Emily Carr

Rose

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Champlain'

Summary: 'Emily Carr' has more short and long prickles on the stem than 'Champlain'. 'Emily Carr' has broader terminal leaflets and fewer flowers per flowering shoot than 'Champlain'. The sepal extensions are moderate for 'Emily Carr' while they are weak for 'Champlain'. The flowers of 'Emily Carr' are smaller in diameter with fewer petals per flower and have a smaller receptacle than those of 'Champlain'. The overall flower colour for 'Emily Carr' is dark red aging to red while it is purple red aging to blue pink for 'Champlain'. 'Emily Carr' has weaker reflexing and weaker undulation of the petal margins than 'Champlain'. The colour of the filament of the outer stamens is white with a green tinge for 'Emily Carr' while it is orange red for 'Champlain'. 'Emily Carr' is resistant to mildew whereas 'Champlain' is moderately susceptible.

Description:

'Emily Carr' is a large shrub rose variety with an upright to bushy growth habit. The young shoots have moderate to strong, purple anthocyanin colouration. The stems have numerous short prickles and an average number of long prickles. The prickles/thorns are red brown and those on the upper part of the stem are deep concave in shape while those on the lower part of the stem are concave. The upper side of the leaf is dark green with weak to moderate glossiness. There are seven leaflets per leaf. The terminal leaflets have a round shaped base and serrate margin.

'Emily Carr' begins flowering mid-season and flowers almost continuously for more than ten (10) weeks. There are a moderate number of flowers per flowering shoot and the flower pedicel has a moderate to numerous amount of prickles and few hairs. The flower bud is pointed in longitudinal section and the sepal extensions are moderate. 'Emily Carr' has semi-double type flowers which are dark red aging to red. They have an absent to very weak fragrance. When viewed from above, the fully opened flower is round in shape. When viewed from the side, it is flat on the upper part and flattened convex on the lower part. The petals have a medium sized, purple red spot at the base on the outer side and a large, purple red spot at the base on the inner side. The margin of the petals is weakly reflexed with weak to moderate undulation. The outer stamen filaments are white with a green tinge. The style is medium to long, yellow green and has dense pubescence. The stigma is positioned slightly below the level of the anthers. The receptacle is small and pitcher shaped in cross-section with no prickles on the outer surface. 'Emily Carr' is resistant to powdery mildew and susceptible to black spot.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Emily Carr' originated from a controlled cross between a rose line which resulted from [(Lammert's selection x 'Morden Cardinette') x 'Morden Cardinette'] and variety 'Cuthbert Grant'. The cross was conducted by the breeder, Dr. Lynn Collicutt, in 1982 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research station in Morden, Manitoba, Canada. Over a five year period, vegetatively propagated plants of 'Emily Carr' were observed in field and potted culture in different climatic regions and in different Canadian provinces. Evaluations were conducted on the plant growth, resistance to climatic conditions and insects, and reaction to various diseases affecting the leaves. 'Emily Carr' was selected based on its long flowering period, flower form and winter hardiness.

Tests & Trials: The test and trial for 'Emily Carr' was conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research station in Morden, Manitoba during the summer of 2005. The candidate variety had also been evaluated in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. The trial consisted of 3 plants of the candidate variety and 16 plants of the reference variety. The rose plants were spaced 3 feet apart with a 7 foot row spacing. All colour characteristics were determined using the 1986 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) colour chart and measured characteristics were based on 10 plant measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Emily Carr' with reference variety 'Champlain'

Terminal leaflet width (mm)

Number of flowers per flower shoot

Flower diameter (mm)

Number of petals per flower

Overall flower colour

Colour of outer side of petals (RHS)

Colour of inner side of petals (RHS)