David Austin Roses have introduced some very beautiful red roses. Last year they introduced another red Austin Rose named Munstead Wood, Named after Gertrude Jekyll's famous home and garden in Surrey, England. Most agree that the red Austin Rose William Shakespeare 2ooo, is one of the best red Austins or English roses so far. So all rose lovers always look forward in great anticipation to another red Austin Rose. I do have a problem with the term English Roses. I prefer the term Austin roses, since many have piggybacked on David Austins Work and produces roses that look like Old Garden Roses, that repeat bloom well.
In my experience Munstead Wood is every bit as good William Shakespeare 2000. It even seems to have a better growth habit; WS 2000 sometimes produces very large canes with so many buds that the canes break under the weight of the flowers. This rose seems to carry fewer flowers at the end of each cane. The flowers are not as heavy as the Flowers on WS 2000. The buds unfold into cups, that later becomes shallow cups, with the inner petals forming a rosette, until the flowers turn into a rosette - the petals reflexing. I cannot tell the difference between the fragrance of WS 2000 and Munstead wood. Both have a wonderful warm Old Rose Fragrance with berry notes like blackberries and blackcurrant.
Calling it a red rose is perhaps misleading. It has many shades of red in various stages, crimson, burgundy, mauve with a velvet sheen. The ability to display a wide range of colors, that changes with the light and stages of the flower, is one of the most charming qualities red Austin Roses have. I predict that this rose is going to be even more popular than WS 2000.
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11 comments:
I have William Shakespear 2000 in my garden, I saw Munstead Wood on the David Austin stand at at Chelsea Flower Show, and have to say , I still prefer WS. Maybe I need to see it in open ground to be fair to it. Munstead Wood itself is just about 15 miles from where I live, The Manor at Upton Grey even less.
I treated myself to a new Gertrude Jeykll after the bunnies ate mine, I could always persuade myself she needs a companion she is familiar with ... tee hee, any excuse to buy more roses!
Best Wishes,
Zoe
This is a lovely rose.
I have not got many in this garden - as it is not ready for them yet.
One to keep in mind I think
Regards
Karen
This looks like a beautiful rose. I'm not sure how hardy David Austin roses would be in our zone 5 climate. The hardy shrub roses do very well here.
Mustead Wood looks lovely. I have William Shakespeare 2000 as well as several other Austin roses, which I planted 18 months ago. I do find that the branches are so long and heavy that the drop to the ground. At Bodnant in Wales they have a rose garden with just David Austin roses and they hard prune. Another garden used supports for their Austin roses. What is your experience?
Best wishes Sylvia (England)
Well the indiduvidual floers of WS 2000 are very beautiful. But I am not impressed with the rose as a garden plant. I think Munstead Wood will do better. I sure look forward reading about Munstead Wood from you Zoë.
Not sure what zone you live in karen? But many Austins can be grown in zone 5 Chey. WS 2000 might be a better choice though in your zone.
Sylvia: I think it depends on the Individaul Austin Rose, since they are so different in growth habits.
I Prefer to prune WS 2000 hard only about 10 inches left above ground. But even then I have to give some of the canes suppport so they will not break in the wind or when they become heavy from rain.
As a rule of thumb most Austins should be pruned to at least half their size in early spring. Some can be pruned harder, some ligther.But I think many prune too little.
Thanks Niels, this is useful information, I think I will prune mine harder next year. The second batch of roses I have bought from David Austin, after a visit to his gardens, are all climbing versions, Falstaff, G Jekyll and Teasing Georgia. I think they may be better this way, if I get the initial training right!
Best wishes Sylvia (England)
Sylvia I do know that some of the Austin roses can be grown as climbers in USDA climate zone 6 or higher. Gertrude Jekyll even in zone 5 and 8. Falstaff and Teasing Georgia will only become bushes in colder climates or low 6-7 feet climbers in sheltered positions. Teasing Georgia will climb in your climate. So will Falstaff, but He probably needs special training - training the canes more horizontally in order to get more laterals to bloom. Teasing Georgia is in every way an Excellent rose. Easy to grow and responds well to many different pruning styles and very healthy.
Gertrude Jekyll however: Decide how you are going to grow this rose and train her! To get the best results try reading this post I wrote on Gardenweb Forums About getting the Most out Gertrude Jekyll. I will post it here on this blog too later. Here is the Link:
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/rosesant/msg0213124923771.html?21
Sorry not sure I how to post link here in comments ...I will find out how to do that or email those who want the link, to that article wrote.
Niels, the link has a part of it missing, but the link you sent me was fine. Very useful article. Any one wanting to read it I suggest they do a search on "It´s all about pruning and training of those lanky roses" and you will find the article.
Best wishes Sylvia (England)
I am glad you found my article on GW and found it useful. I tried to illustrate how people can get the most out of lanky roses that responds well to different pruning styles. Left on their own roses like Louise Odier and Gertrude Jekyll becomes lanky, unruly and unproductive. I posted one more picture today so people could see how the my pruning of Louise Odier has created a really nice rosebush.
We have Munstead Wood growing in a large container, planed as a D.A. bareroot. The bush is a lush healthy green, about 3 ft., flowers a heavenly burgandy/purple with a velvet texture. The fragrance is a strong, fruity one. This is my favorite rose in our garden of 60+ roses, the flowers beyond gorgeous! Thanks for your blog!
Sherry, zone 9b, no. Ca.
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