Rosa 'Wisley 2008' - English Rose

The English rose 'Wisley 2008' or 'Ausbreeze' combines the naturalness of a bush rose and the grace of sophisticated flowers, which borrow their charm from old roses. Forming a medium-sized bush, practically as wide as it is tall, covered with medium green foliage, it is covered in flowers throughout the beautiful season. Superb, double-cup-shaped roses in a light pink colour diffuse a slight fragrance with fruity notes. The dense habit of this rose allows it to be used both in a varied flower bed and in a hedge.

This rose is a creation of the English Rose Breeder David Austin, who alone sums up the philosophy: combining the charm of old roses, visually and in terms of fragrance, with the qualities of modern roses, notably the length of flowering. During his long career, he created over 200 varieties since 1961, making him famous among the breeders, and gradually enriched the demonstration garden next to his nursery in Albrighton, northwest of Birmingham.

As a major member of the Rose family, the genus Rosa is rich in botanical species, and many horticultural hybrids are classified into major categories. Old Roses are not officially one of them, but their reputation is sufficient to consider them a well-defined group.

'Wisley 2008' was named in reference to the famous RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) garden and bears in its name the year it was introduced to the market. The following year, it was awarded at the Barcelona International Rose Competition as the best landscape rose. It has a very natural habit, forming a dense bush of about 1.40 m (5ft) in height and almost as wide. This vegetal dome is adorned with medium green foliage, slightly shiny, which blends beautifully with other freely shaped shrubs. Resistant to diseases, the healthy foliage serves as a backdrop for flowers that bloom from June to October in successive waves and even better when faded flowers are removed to encourage repeat flowering.

The double roses comprise approximately 95 light pink petals, with the outer ones being lighter and forming a shallow cup, in which the centre petals form a complicated rosette. This morphology of an old rose is truly David Austin's signature and gives 'Wisley 2008' an irresistible charm. It also offers a moderately intense fragrance with fruity notes of raspberry and tea. Measuring 8 to 9 cm (3 to 4in) in diameter, the roses bloom at the ends of the stems, either individually or in corymbs (bouquets) of 3 to 5 flowers.

This rose can be versatile as a solitary plant to showcase its beautiful roses, or in groups, amidst a flower bed or within a hedge due to its natural habit. Plant low perennials or shrubs at its base, such as the Japanese Spirea Albiflora, which will form a cushion of greenery adorned with white flowers in July-August. The Gaura lindheimeri Snowbird, a perennial about sixty centimetres in height, will accompany 'Wisley 2008' throughout the summer with its small white flowers undulating in the wind, giving a natural aspect to a flower bed in perfect harmony with English roses. Summer is also rich in blue blooms that will beautifully complement the pink of 'Wisley 2008'. One can think of Perovskias, which form dense and highly floriferous clumps with beautifully grey foliage and Caryopteris. Choose a variety with golden foliage like Hint of Gold to create a double contrast of colour in both flowering and foliage.