Characteristics and description of Abraham Derby roses, cultivation and care

The rose is rightfully considered the most popular flower in the world, and every gardener strives to bring its beauty to the garden. However, in many landscape settings, the classic scarlet color is usually replaced with more delicate and soft shades. The Abraham Derby rose variety is one of these. They are distinguished by royal grace and the elegance of a flower, so both Princess Alexandra and Emanuel will envy the demand for the “British beauty”.

Description and history of selection

The Abraham Derby became popular thanks to the British David Austin. In 1965, the ancestors of the variety were the yellow rose Yellow Cushion and the scarlet-pink double Aloha. The flowers of the hybrid are distinguished by their increased size and unusual color: the petals have a pastel pink tint in the middle and soft yellow at the edges. However, depending on environmental conditions, the bud changes color.

The bush grows from 1.5 to 2.5 meters. The color of the foliage is rich green, combined with a marsh tint. The plant can easily be artificially shaped, which makes it universal in landscape and decorative crafts.

Characteristics of rose Abraham Derby

The rose grows quickly and is often used as a climbing plant. On one stem of Abraham Derby there are usually about three flowers up to 14 centimeters in size. The variety is considered to be bushy and is moderately resistant to infections and insects.

The rose blooms for a long time: from the first days of summer until the end of September. At this time, the garden is filled with a bright aroma with light notes of citrus. However, precipitation causes the buds to shrink and do not open until the rain stops.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Culture

Abraham Derby has a number of advantages noticeable to the naked eye:

• aesthetically attractive and delicate appearance;
• unusual color that can change shades;
• long flowering period;
• suitable for use in all areas;
• bright aroma.

However, there are many disadvantages of the variety;

• low immunity to pests and most diseases;
• does not tolerate cold well;
• not resistant to heat and high humidity.

How to grow a flower correctly

Since this variety is not designed for cultivation in the vast expanses of the Russian Federation, gardeners need to take care in advance to create certain conditions. In order to grow a proper and beautiful bush with a lot of flowers, it is important to be careful about planting.

Landing site requirements

When choosing a planting site, it is recommended to exclude lowlands and depressions. This arrangement attracts moisture accumulation, which will adversely affect the plant’s root system. It is also worth making sure that an identical crop has not been grown in this area before. There is a risk of “catching” a disease characteristic of roses from previous varieties or discovering an invasion of old pests.

Lighting and terrain

The flower is very picky about the lack of light, so the area for planting must be sunny. It is not recommended to plant tall trees nearby or build additional extensions, which could deprive Abraham Derby of a significant share of ultraviolet radiation.

Important! This variety of roses does not tolerate windy areas: the petals begin to fall off immediately, and the bush may wilt. The location is selected taking into account the preliminary exclusion of drafts.

Soil type

No special soil requirements have been identified for the English flower. However, experienced gardeners recommend adding a little humus or humus to the sandy soil to saturate it with beneficial properties. Light liming will help reduce the possibility of various diseases. An important aspect of soil preparation is good loosening and getting rid of weed pests (wild ivy).

Criteria for choosing a seedling

The key to successful establishment of a rose is the correct choice of seedlings.It is recommended to give preference to two to three year old specimens. This is a period of high levels of winter hardiness and vigor, therefore the survival rate increases. It is preferable to choose green stems, without wrinkles or drying out.

Important! Grafted seedlings are many times stronger than the stems on their roots. It is recommended to ask the seller in advance about the propagation method, this will increase the likelihood of good survival.

Planting dates and scheme

The Abraham Derby rose variety can be planted both in spring and autumn. Spring seedlings take root better and give the novice gardener the opportunity to observe their development. It is important to get rid of excess buds on the plant before planting, leaving only 5-6. This will allow the bush to devote all its energy to vegetative growth and increase winter hardiness.

When planting, it is recommended to ensure good drainage in the holes and strictly follow the planting pattern. The plant grows both upward and to the sides, so the minimum distance between bushes should be 4 meters.

Subtleties of caring for the variety

In order for the Abraham Derby rose to please the gardener with its appearance and bright aroma, you need to be careful about caring for the variety.

Watering and fertilizing

The plant does not tolerate excessive watering, however, “prohibition” also causes significant damage to the root system. It is optimally recommended to water the Austin flower once every 7-10 days, using up to 10 liters of warm, settled water. In September it is necessary to completely stop watering.

The first feeding is carried out only in the second year of the plant’s life. Predominantly nitrogen fertilizers are used. If animal manure was chosen as a subcrust, it must be allowed to ferment for a week.During the growing season, it is recommended to fertilize the rose with special mineral fertilizers every three weeks.

Weeding and loosening

Rose Abraham Derby grows well in loose mulched soil, with regular weeding and weed control. The bush does not mind existing next to a harmless lawn or fruit and berry plants, but weeds with a strong root system must be pulled out. Otherwise, there is a possibility of death of the rose bush.

Also, during loosening, it is recommended to be careful not to damage the roots of the rose with the metal part of the tool. The root system is the weak point of the Abraham Derby rose.

How and when to prune

The need to prune a rose primarily depends on the desired result:

• if the bush is grown as a climbing bush, pruning of the plant is not required;
• if it is necessary to obtain a large rounded bush, a slight removal of frozen tops is recommended;
• To obtain a low-growing shrub, regular spring pruning is required - up to 70% of the plant.

Important! After wintering, it is recommended to carry out sanitary cleaning of the bush, removing dead and frozen parts.

Shelter for the winter

The first slight frosts serve as a “bell” to start warming the Abraham Derby rose. It is recommended to use sand or dry soil, since other popular means have a negative effect on the roots of the bush. It is also recommended to cover the top of the bush with insulation stretched over a pre-prepared frame.

Disease and pest control

This variety of roses is most sensitive to powdery mildew, rust and black spot. Diseases can be cured by eliminating infected branches and treating with fungicide solutions.

Commonly encountered thrips, aphids, roseate sawflies, leaf rollers and spider mites do not tolerate insecticides well. But the affected parts should also be cut off.

Breeding methods

Garden rose Abraham Derby is propagated by three popular methods:

• vaccination;
• layering;
• shoots.

Seedlings obtained through grafting are considered the strongest and hardiest.

Typical gardener mistakes

There are three main mistakes gardeners make:

1. Regular abundant watering. This leads to rotting of the root system.
2. Constant fertilization with only one preparation. Plants also have a tendency to become addictive.
3. Unjustified expectations from the formation of a bush. To avoid such complexity, you must strictly adhere to the pruning rules.

Decorative features

The main decorative feature of the variety is its chameleon coloration. Due to different storage conditions, it is possible that a specific rose will differ greatly from the declared picture.