Ausbite

Rose

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Ausham' (Geoff Hamilton)

Summary: 'Ausbite' has a higher number of short and long prickles on the stem than 'Ausham'. 'Ausbite' has a smaller flower diameter and a higher number of petals than 'Ausham'. 'Ausbite' differs slightly in flower colour from 'Ausham'.

Description:

PLANT: English shrub rose, bushy growth habit
YOUNG SHOOT ANTHOCYANIN: medium intensity, reddish brown
PRICKLES/THORNS: concave, red brown, many short prickles, average number of long prickles, absent or very few on pedicel

LEAF: dark green on upper side at time of first flowering, medium glossiness on upper side, five to seven leaflets
TERMINAL LEAFLET: serrate margin, leathery texture, cordate base

FLOWERING HABIT: mid-season, two flowering periods, duration more than ten weeks
FLOWER BUD: ovoid, violet upper surface, blue pink on under surface
SEPAL: medium extensions
FLOWER: medium number per flowering shoot, irregularly rounded when viewed from above, flat on upper part when viewed from the side, concave on lower part when viewed from the side, flower centre normal, very double corolla type, light pink American Rose Society colour group, overall colour violet, fading to lighter violet with age, strong Myrrh fragrance
PETAL: middle and marginal zone of outer side light blue violet, middle and marginal zone of inner side violet, weak reflexing and undulation of margin
BASAL PETAL SPOT (inner side and outer side): medium size, yellow
OUTER STAMEN: green and red filament
STYLE: long, yellow-green, weak hairiness on upper half, positioned above anthers
RECEPTACLE: medium size, pitcher shaped, no prickles

Origin & Breeding History: 'Ausbite' originated from a cross between an unnamed seedling as the seed parent and 'Auscot' as the pollen parent. The cross was made at Bowling Green Lane, Albrighton, United Kingdom in 1998. Selection criteria included plant growth habit and repeated flowering.

Tests & Trials: 'Ausbite' was tested at Pickering Nurseries Inc. in Port Hope, Ontario in 2008. The trial included 7 plants of the candidate variety and 7 plants of the reference variety. The candidate and reference varieties were planted in the field as one year old plants in 2006. Measured characteristics were based on 30 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Ausbite' with reference variety 'Ausham'

Flower diameter (mm)

Flower overall colour (RHS)

Petal colour (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Rose: 'Ausbite' (left) with reference variety 'Ausham' (right)