All about roses "Lady of Shallot"

Roses have a strong association with something beautiful and wonderful. Such flowers are used to decorate gardens, parks, large estates. Each variety has its own characteristics and characteristics. But among the wide variety, the roses of the David Austin nursery stand out, and in particular, the Lady of Shallot rose.

Rose "Lady of Shallot" belongs to the English varieties. British David Austin acted as a breeder. Roses released from under his hand became recognizable all over the world. They are distinguished by the old classic shape of the buds, as well as a strong aroma that spreads over long distances. Such a culture has good health and long-lasting flowering. All this is considered a visiting card by which the belonging of the plant is determined.

The first result in the trial of creating roses was the Pat Austin variety. Its color was crimson-copper with scarlet or golden tints. Then, a few years later, in 2009, the world was introduced to a new wonderful variety "Lady of Shallot".

In such a short period of time, "Lady of Shallot" was able to win the favor of many gardeners who began to give preference to this particular rose, and also received nominations and awards in many competitions (for example, a silver medal at a competition in Glasgow). And in 2011, the rose was awarded a certificate for its outstanding characteristics and beautiful appearance. The competition was hosted by the Royal National Rose Society of England.

The rose got its name "Lady of Shallot" in a very interesting way. In the year of the presentation of culture all over the world celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of the famous poet Alfred Tennyson. He wrote the ballad The Sorceress Shallot. In another translation into Russian she was called "Lady Shalotte". Since in the described ballad the main character has red hair, she became the prototype of a rose, whose buds were cast with a red undertone.

Rose "Lady of Shallot" refers to a very common variety for shrubs - scrubs. Shrubs are a type of shrub, half-leafed roses. They belong to park crops that winter easily without additional shelter.

Florists note that the seedling grows well at a young age. The bush is formed erect, it develops with powerful shoots and is very branched. The crown is lush and quite leafy. The peculiarity of an adult bush is that it absolutely does not need additional support or a garter.

The shoots are medium, not too thick and not completely stiff. Gradually, they tend to the ground, becoming slightly arched. Everything is just as David Austin intended. Spines are present on the surface, but they are small and not so prickly.

The characteristics indicate the length of the shoot of 100-120 cm.In warmer regions with a long daylight hours, the height of the shoot can reach 2.5 m.The bush grows in breadth up to 100 cm. But, as noted earlier, in warm weather and favorable conditions, the growth of the crown is not limited to anything, and it can grow more and more.

Leaves are well developed, medium in size, alternately distributed, pinnate. A shade of deep green, with a slight gloss. The plate is slightly elongated, rounded in shape, there are notches at the edges. The new foliage has a slightly bronze undertone.

Shoots are heavily covered with a large number of buds. Inflorescences consist of 1-3 flowers. Under a large number of buds, the shoots begin to slope slightly. But the weight of the flowers cannot break off the branch, since the flowers are quite light.

In shape, the buds are lush and rounded, slightly pointed, very dense, consist of about 40 or more petals, which have a wide-wavy edge. The shape of the rosette is bowl-shaped. It is because of this shape that the bud itself resembles old classic roses.

In structure, the outer petals are arranged in a spiral. But the internal ones are laid freer and more chaotic, without any special arrangement. It is due to the fact that the middle is chaotic that the impression of a closed bud is formed, which does not open even with a complete dissolution.

Due to the bowl-shaped shape, all the petals are very tightly attached to the rosette, and therefore incomplete dissolution of the bud occurs, which also makes it possible to discern small copper notes in the depths of the flower. The size of the rosette is 8-10 cm, which is quite a lot for a bush rose. It is this trick (the size of the buds and incomplete opening) that allows you to visually emphasize the fullness of the brush, even if some buds are just forming and have not even opened yet.

Rose "Lady of Shallot" has a long flowering period throughout the year. That is, the buds gain color and bloom several times during the season. Many flower growers note that the last flowering of the season is no different from the first either in the number of buds or in volume.

Flowering begins in late May or early June and continues until the onset of the first cold weather. On average, one flower in a fully opened form lasts from 5 to 7 days. But with strong sunshine or lingering rains, this process is reduced. It is noted that in cool weather the bud opens much more slowly, but due to this, the petals hold together and do not crumble much longer. To preserve the variety of buds and the duration of their flowering, all flowers that have faded must be removed.

The aroma is average, pronounced in places. It is noted that there are apple notes in the smell, as well as a spice aroma, which is mixed with a slight scent of a tea rose.

If the seedling is strong and developed and planted correctly, then it will be able to bloom in the year of planting. But the first peak occurs only in the second or even the third year after planting.

Rose "Lady of Shallot" is universal. It takes root well in garden plots, parks and rose gardens. It is unpretentious, since some summer residents manage to grow this rose even on the balcony.

But still, the plant requires a special place for germination, as it is considered a perennial crop. The chosen location should be sunny and free from heavy shading. The wind should be moderate, preferably draft-free.

Growing a rose can be done in two ways - seedlings or seeds. Both options are best purchased from a specialty store or nursery.so as not to stumble upon a low-quality product (very often uncertified sellers sell a simple rose-like rosehip instead of the Shallot rose). Therefore, before buying, you need to make sure exactly what you are purchasing.

The seeds are sold in small packages, with a description of the manufacturer and instructions on how to plant the seeds correctly. Seedlings are sold in special containers, dark bags. If you are purchasing a seedling, you should first inspect the plant for damage to the stems or roots. If any deviations are noticed, then it is better not to make a purchase - there is a possibility that the plant will hurt.

Since the root system of the plant deepens into the soil by an average of 1.5-2 m, it is necessary to cultivate the land plot by 1 m. Useful minerals and fertilizers are added to the dug area. The soil should not contain too much sand or clay.

To plant a plant, you need to dig a hole 50x60 cm, the first value is the width, and the second is the depth. The hole is spilled with warm water, then the seedling is lowered, spreading the roots throughout the hole. Then everything is sprinkled with earth and compacted.

After planting, the site is abundantly spilled with water, and then the earth is loosened. If desired, you can lay mulch around the bush.

Correct cultivation also largely depends on the subsequent care. If it is more or less clear with watering and feeding, then it is worth taking a closer look at diseases and pests. Rose is very often susceptible to diseases such as:

• powdery mildew;
• rust;
• black spot;
• gray rot.

And among the pests, you can most often find:

• bear;
• rose leaf roll;
• spider mite.

Rose "Lady of Shallot" due to its unique features is often used by landscape designers. It goes well in color with many other colors. And due to the fact that the lower part of the bush is practically not bare, it is used to build a hedge.

If you experiment with several varieties, then the rose will fit well into a complex flower bed, which is also called a mixborder.... "Lady of Shallot" looks very beautiful against the background of conifers, which with their green color will only emphasize the refinement of the buds and their color.

There are also expositions of roses in pots. The main disadvantage of such cultivation is watering. The soil in closed containers dries out very quickly, even if the pot is 60 liters or more.

In terms of design, Austin roses fit perfectly into country, modern, minimalism styles. Flowers work well for good old English lawns... But in any composition it is better to keep the distance.