Lisa, from your picture this just looks like a rose that wouldn't hold up well, with those many tissue thin petals. I feel for you since so many of my roses are useless as cut flowers, and I love having roses inside. When it gets hot hardly anything will last inside even though the AC is on, I suppose because the whole plant is already stressed from the heat. Of my few Austins Bishop's Castle probably holds up best and makes lovely bouquets.

Beautiful, Lisa. I have a new one and also Heritage and Queen of Sweden. They all are lovely.

Thanks, Ingrid. It's good to know Bishops Castle is the better DA Castle for cutting here. I'm finished purchasing roses for now, but will write down BC as a possible DA replacement should the need arise. My list of "good performing possible future roses" have a star next to them if they are doing well in YOUR garden. That makes those roses especially desirable:) If they do well for you, they can do well for me! I don't have the heart(or the energy), to remove Alnwick Castle, so it stays for now. The blooms do make nice photos.....if I'm quick. Lisa

Sheila, thanks. I have a Queen of Sweden, as well. It was in a pot for about two years and wasn't very happy about it. I hardly had any blooms. Now that its been in the ground since February, it's doing much better. The blooms are not nearly as big and cupped as Alnwick Castle, but they do last longer on the bush. Lisa

I do think these DA roses improve with time in the ground, Lisa.

Lisa, Alnwick Castle is luscious and reminds of some of the other cup shaped Austins. They are indeed better for looking at while on the plant, rather than when in a vase, but they are so gorgeous. I love AC's cotton candy color, too. Queen of Sweden is another lovely one. I agree with Sheila. I think the DA roses improve with time, but none of mine are great in vases for lasting bouquets. Maybe Evelyn is an exception. That rose does well in heat. Diane

I used to grow The Alnwick rose but I don't remember the blooms shattered that quickly compared to Heritage. The vase life was good. Back then, I made the bad decision to get rid of the Alnwick rose because it was virused - now I know better. If you love the bloom form and colour of the Alnwick rose do consider getting The Mayor of Casterbridge. It's a huge plant but the blooms last longer and the leaves are very nice and old fashioned.

By any chance, have you tried refrigerating the flowers for a few hours after cutting? And cutting just as the buds begin to loosen? Just curious.

I have not tried that, have you, noseo? There is a large candelabra coming up, maybe I can catch that one and try it. Tangles, I haven't heard of The Mayor. I will look him up. Yes Diane, they are so pretty, but so fleeting. I'm hoping as the shrub grows the afternoon shade will help the blooms last a little longer on the bush at least. Like I said, AC would be a fav, if the blooms would last more than a day. Lisa

Lisa, this past summer, I cut flowers from The Alnwick Rose, and they lasted 5 days, longer indoors than on the bush, even without the refrigeration trick, and without special water additives. I cut them just as the buds were loosening. How did yours do this year?

How fun to see this post pop up again. Funny I don’t remember seeing all those typos I made. I’ll assume they appeared during the nearly year-and-a-half since I posted it:)

To be honest, I didn’t cut any during the past year. Partially because I was unwell during a large part of the summer, and partially because I now have so many other roses to choose from.

I’ll tell you what. I just went and took this photo of these Alnwick blooms this morning. I’ll cut these and bring them inside in a few minutes. Then, I should have an answer for you. They did shatter fast for me, all this past summer on the bush.

I’m glad you asked Noseo, your experience has given me a reason to try Alnwick in the vase again. Lisa

Done! The blooms aren’t perfect, but they were probably forming during our last Santa Ana. I’ll keep an eye on these to see how long they last. I haven’t turned on the heat yet, and don’t plan to for as long as possible. That should help them out, too.

I’m so glad you asked, Noseo. This should be fun and interesting. Lisa

Alnwick Day One

Well, since it’s only been 12 hours, they still look fine. I’ll take another picture tomorrow morning for a “Day 2 update“. So far, they look exactly the same as they did when I cut them. Lisa

Lisa, I hope you are all well again and able to enjoy your roses. At least you have roses blooming now, it's way too cold here for them now. I found that given the abundance of water in a vase, the flowers actually became larger in the vase than in the garden and stayed quite fragrant the whole time. If they don't last long for you, try using some lemon-lime soda in the water and refrigerating the flowers for a few hours after cutting and at night. Good luck and keep us updated!

I always keep an old Gatorade bottle underneath my kitchen sink, containing water with a few drops of bleach and a pinch of sugar in it. As I fill the vase with water, I add a splash of this mixture. This vase with Alnwick does contain that mixture, as do all my vases of cut flowers. I also once bought several hundred little packets of floral preserve/food on EBay for just a few dollars. Occasionally, I use that instead. I also often set my arrangements outside overnight, during the winter, if I’m using the heat, but only if they are special ones that need to last. I’d forgotten about the 7-Up trick:)

I’d also forgotten how much I love Alnwick’s blooms. They smell wonderful!

Alnwick Day 2

Beautiful! Mine are so long gone I can only smell them through my memory.

Wow, Lisa, these bouquets are so beautiful. Alnwick has long been one of my favorite Austins.

Thanks. Still looking good today!

Alnwick Day 3

This is so interesting, Lisa. I wonder what made the difference. Could it be that the rose is a year and a half older, or at a different time of the year, or maybe both? On the third day the blooms still look wonderful. I'm assuming that you cut roses for bouquets in the early morning or evening for the best lasting quality. You've had so many gorgeous bouquets of other roses that I'm certain you're not doing anything wrong. This rose reminds me of old Dutch flower paintings. I'm so glad it pulled up its socks and turned into a beautiful cut flower.

How is wish Alnwick Castle made good cut flowers!

I feel that way about lots of roses!

Whoops! I had to leave the house early this morning, and forgot to take the picture.

I just arrived home, so I’m going to take and post a quick picture or two right now, before I forget. I’ll be back to comment on it, and reply to the above comments, after I take care of a few things here. Lisa

These two blooms were the most open when I cut them, and are turning a much lighter pink than the others.

The ones that were closed buds when I cut them are look amazing!

Well, they certainly did not fall apart or shatter on the first day, or the next or the next..... I would say, success!

Bellegallica, I agree with you about that! One of my first questions about a rose is, “Does it make a good cut flower?” Most of mine do, since I choose mainly the ones that do.

I’m pleasantly surprised at how long these have held up. I think you’re right, Ingrid. It’s probably both the maturity of Alnwick, and our cooler temperatures that made the difference. Maybe the new drip system has helped, as well. It’s finally getting enough to drink on a regular basis.

I chose to keep Alnwick regardless because of those gorgeous globes. Plus, it’s one of the few DA’s that hasn’t grown enormous, even though this specimen is grafted. It’s nice and narrow, without being overly tall. Even when the blooms were so fleeting, it always made for good pictures!

Noseo, the fragrance is still strong and I’d forgotten how lovely the scent is. I’m very glad you revived this post, or I’d never have known it could make a decent cut rose.

I gave in, and turned the heat on for a bit this evening. I set all my vases of blooms outside the sliding glass door for the night. Good thing it’s not windy.... Lisa

I found a few fallen petals this morning. They were from the blooms that were most open on the day I cut them. The ones that were buds still look great. I wonder how they would have done if this was September? Hopefully, I’ll try this again during next summers heat. Alnwick’s spring blooms are always the best here.

Alnwick Day 5

Just as an extra, here’s a vase full of Golden Buddha, Day 6

Lisa, what a gorgeous, magical bouquet. Sigh, none of my bouquets ever make it to day 5 or day 6, must be something in the air here or you just have a special knack. Of course, it's just an excuse to pick more roses!

Noseo, I’m impressed that you were able to get those roses to root, after petal drop in the vase! Rooting cuttings isn’t something I’ve mastered yet. Only my “not Louise Odier, probably Grandmothers Hat” has been successful. It must be an easy one, because every try has been successful.

Thank you, Ingrid. It must be wonderful soil, it’s certainly not due to my doing anything special.

I skipped yesterday’s picture, and today it’s “out with the old and in with the new” time. Alnwick held up far better than I expected. One last picture, then it’s going into the bin.

Alnwick Day 7

Lisa, what are the blue flowers in the bouquet?

They are a self seeding annual called Browallia americana. I bought just one plant from Annie’s about two years ago, and I now have many throughout the garden. I know that Vaporvac also grows them, so they must selfsow in her colder climate, as well. They make good cut flowers, something I wouldn’t have thought by looking at them. This one showed up in a patio pot. Lisa

I love the one brave holdout among the deceased roses. It seems to be saying "Well, I'm still here, pretty special if I do say so myself".

Annie's website says that the Browallia are no longer in production. I'll have to find some somewhere! Thanks for the info.

Did you try Bluestone Perennials, noseo? Diane

Bluestone doesn't have it, but Swallowtail seeds has them as seeds. So at least one option. Thanks!