Rosa 'Constance Spry'
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| Rosa 'Constance Spry' | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genus | Rosa hybrid |
| Hybrid parentage | 'Dainty Bess' × Belle Isis |
| Cultivar group | Modern shrub / English rose |
| Cultivar | 'Constance Spry' |
| Marketing names | AUSfirst, AUStance |
| Origin | David Austin, 1961 |
Constance Spry was the first rose bred by David C.H. Austin to be released, in 1961. Developed at a time when the hybrid tea rose was the most usual style marketed to gardeners, it renewed the popularity of a more old fashioned type of rose.[citation needed] The rose is named after educator and florist Constance Spry.[1]
A cross between the pink floribunda, Dainty Maid, and the gallica rose, Belle Isis,[2] the fully double flowers are cupped and globular in shape; a pale pink on the outside, and a deeper, darker pink within. Growing between 8.5 to 20 feet (larger in warmer areas) and described as a "lanky grower" it can be grown as a climber or large shrub. Constance Spry flowers only once a year[3] and is noted for its strong, distinctive "Myrhh like" scent, a characteristic inherited by many of its descendants[4].
Despite its only once a year flowering, the charm of its old fashioned appearance proved popular enough[5] to prove there was a market for "reproduction" style roses, and Austin continued his breeding program[6][7]. Constance Spry was further crossed with both modern and older roses, resulting in the fully remontant Wife of Bath (1969) and Chaucer (1970), from which many of his later roses descended.
It was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit[3] in 1993.
References
- ^ Shephard, Sue (2010). The Surprising Life of Constance Spry. London: Pan Macmillan. p. 329.
- ^ Charles., Quest-Ritson, (2011). Encyclopedia of roses. Quest-Ritson, Brigid. London: DK. p. 104. ISBN 9781405373852. OCLC 757134568.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Constance Spry". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Constance Spry". www.paulbardenroses.com. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
- ^ Venison, T. (2 September 1993). "Sweet smell of success". Country Life (Archive : 1901 - 2005). 187: 70–71 – via Proquest.
- ^ Peter Beales (1997). Classic roses. Harvill Press. p. 39. ISBN 1860463029.
- ^ Perwich, Rita. "Englishman upped the charm factor". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2017-09-23.