Leonard Dudley Braithwaite – pharmaROSA® NEONATAL rooted cutting
Crimson blooms, romantic English character and premium flower quality make Leonard Dudley Braithwaite a convincing choice as own‑root propagation material wherever long‑term, collection‑grade shrub roses are required in UK nursery and public‑realm supply chains. The large, very full, cluster‑flowered rosettes and very strong, long‑lasting fragrance support an exclusive finished product positioning in 5–7 L premium containers, with scope to step up into 40–50 L landscape specimens for thematic rose gardens. The dense, bushy habit, dark green foliage and H7 hardiness to around –25 °C underpin durable plantings, while own‑root production offers regenerative growth and predictable stands that carry propagation loads reliably. Over a natural development arc of roots in year one, framework shoots in year two and full ornamental value from year three, this cultivar builds into a stable, high‑impact shrub rose line that tolerates wind and winter in northern sites, supporting nursery scheduling, wholesale availability, long‑term projects and curated collections.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 5–7 L Premium English Rose Shrub – own‑root, bush‑trained plants in 5–7 L pots with dense foliage and large, very full crimson rosettes positioned as exclusive English shrub roses – target audience/channel: high‑end retail and specialist resellers.
- 40–50 L Landscape Feature Specimen – H7‑hardy, own‑root shrubs developed into 40–50 L containers for immediate impact in thematic rose gardens and public‑realm projects, supporting long‑term, low‑replacement planting – target audience/channel: landscape contractors and public‑realm suppliers.
- Fragrance Collection Container Line – premium container route range built around very strongly scented cultivars, with Leonard Dudley Braithwaite as a key crimson component in 5–7 L units – target audience/channel: retailers running fragrance‑led promotional benches.
- Cut‑and‑Garden Shrub Block – 5–7 L own‑root shrubs promoted for dual use as border plants and short‑stem cut flower sources, leveraging repeat flowering and abundant second flush – target audience/channel: nurseries supplying lifestyle‑orientated garden centres.
- Collection‑Grade Identity Stock – verified, own‑root NEONATAL plants grown on in beds or larger containers as long‑term mother‑stock for collections and propagation, emphasising authentic English Rose genetics – target audience/channel: propagation nurseries and rose collections.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Leonard Dudley Braithwaite, Registered as AUScrim, English Rose Collection shrub; ARS exhibition name Leonard Dudley Braithwaite, commercial English rose, Romantic rose group, bush rose and cut flower applications. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by David C. H. Austin in the United Kingdom, 1988; parentage ‘Mary Rose’ × ‘The Squire’; registered 1993, introduced after 1993 via David Austin Roses Ltd., Albrighton, UK. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit (1994, renewed 2012), supported by an ARS rating of 7.9, indicating consistently recognised garden and display performance under a range of conditions. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy shrub reaching approximately 115–160 cm high and 100–155 cm wide, with dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage and strong prickliness; weak self‑cleaning so spent blooms typically require manual removal. |
| Flower morphology |
Very full, rosette‑shaped, cluster‑flowered blooms with 40+ petals and large size (around 2.75–3.95 in), repeating well through the season, with an abundant second flush under appropriate maintenance. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Crimson‑red, velvety blooms with purple tinge; ARS DR, RHS 53B outer and 60A inner; colour holds well, shifting slightly to magenta or raspberry tones in strong heat yet remaining rich and decorative. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strongly scented with long‑lasting fragrance; detailed scent description not provided, and the highly double form encloses stamens, making the variety primarily ornamental rather than pollinator‑orientated. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose‑hip set is generally low due to very double flowers; where present, hips are small bottle‑shaped red fruits about 6–9 mm diameter, adding only minor ornamental value and limited seed use potential. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately –26 to –23 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 4, USDA 5b); disease profile medium overall with black spot resistance but medium susceptibility to powdery mildew and rust, needing occasional treatments. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to flower beds, mixed borders, cut flower use and specimen shrubs; maintenance medium with occasional pest and disease control; recommended as bush‑trained on 3–5 canes, premium container route, 5–7 L target pot. |
Leonard Dudley Braithwaite as pharmaROSA® NEONATAL material combines premium flower quality, strong fragrance and hardy, own‑root longevity into predictable, regenerative shrub stands; please contact us to align capacity and scheduling to your rose programme.
