Austin Roses Are Talk of the Town

New roses, old roses, Austin roses--that’s what everyone is talking about right now, especially the Austin roses, a diverse group that combines a little of the old with a little of the new.

Austin calls them English roses. They were developed by David Austin in that country.

They combine old-rose charm with new-rose toughness and “repeat bloom,” which is how rose people describe roses that bloom more than once a year. (Many old roses only flower in spring and do not repeat.)

It’s not difficult to see why the Austin roses are causing such a fuss. This year’s All-American Rose Selections’ award-winning rose, Pleasure, looks like more of the same to all but the most discerning eyes.

It’s a coral-pink floribunda (floribundas are a class of roses that tend to have more but smaller flowers), pretty to be sure, but hardly startling.

If you don’t already have a coral-pink rose, try this one, but if you already have Cherish or Touch of Class, pass.

Both Cherish and Touch of Class are similar and are highly recommended for Southern California by the Consulting Rosarians of the Pacific Southwest District of the American Rose Society.

Their recommendations--for roses that do well in the garden--might help when shopping at the local nursery for a rose or two. Here’s their latest list, in order of preference, though there were ties:

Hybrid Teas

(Largest flowers)

Olympiad

Touch of Class

Double Delight

Color Magic

Mister Lincoln

Brandy

Honor

Grandifloras

(Medium flowers)

Queen Elizabeth

Gold Medal

Sonia

Pink Parfait

Prima Donna

Floribundas

(Smaller flowers in clusters)

French Lace

Showbiz

Europeana

Trumpeter

Cherish

Ivory Fashion

Sea Pearl

Climbers

America

Altissimo

Don Juan

First Prize

Joseph’s Coat

These are all tried and true, traditional “modern” roses. In another listing from the Pacific Southwest Division of the American Rose Society, they rate roses that are new, meaning those introduced in the last three years.

Several got high marks for garden worthiness--above 8 out of a possible 10--including Graceland, a stunning new yellow, and Mikado, both hybrid teas; and Playboy, Koricole, Kanagem and Playgirl, which are floribundas.

For the first time, they also rated shrub roses, in a catch-all category that includes one rose that is almost a ground cover, Ralph’s Creeper, and a number that defy any description other than “shrubby.” All of these rated an 8 or better:

Heritage

Lavender Dream

Graham Thomas

Leander

Dove

Prospero

Ellen

Fair Bianca

Cymballine

Ralph’s Creeper

Wenlock

Several of these are Austin, or English roses, which last year were almost impossible to find anywhere in Southern California.

That has changed, and a number of nurseries will be carrying Austin roses in 1990:

Sassafras Nursery in Topanga, Limberlost in Van Nuys (phone for an appointment, (818) 902-1482; Burkards in Pasadena, Country Bloomers in Orange (714) 633-7222). All have Austin roses now.

Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar will have a large stock (400-500) in early April in biodegradable pulp pots.

Austin roses can be ordered by mail from the new Wayside Garden rose catalogue (Wayside Garden, Hodges, S.C. 29695-0001), which in a dramatic turnaround, now lists Austin and old roses up front in its new catalogue and on the cover, and relegates the new hybrid teas and other roses to the back of the book.

This change shows how important Austin, antique and shrubs roses are becoming.

The strong interest in these roses is more than nostalgia and romance. These shrubby roses look better in the garden when planted with other flowers.

They do not have to be put off in their own little corner in a separate rose garden, but can be mixed with annuals, bulbs and perennials in flowery borders and beds. The shape of the plant tends to be more relaxed and natural, as do the flowers, and the colors tend to be soft and amicable.

These roses have little else in common, however. Some Austin roses are huge, yard-swallowing brambles; others are neat and tidy little bushes never growing taller than three feet.

Some of the prettiest flowers come on the big bushes, so don’t rule these out, but do put them far in the background.

If you are looking for a small Austin rose, consider this list from Clair Martin at the Huntington, where the largest comparative collection--about 70 varieties--of Austin roses is housed.

All of these grow 3 to 4 feet tall, tops:

Wise Portia (purple flowers)

Prospero (crimson)

Fair Bianca (white)

English Garden (apricot)

Pretty Jessica (pink)

Hero (pink)

Belle Story (silvery pink)

Tamora (apricot)

Do not think that all old or even Austin roses are more disease-resistant than modern roses. They are not.

Some have horrible problems with rust and mildew, but they vary from variety to variety.

As for real old roses--the genuine antique--here is a list of locally recommended varieties. These might also be found at the nurseries mentioned above:

Old Garden Roses

Sombreuil

Salet

Madam Hardy

Baronne Prevost

Souv. de la Malmaison

LEARN MORE ABOUT AUSTIN ROSES If you want to learn more about Austin roses, attend one of the talks being given on this diverse group by Clair Martin. On Saturday, at Descanso Garden in La Canada Flintridge, he will speak during the garden’s 1990 Rose Seminar. Call (818) 790-5414 for reservations. On April 5, at Huntington Botanical Garden, Martin will lead a walk though the Austin collection when the flowers are in bloom. Call (818) 405-2282 for information.