Digging deeperPlant Library

Other Names:  English Rose

Group/Class:  Austin Rose

Description:

The blooms of this variety are among the largest of the English roses; glorious golden blooms with lemon tints; intense lemony-tea fragrance; needs full sun and well-drained soil; good disease resistance; provide some protection in colder climates

Ornamental Features

Charles Darwin Rose is clothed in stunning fragrant gold flowers with yellow overtones at the ends of the branches from late spring to early fall, which emerge from distinctive red flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has forest green deciduous foliage. The glossy oval compound leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color.

Landscape Attributes

Charles Darwin Rose is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a high maintenance shrub that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Disease
• Spiny

Charles Darwin Rose is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Charles Darwin Rose will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.