The Dark Lady – English shrub rose propagation material for premium crimson finishes
Built for premium own-root production, The Dark Lady offers romantic flower presentation and exclusive finished-product potential in a compact, bush-trained framework that fits high-value container programmes. Medium-maintenance, with verified cultivar authenticity, it suits nursery propagation beds and premium container grow-on where predictable, remontant flowering and strong English-rose identity are key for thematic and collection gardens. Its winter tolerance supports northern UK and exposed schemes, offering dependable performance in a range of British conditions with reliable hardiness for professional supply chains.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 5–7 L premium English rose shrub – Bush-trained, 3–5 cane plants finished in 5–7 L pots, emphasising large, full, crimson rosettes and English-rose heritage for feature positions – premium English-rose bench for retail/reseller.
- Romantic crimson collection line – Coordinated SKU within a romantic rose or “dark blooms” theme, highlighting colour depth and fragrance while following the premium container route – branded concept ranges for retail/reseller.
- Project-ready shrub unit – Uniform, upright shrubs for rapid deployment into flower beds and small park schemes, produced in 5–7 L as exclusive feature plants – landscape-oriented outlets and project-focused resellers.
- Cut-and-garden dual-purpose shrub – Finished shrubs positioned for both garden and small-scale cutting use, leveraging large, very full flowers and old-rose scent – specialist independents and collection-focused retailers.
- English rose collection pack – Curated assortment of authenticated English roses including The Dark Lady, grown on in aligned 5–7 L formats for show and thematic gardens – nurseries and resellers building signature English-rose ranges.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
English Rose shrub from the English Rose Collection, registered as AUSbloom and marketed as The Dark Lady English Rose AUSbloom, with ARS exhibition name The Dark Lady for show and trade use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by David C. H. Austin in the United Kingdom (1990), from ‘Mary Rose’ × ‘Prospero’, introduced and distributed by David Austin Roses Ltd. in 1991 for the UK and international markets. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub to around 100–150 cm in height and spread, with dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage and moderate prickliness, forming a well-structured, bush-trained outline in production. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very full rosette blooms with 40+ petals, typically solitary on stems, remonting well with an abundant second flush that supports extended ornamental value in container and bed production. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, rich carmine to crimson-red (RHS 187A outer, 60A inner), buds dark carmine, newly opened flowers rich crimson, fading toward raspberry-red with pale coral edges, with colour lightening in strong heat and sun. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, full old-rose fragrance typical of English roses, giving a well-scented but not overpowering profile suitable for close planting near paths, seating areas and high-value display positions. |
| Hip characteristics |
Forms small quantities of spherical red hips, approximately 9–15 mm in diameter, adding modest late-season interest where spent flowers are left in place rather than removed during maintenance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Medium overall disease resistance, with good resistance to powdery mildew and black spot but only medium rust tolerance; hardy to about -26–-23 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 4, USDA zone 5b) for robust overwintering. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to flower beds, specimen and park use and some cut-flower use; medium maintenance with occasional plant protection, weak self-cleaning so deadheading recommended, ideally finished as bush-trained premium container stock. |
The Dark Lady offers bushy, premium English-rose shrubs with rich crimson, full rosette blooms on hardy, own-root plants that support long-lived, predictable stands; please contact us to coordinate volumes, scheduling and integration into your premium ranges.
