Why all romantics love the English rose Graham Thomas
A sprawling lush bush with many double golden buds immediately stands out in the rose garden with an unusual structure of flowers. English rose Graham Thomas is the best nostalgic variety with excellent botanical characteristics. How can you resist the cup-shaped double roses, the aroma of which spreads throughout the district.
The history of the romantic English rose variety
The variety cannot be called old, because it is a little over 40 years old, and the famous British breeder David Austin bred it. His dream was to revive the romantic roses that artists often depicted in their paintings. Stuffed, rounded flowers from tightly pressed rows of wavy petals really bring a romantic mood. At the same time, the scientist was able to achieve one more goal - to get a catchy color and increase the plant's resistance. It is not surprising that the so-called English roses, including Graham Thomas, have gained particular popularity among gardeners from different countries. This yellow nostalgic variety has won many awards at international exhibitions. And he was even awarded one of the highest victories - inclusion in the Hall of Fame of the World Federation of Rose Society.
The parents of the variety were the floribunda Iceberg rose and the Englishwoman Charles Austin. From the first, Graham Thomas took the duration of flowering and resistance, and from the second, the cupped shape of lush buds.
Rose English Graham Thomas - botanical characteristics
The bush itself is distinguished by strong growth force and branchy, strong shoots of a slightly drooping shape. The large leaves reach a length of almost 20 cm, and their rich green color playfully shimmers under the sun with a glossy sheen.
In general, the dimensions of the plant depend on the growing climate - the warmer, the higher and more spreading the rose will be. In the southern regions, the height of the shrub can exceed 3 m, and the diameter is more than 2 m. Moreover, its flexible branches are well attached to the support and, if desired, an Englishwoman can be grown as a compact climber. In a cooler strip, the variety is most often grown as a spreading scrub 1.5-2 m high.
Everyone will like the variety and take root in any rose garden, because it is unpretentious and strong.
The rose has excellent immunity to powdery rose, and very rarely suffers from black spot.
And the breeder also managed to increase the frost resistance of the Englishwoman and even minus 23 ° could not cause her significant harm.
The flowering of the Englishwoman is unique in both forms and timing
The English rose Ggraham Thomas stands out for its gorgeous flowers. They are quite large, more than 11 cm in diameter, but most importantly, they are densely doubled. Each bud, at first pointed, has up to 4 dozen gorgeous petals. When the flower opens completely, a truly romantic rose appears before your eyes - a cup-shaped, dense, stuffed and with an incredible aroma. In a word, it is impossible to describe it. David Austin himself says that the smell of the variety is surprisingly combined notes tea roses and violets.And some breeders even think that the flowers smell like fruit.
In each inflorescence, at least 3 buds are tied, but most often there are from 5 to 9 pieces. Roses do not fade for almost a week. In addition, even in rainy weather, they retain their rich golden yellow color. They do not fade in the sun either, only the already fading flowers turn slightly pale.
By the nature of flowering, the variety belongs to continuous flowering. The rose blooms in long waves starting in June. The most intense is the first wave, the next ones are not so abundant, but they alternate until autumn. If you live in the south, you will be able to inhale the original aroma and admire the roses until frost comes.
Features of growing English rose Graham Thomas
The variety looks gorgeous both in a single planting and in group compositions. Planting seedlings is best in spring, especially in cold climates. Autumn planting is possible only in southern latitudes. Try to find a sunny spot for the English rose so that the bush retains its density. In partial shade, it will also grow, but the branches will begin to stretch, and the crown will fall apart.
In group compositions, yellow roses will look harmonious against a blue background. Plant them so that blue, blue, or purple clematis are in the background. And in front of the roses or between the bushes, you can place bells or lavender.
The care of the English yellow beauty is the same as for the rest of the roses.:
- do not forget to water it, especially in hot and dry weather;
- feed in the spring with organics, and in the summer - with mineral complexes for roses with a predominance potash-phosphorus fertilizers;
- install a support if you want to grow a climbing bush shape;
- Prune the vigorous rose regularly.
In temperate climates, the Graham Thomas rose can be grown as a scrub. To do this, after the first wave of flowering, shorten the shoots, leaving only half of their length - then the bush will begin to actively branch.
Do I need to cover the English rose for the winter
Despite the declared good frost resistance, the shrub can winter only in the south without shelter. In the central zone and in the north, it is imperative to mulch the rose with sawdust or humus in the fall. This will protect the root system from hypothermia, which is especially important in snowless winters. And to protect the above-ground part, build a frame and cover it with non-woven material.
What are the advantages of the English rose Graham Thomas and does it have disadvantages
The variety received its international awards and recognition as a gardener for such advantages.:
- long flowering with an abundance of buds;
- rich color that does not fade in the sun;
- regular rounded double flowers;
- fast growth rates;
- original aroma;
- resistance to disease and frost.
Of the shortcomings, only one can be named. The rose does not like the heat, which takes away all its beauty and shortens the flowering time. In a drought, especially if the bush grows in the sun itself, the buds do not last longer than 3 days and their petals begin to crumble.
Fortunately, this problem can be solved if you make sure that your pet always has plenty of moisture. And then all the neighbors will look with envy towards your rose garden and dream of a romantic Englishwoman.