David Austin Roses has announced its first collection of own-root roses for American
gardeners, effective this spring at select garden centers and via mail order at
the company’s website.
The company,
famed for its fragrant English Garden Roses, will continue to offer most of its
roses as budded or grafted plants, which remains the desirable option for most
But under certain growing conditions, especially in colder climates, some
gardeners prefer roses grown on their own roots. To meet that demand, David
Austin Roses is offering a collection of 10 of its most popular and best
performing roses as own-root roses.
Initial supply
is limited. For those ordering own-root roses from David Austin’s catalog or
online sales, it is important to order early and to specify “own root” as the
10 varieties are also offered as grafted bare root roses. All David Austin
roses are shipped when local planting conditions are optimal.
The 10 varieties
being offered as own-root plants for spring 2011 are: Rosa ‘Carding Mill’
(hardy in USDA Zones 5-9); ‘Crocus Rose’ (Zones 4-9); ‘Crown Princess Margareta
(Zones 4-9); ‘Darcey Bussell’ (Zones 5-9); ‘Gentle Hermione’ (Zones 5-9);
‘Golden Celebration’ (Zones 4-9); ‘Lichfield Angel’ (Zones 5-9); ‘Strawberry
Hill’ (Zones 5-9); ‘Teasing Georgia’ (Zones 4-9); and ‘William Shakespeare
2000’ (Zones 5-10).
All David Austin
roses sold in the United
States are specially selected for American
growing conditions and climate zones. All are grown and shipped within the United States. In
keeping with the company’s standards of quality, all roses in David Austin’s
collection of own-root roses have been tested in U.S. gardens prior to introduction.
Most rose
houses, including David Austin Roses, typically offer their rose offerings
grafted onto the rootstock of tough-as-nails Rosa ‘Dr. Huey’ to provide
consistency of garden strength. Occasionally a particularly harsh winter can cut
back the desirable grafted rose bush, leaving its ‘Dr. Huey’ rootstock to send
up shoots. With own-root roses, of course, the rootstock belongs to the desired
rose.
David Austin’s
own-root roses are of similar size and quality to their budded or grafted roses,
and their planting and care requirements are the same. They are large, healthy
plants that should establish quickly and flourish in the garden.
David Austin’s
award-winning catalog, The Handbook of
Roses, is a rose lovers’ delight, available at no charge. To order, visit the
David Austin website,
call 800-328-8893, or write to David Austin Roses Limited, 15059 State Highway 64 West, Tyler, TX
75704.