Rosa Harlow Carr - English Shrub Rose

The English rose Harlow Carr is a true little jewel of craftsmanship, with robust health! Its flowers, of medium size, are a very pure pink, with a pronounced scent of old rose. They immediately open into deep cups, forming a delightful rosette arranged in quarters. The habit is very bushy, yet archimg, for this variety with vegetation covered in flowers from bottom to top.

It is a beautiful variety, delicate yet very robust. It forms an almost round bush, 1.25 m (4ft) in height and 1 m (3ft) in diameter. Its flexible stems bear flowers, even at the base of the bush. In the first years, rain may cause them to lay on the ground, but this inconvenience will turn into an advantage when the plant reaches its full maturity. Indeed, when it is mature, this rounded rose bush produces flowers from the base to the branches. The flowers, pure pink to medium pink, release a strong scent of old rose reminiscent of rose-based cosmetics. This variety is repeat flowering and highly resistant to diseases.

English Roses are well known for being repeat flowering and their flowers are reputed to be beautiful, regular and highly scented rosettes. They are also very versatile and adaptable plants. They are the result of cross-breeding between old roses (Damask, Gallica and Bourbon) and modern roses (Tea and Floribunda hybrids). They resemble old roses in their natural habit, and offer large cup-shaped flowers, romantic and bohemian. Modern roses have introduced brighter shades and repeat flowering. If you have enough space, English, Old or Shrub Roses are magnificent planted in groups of three plants. They will grow together to form 'a single' opulent bush that will flower even more generously.

Harlow Carr, in Yorkshire, is the newest garden of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

Obtained by David Austin in 2005.