Rose of Augusta Louise

A rose with such an aristocratic name adorns many homesteads of true connoisseurs of roses. This hybrid tea rose exudes a stunning unique aroma, and its flowers are striking in splendor and size. The variety has very unusual buds that shimmer depending on the weather, changing color from pale pink to champagne. The flowers are suitable for cutting and arranging bouquets due to their huge nostalgic buds. They even resemble roses from the paintings of medieval artists, mesmerizing with their unique shape and extraordinary aroma.

The variety was bred in 1999 for the 250th anniversary of Goethe. Augusta Louise von Stolberg had a romantic correspondence with the famous poet. And the German breeder decided to name her a beautiful new variety of the royal flower, as majestic as Countess von Stolberg. The "Count" rose variety immediately gained popularity among flower growers. And over the years, he won several awards at international exhibitions (grand prix for the best aroma and first place for the best hybrid of a tea rose).

Rose of Augusta Louise is associated with a beautiful young countess who turns red and then turns pale depending on the weather and environment. The rose bush is just as majestic and aristocratic, but at the same time flirty and delicate. Therefore, the creator of this variety associates it with a young countess in love. But, like aristocrats, despite its fragility, the Augusta Louise rose is very resistant to harsh climatic conditions, diseases and garden pests.

The appearance of the rose bush Augusta Louise is very reminiscent of an aristocrat, the flower shoots are tall, erect, with lush dark green foliage. The stems of an adult plant reach 1-1.2 meters in height, they are thick and strong, and the leaves and buds are juicy in color.

The color scheme of the buds is difficult to describe. The color of the flower changes depending on the weather, time of day and the age of the bush. In describing the color of the buds, gardeners most often lean towards a soft peach or apricot, some talk about shades of gold in adult plants. The golden hues or splashes of champagne are especially prominent at sunset on a summer evening.

The bud of this type is one of the largest in tea varieties of roses. It reaches 10-12 cm in diameter and can consist of 45 petals or more. The scent of flowers is quite active. To feel it, you don't even need to specially smell the flowers of roses. The scent is heard at a distance of a few steps, has a floral-crimson notes. Flowers are formed singly or in inflorescences of 3-5 pieces. The leaves of the species are juicy dark green with pronounced veins and jagged edges. Shoots form compact bushes no more than 70 cm wide.

Rose Augusta Louise is undemanding to the care and appearance of the soil, resistant to diseases, unlike other popular varieties of this flower. The rose blooms until late autumn, and the size of the buds and its color depends entirely on the care.

This type of rose is very fond of gardeners, but with all the visible advantages, the species also has its drawbacks.Of the obvious advantages of the Augusta Louise variety, one can single out:

• frost resistance;

• abundant and long flowering;

• resistance to diseases and pests.

The rose tolerates the first autumn frosts well, when night temperatures drop, it does not stop blooming, and cut flowers can delight household members with a pleasant aroma for 10-12 days.

Among the shortcomings are noted:

• intolerance to drought and direct sunlight;

• the aroma is revealed in full force only in favorable conditions.

The plant does not like dry periods, requiring regular watering. It is better to plant such a variety in shaded areas of the garden, in places where direct sunlight hits the plant only in the morning or evening hours. The aroma and beauty of flowers is fully revealed only with proper care. With a lack of nutrients and watering, the rose looks uncomplicated, and with proper care and feeding, the color of the flowers becomes more complex, shimmers in the light, and its aroma spreads to the entire area.

The flowering of the Augusta Louise rose takes place in three stages. The first two are more intense with an abundance of large flowers. And the third flowering is not so abundant, but continues until the very frost. The buds form in a raceme on long shoots. A brush with 5-7 flowers can form on one stem and will look like a whole bunch. To get large buds with iridescent color, it is important to provide the bush with good conditions. The rose should receive enough sunlight (but not in excess), watering and nutrients. The bushes need not only to be watered regularly, but also to loosen the soil, and remove weeds; moisture stagnation in the root system must not be allowed. It is necessary to cut off the faded buds so that the plant does not waste energy and nutrients on them. Such timely pruning also stimulates the emergence of new colors.

Roses of this variety are not very spreading, the bushes barely reach 60 cm wide. They can be planted at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other. Bushes can be planted in early April, when the soil has warmed up enough. And in the fall, this should be done a month before the onset of night frosts (late September - early October). If winter is going to be frosty, then young bushes can be additionally covered with hay or fallen leaves. You need to choose a slightly shaded place for planting, it can be near a house, fence or other buildings so that they protect the delicate rose bushes from the daytime sun. Soil is needed with low acidity and high nutrient content.

Before planting, the bushes must be held in a weak solution of potassium permanganate (roots). The hole is dug to a depth of 60-70 cm. When planting, a drainage layer (small stones or brick scrap) is laid on the bottom. And also in the holes you can put a little humus or manure. After planting, the rose requires abundant watering and shelter from direct sunlight. The roots are deepened 5-10 cm below the inoculation site.

It is recommended to feed the plant. When the first buds appear, you can use phosphorus, potassium or coal dust. In the spring, you can use ordinary humus with the addition of nitrogen fertilizers. In autumn, closer to winter, feeding is no longer required.

You need to water the August rose Luisa 3-4 times a week. During dry summer periods, the amount of watering should be increased. It is recommended to water under the bush in the late afternoon, when the sun's rays no longer fall on the plant. At the same time, make sure that moisture does not stagnate, otherwise the roots may rot. And getting rid of it is very difficult.

It is recommended to pinch young shoots in the spring after the appearance of 5-6 leaves. This will help the correct formation of the bush. During the active growing season, watch for the emergence of wild shoots. They form from the roots at the graft site. They need to be cut in time, and the cut points must be processed. Otherwise, when growing, wild shoots will take all the nutrients from the soil and will not allow the rose to develop.

For the prevention of diseases, it is recommended that the bushes be treated with fungicides or insecticides several times per season.