Rose Cuttings – July, 2010

‘Stephen F. Austin’ Pioneer Rose

‘Stephen F. Austin’ rose. Photo courtesy of Mike Shoup.

According to history, Stephen F. Austin was called the “Father of Texas,” having encouraged hundreds of families to settle in this area. It seems fitting that a rose would be named in his honor.

One of my favorite Pioneer Rose introductions was chosen to bear his name. Like the person, the rose ‘Stephen F. Austin’ is tough and doesn’t mind settling into new locations. This rose is very disease resistant, bears fragrant, creamy yellow flowers practically year-round, has dark, glossy green foliage and makes a sturdy, upright, 6-foot shrub. It has the formidable parents ‘Graham Thomas’ (my favorite David Austin rose) and ‘Carefree Beauty’ (one of Griffith Buck’s best disease-free roses, as well as a designated Earth-Kind® rose).

This rose is an ideal specimen plant, acting as a foil for annuals and perennials in a mixed border or even as a tall hedge along a fence or driveway. Gardeners beware! Don’t plant this rose with hybrid teas, as it will surely make them look bad by comparison.

I believe ‘Stephen F. Austin’ was appropriately named and is a yellow rose definitely worth growing in any Texas garden.

About the author: Mike Shoup is the owner of the Antique Rose Emporium. Visit his company’s Brenham and San Antonio display gardens for endless ideas on landscaping with roses. To order roses online, visit www.weAREroses.com.