Contents
Description
Rosa Port Sunlight, also known as ‘AUSfench’, is a beautiful English rose that was introduced in 1988 by David Austin. This rose is a product of cross-breeding between the rose ‘Chaucer’ and ‘Tamora’. It is a repeat-flowering shrub rose that produces clusters of large, apricot-pink blooms with a pleasant fragrance. It has a bushy habit and can grow up to a height of 4 feet and a width of 3 feet. This rose is well-suited for growing in borders, beds, and hedges.
Taxonomic Information
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Spermatophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Rosales |
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Genus | Rosa |
Appearance
Rosa Port Sunlight has a beautiful appearance with clusters of large, apricot-pink blooms that are around 4 inches in diameter. The blooms have a cupped shape with a central button eye that gives them a classic English rose look. The petals are soft and velvety to the touch, and they have a pleasant fragrance that is reminiscent of myrrh. The foliage of this rose is dark green and glossy, which provides a beautiful contrast to the blooms.
Care Guide
To keep your Rosa Port Sunlight healthy and blooming, follow these care tips:
- Water: Water this rose regularly, especially during hot and dry weather. Make sure the soil is moist but not waterlogged.
- Fertilization: Feed this rose with a balanced fertilizer in early spring and again in midsummer.
- Soil: Plant this rose in well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. The soil should have a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
- Sunlight: This rose prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade. Make sure it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
- Hardiness Zones: Rosa Port Sunlight is hardy in USDA zones 5-9.
Common Pests & Diseases
Rosa Port Sunlight is susceptible to some common pests and diseases, including:
- Aphids: These small insects suck the sap from the leaves and stems of the rose, causing curling and distortion of the foliage. Use a strong stream of water or insecticidal soap to control them.
- Black spot: This fungal disease causes black spots on the leaves of the rose, which eventually turn yellow and fall off. Remove infected leaves and treat the rose with a fungicide.
- Powdery mildew: This fungal disease causes a powdery white coating on the leaves of the rose. Remove infected leaves and treat the rose with a fungicide.
Habitat
Rosa Port Sunlight is a hybrid English rose that is well-suited for growing in borders, beds, and hedges. It prefers well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter and gets at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. This rose is hardy in USDA zones 5-9 and can tolerate some shade.
Question and Answer
Q: How often should I water Rosa Port Sunlight?
A: Water this rose regularly, especially during hot and dry weather. Make sure the soil is moist but not waterlogged.
Q: Can Rosa Port Sunlight tolerate shade?
A: This rose prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade. Make sure it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
Q: What should I do if my Rosa Port Sunlight has black spots on the leaves?
A: Remove infected leaves and treat the rose with a fungicide to control black spot.
Q: How tall can Rosa Port Sunlight grow?
A: Rosa Port Sunlight can grow up to a height of 4 feet and a width of 3 feet.
Related Plants
- Rosa ‘Chaucer’
- Rosa ‘Tamora’
- Rosa ‘Graham Thomas’
- Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’
References
- “Rosa ‘Port Sunlight’.” David Austin Roses, www.davidaustinroses.com/american/port-sunlight-shrub-rose.
- “Rosa ‘Port Sunlight’.” Royal Horticultural Society, www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/267501/Rosa-Port-Sunlight-(Shrub-rose)/Details.
- “Rosa ‘Port Sunlight’.” Missouri Botanical Garden, www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=237723.
