English
Graham Thomas
Yellow · repeat-blooming · Zones 5-9
English Rose
Mary Rose
Rose-pink loose blooms, one of the first Austin roses.
The Mary Rose is a pink english rose valued for its reliable repeat flowering and memorable fragrance. Below you'll find a full profile of Mary Rose — its characteristics, how to grow it, where to use it in the garden, and answers to the questions gardeners ask most.
About Mary Rose
Mary Rose belongs to the david austin & english roses, a class defined by many-petaled, cupped or rosette blooms in the old-rose style. English roses were bred to unite the full, fragrant, old-fashioned flower with the repeat bloom and reliability of a modern rose.
In flower, Mary Rose is pink and fills the plant with bloom in wave after wave, carrying a moderate, clearly noticeable fragrance. It is hardy across USDA zones 5-11, so it suits a wide range of gardens with the right seasonal care.
Characteristics and form
Mary Rose makes rounded, shrubby plant (some varieties climb), typically around 3.5 to 5 feet, with climbing forms taller tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. The blooms are many-petaled, cupped or rosette blooms in the old-rose style, medium to large in size, set against green, with health varying by variety foliage. Knowing a rose's habit and mature size is the key to placing it well: give Mary Rose room to reach its full spread without crowding its neighbors, which also keeps air moving through the plant and disease at bay.
How to grow Mary Rose
Plant Mary Rose where it will get at least six hours of direct sun a day in fertile, well-drained soil with good air movement around it. In cold climates, set the graft union — the swollen knob where the variety joins the rootstock — at or just below the soil line; in mild climates, keep it at soil level. Once planted, water deeply and less often to encourage deep, drought-resistant roots.
- Light: Full sun, six hours or more; morning sun is best because it dries dew early and limits disease.
- Soil: Rich and well-drained, slightly acidic at about pH 6.0–6.5. Improve heavy or sandy soil with plenty of compost before planting.
- Water: Deep, infrequent soakings at the base rather than frequent light sprinkling; more in heat, sandy soil, or containers.
- Feeding: A balanced rose fertilizer in early spring, repeated after the first flush to fuel the next.
- Pruning: Prune it in late winter to an open, outward-facing framework, then deadhead through the season.
Bloom habit: Repeat (recurrent). Mary Rose blooms in repeated flushes from late spring until the first frost. Deadhead spent flowers to bring on the next wave.
Where to use Mary Rose in the garden
Mary Rose suits mixed and cottage-garden borders, fragrant plantings, and specimen shrubs. Blend it with delphiniums, foxgloves, hardy geraniums, and other cottage-garden perennials. For more ideas, see our guide to companion plants for roses.
Common problems and care
Modern Austin introductions are notably healthy, while a few older varieties need more attention. Watch for the usual rose troubles — black spot, powdery mildew, and aphids — and head them off with good air flow, base watering, and a tidy autumn clean-up. See our full guide to rose diseases and pests for identification and treatment.
Mary Rose — frequently asked questions
How big does Mary Rose get?
Mary Rose typically grows about 3.5 to 5 feet, with climbing forms taller tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, forming a rounded, shrubby plant (some varieties climb). Its final size depends on your climate and how you prune it.
Is Mary Rose fragrant?
Yes — Mary Rose has a moderate, clearly noticeable fragrance, and scent is one of the reasons to grow it.
Does Mary Rose bloom more than once a season?
Yes. Mary Rose is a repeat-blooming rose that blooms in repeated flushes from late spring until the first frost, especially if it is deadheaded and fed through the summer.
What hardiness zones does Mary Rose grow in?
Mary Rose is hardy in USDA zones 5-11. That range describes the winter cold it can survive; gardeners colder than zone 5 should give it winter protection or grow it in a movable container.
Is Mary Rose easy to grow?
Modern Austin introductions are notably healthy, while a few older varieties need more attention. Give Mary Rose full sun, well-drained soil, and the ordinary seasonal care any rose appreciates, and it is a straightforward rose to grow.
How and when should I prune Mary Rose?
Prune Mary Rose in late winter to an open, outward-facing framework, then deadhead through the season — see our step-by-step guide to pruning roses for the full method.