English Rose, Austin Rose 'Sharifa Asma'

Sharifa Asma is especially lovely in the late spring and blooms in May in my Zone 7A, Petersburg, Virginia, garden. There is some repeat...Read More blooming, and if I were more faithful with epsom salts and other fertilizer, there would probably be more reblooming. She is subject to some black spot later on, and I rarely spray with fungicide. She has also sent out suckers, creating independently rooted plants. This is not so frequent as to be a problem, only a lovely surprise. Her fragrance is strong and delicious.

parentage is 'Mary Rose' X 'Admired Miranda'

Insanely beautiful rose, firmly in my top three ever as far as appearance goes.
Luscious blousy shell pink turning candy pink towa...Read Morerd the peony style centre of the bloom. The scent is beyond fabulous, and lasts as long as the cut flower does without degrading into a greyish funk, unlike many tea roses. The sent is heady, musky, sweet and 'rosey' in the same way as attar, rosewater and the best essential oils smell of the flower itself.

Dark matte forest green foliage, 6 foot in my garden, with the blooms held on upright trusses quite high on the plant, giving it a slightly unusual stately air. Holds the buds firmly upright, unlike a lot of other David Austin roses that flop- one of their biggest drawbacks in my opinion.

If you only have room for a few roses, this has got to be one of them, IF you are prepared for a caveat or two, as I have discovered.

While my blooms don't 'ball' in wet weather as many older varieties love to do, they do get 'brown streak', which is perhaps an even more irritating condition that runs through petals from the base and ruins the bloom, causing it to disintegrate just when you think you're getting a wonderful show. It only happens when the cold/wet snap is timed right, but as well all know, this happens all too often! So I would call S Asma a weather-diva.

It's very upright (for me) shape can be a pain when trying to put it with other roses, as it's quite unique and can make it hard to partner. Small complaints, really, but worth considering.

Probably my favorite rose. Lush, exotic, with an enchanting and unique fruity rose fragrance, very strong. The exquisite shade of pink ...Read Moreis often touched at the base by a hint of yellow or pale apricot, giving it a subtle warmth. Large blooms, good rebloom, and very hardy here. A no-fuss rose, gracious and memorable.