller rose, and it was on special. I wasn't sure if I would even like the colour, or if it would be 'too pink'.

Well! Haven't I been surprised?! It blooms and blooms and blooms. We are well into winter here and there are loads of flowers on the way (mind you, getting to be so cold at night now they might not make it), and the pink is a lovely, cheery bright spot in the back yard.

The only downside? It's almost impossible to get a good picture of the flowers, my camera (and phone) don't catch the vivid pink accurately at all.

Anyway, here 'Tis :)

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Comments (9)

michaelg
8 years ago
Yes, it is a fast, heavy repeater with a really nice, bushy, compact habit. It is resistant to blackspot in some gardens, but not in mine. It has been cane-hardy in 6b winters for me.
altorama Ray
8 years ago
Wow very pretty!
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Prettypetals_GA_7-8
8 years ago
I love my sophie rose. She turns the prettiest colors as she ages. Judy
ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
8 years ago
I used to love mine, and it was great in the heat, but this year it has not bloomed at all, and neither has its neighbor, Bishop's Castle. It doesn't matter how much I water, it's never enough in my decomposed granite. When it was good it had rather large flowers which starteed reddish and then turned a beautiful more purplish color. I'm hoping for a miracle and that it and most of my other roses will somehow begin to bloom again, but for this summer I just want them to stay alive. I'm happy for those of you who still have "normal" gardens.
mustbnuts zone 9 sunset 9
8 years ago
Gorgeous! Good to hear that it does well in heat, Ingrid. My Lady Hamilton is about dead in this heat. Not sure it is going to recover. Already looking for replacements.
Rosefolly
8 years ago
I once gave a 'Sophy's Rose' to a dear friend named Sophy, same spelling. She has since moved away and no longer has the rose, but I think of her whenever I see this rose. I don't grow it myself, in part because I'm concentrating on genuinely old roses (with a few exceptions) but I like it due to the association.
Katie (South Australia, Mediterranean climate)
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Certainly I would agree that Sophy does well in the heat. It gets stinking hot and very, very dry here every summer. I've got Sophy planted in an area with some well established plum trees and it doesn't get watered very often in summer, maybe every ten days or so if the temperature is under about 36 degrees Celsius. Once it gets into the high 30s and 40s then it might get watered once a week. My aim in late summer is just to keep my garden alive. This rose doesn't bloom as prolifically then, but makes up for it now.

I rescued a few buds out of the garden today, it's ice-cold (literally snow fell on the high peaks today, that's unusual!) and really wet. The dark pinks are Sophy, the very light bloom on the left is St Cecelia, the globular one at right is Gruss an Aachen and I'm not sure if it's going to open at all

Mid winter next week. I feel very lucky, really!
titian1 10b Sydney
8 years ago
A delicious posy!
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
8 years ago
Mine was really good. I moved it, it died, I "need" it back. Thanks for reminding me what a good rose it is. Offspring 'Darcey Bussell' is also good, but I like 'Sophy's flower just a bit better.