David Austins English Roses

David Austin's special shrub-rose hybrids couple the full-flowered look and intense fragrance of old roses with the hardiness, disease resistance, and repeat-bloom performance of hybrid teas and other modern varieties. This new edition of Austin's book showcases nearly 80 original varieties, plus 18 new ones, and offers practical growing tips and garden-planning advice. 175 color photos.

Developed since 1969 by the author, English Roses are hybrids of Old Roses with present-day Hybrid Teas and Floribundas. They generally retain the shape and fragrance of the Old Roses, while keeping the disease resistance and perpetual bloom of the Moderns, although as the illustrations show, there is considerable divergence among individual varieties. Austin tells how he began creating English Roses, describes their characteristics, and suggests how best to use and care for them. The book is rounded off by individual portraits of each variety with specifics of size, fragrance, hardiness, and parentage. A list of suppliers follows. This will probably not be the last word on English Roses, especially on their care, but it is an excellent introduction to this new group of roses, beautifully presented in Perry's photographs. Recommended for larger public libraries and academic collections serving agriculture departments.
- Molly Newling, Piscataway P.L., N.J.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.