It seem like ages since I wrote a post and it is ages since I wrote one of my Rose of the Week posts. I was very slack last year. I dropped the ball. I got it into my head that no one was interested in my rose posts so I lost interest in them. This is notwithstanding every day a number (and some days a large number) of my rose photos are copied and the posts are regularly visited.
Over winter, I have been reminding myself that one of my aims in starting this blog was to create a record of all my roses. I have barely made it past half way so, this year, I am going to make more of an effort.
As I work through my list, it will be progressively harder to get a good photo of a particular rose that I haven’t featured so they will most likely not be weekly. It is easy to find a good specimen when you have 150 roses to choose from but not so easy as that choice diminishes. And, logically, a rose may not have been featured to date because it doesn’t flower as freely as others or, maybe, its flowers are easily damaged or they don’t like the brutal Western Australian summer. But, I will endure.
It is still quite early in the season in Bridgetown but my Perth garden is ablaze with pink blooms and has been for a couple of weeks.
First cab off the rank this year is Sharifa Asma.
Sharifa Asma is a David Austin Rose which he has classified into the group, Old Rose Hybrids. The Old Rose Hybrids are the original English Roses. They are the result of crossing the early summer-flowering Old Roses with modern Hybrid Tea and Floribunda roses with the idea of combining the best characteristics of both. In his book, The English Roses, David Austin advises that the flowers of these roses are not flamboyant but have the unassuming charm of old roses. They usually have a rosette shape with numerous delicate, rather translucent petals.
Other roses in the Old Rose Hybrid Group that I have already featured in Rose of the Week are Mary Rose (one of Sharifa Asma’s parents), Winchester Cathedral, Redouté, Miss Alice and Prospero and I still have plenty to feature.
I was reading David Austin’s book English Rose and I came across this description of Sharifa Asma’s blooms.
They incurve in a rosette formation, soft pink in colour with a touch of gold at the base of the petals; the outside petals are paler. Inside, the smaller petals twist attractively and there is sometimes a suggestion of a button-eye. The whole flower has a gently translucent quality which is most appealing.
If you look at my two photographs, you would have to agree this description describes them perfectly. I can’t think of anything to add except to say that the blooms are not especially long lived in the vase and repeat flowering is excellent.
In an early book, David Austin described Sharifa Asma’s growth as “not over strong but quite adequate“. In a later book, he states it has an “absence of vigour“. He, subsequently, took Sharifa Asma off his list. My bush is doing well, although the young buds and new growth do get attacked by some beetle that appears every Spring. I have to spray. Also, you may need to watch out for black spot in humid climates but mildew resistance is reportedly very good. Living in a dry climate, I don’t have these problems.
The growth is short (about a metre), upright and bushy. It is covered to the ground with good, mid-green leaves.
Sharifa Asma was named after an Omani princess as a birthday present from her husband. She sure is one lucky lady to have such a beautiful rose named after her. Sharifa Asma was introduced in 1989.
Passion Fruit Garden 
I’ve been searching for the inspiration for the name of this one of my top 3 favorites – Sharifa Asma, and you mentioned it in your post, about the Birthday gift, naming of this rose after an Omani princess. I think it is the sweetest fragrance in our NW Washington garden. Thank you for posting this information and pretty pictures. The color of my specimen is more pastel than yours…
Hi Shelly, yes it is a beauty.
I love the perfume of this rose, thank you for posting your lovely pictures
No problems, thanks for visiting.
these soft pink roses are so feminine and stunning Glenda.. and of course there’s an interest from our side as readers.
I am more a fan of hybrid teas, Glenda, but I’ve obviously never seen the Sharifa Asma before. What a spectacular beauty!
John, I have a few hybrid teas to show you this summer. It is funny, I am not a fan of hybrid teas – there is never enough perfume for me and they look so formal. I like things messy.
As always, beautiful roses Glenda and love the pink color 🙂
Thanks Moya.
They are gorgeous Glenda if you look closely at the one in front it actually looks like the shape of a heart in the middle!!! He did have her in mind didn’t he..
It is so like a heart Gail. A sweet heart, just like us 🙂
yes I was thinking it was very like a peony too. so pretty and such a lovely pink..
Thanks Sherry, I do like pink.
Stunning rose!
Its a beauty all right Kris.
I love roses and this one is just beautiful. Many, many moons ago my grandmother had a pink rose that had the most gorgeous perfume and this reminds me of nan’s roses, so thanks for posting.
Hi Yvonne, it sure does have that old world feel to it.
I’m not normaly a ‘pink’ person but this flower is gorgeous. Glad to hear it has a perfume too, love it! Sadly a lot of our flowers have been damaged by the huge amount of rains, so I will just enjoy looking at yours. 🙂
Hi Maree, it is warming up here now. Perth had 37 the other day. I AM a pink girl.
How very lovely, Glenda, it’s almost peony-like.
Jan, As I sit here and examine the photos I like this rose more and more. It is so delicate and old worldly.
So glad your back. I miss my roses and your posts brighten up my day. Wish I could smell the. Sharing is a wonderful thing….. Love it love it love it
Hi Julie, It does smell absolutely gorgeous. To get these photos, I picked about 6 buds and the whole living room smelt divine.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful rose. I’m an ardent follower of your blog, especially ‘in my kitchen’ and the recipes.
Hi Kaye, Thankyou so much – there is more to come. I have just been a bit slack. It is spring time and there are so many jobs outside to be done. I have been mowing and weeding and raking etc rather than cooking. Forgive me.
I love roses this one is lovely looking for ward to more 🌹
Sent from my iPad
>
Hi Nerida, there will be more, I promise.
Thank you for this beautiful rose. I’m glad you have posted its portrait. Please do keep posting. I for one won’t mind if you start all over. Never enough beautiful roses’ portraits, especially as we are coming to the end of our season here in North Carolina, USA.
Hi JM, yes, It must be nice to get nice bright photos in your in box in the depths of winter.