Graham Thomas is a hybrid shrub or climbing rose in the rose family (Rosaceae) bred by David Austin of Britain in 1983. It is named for the British horticulturist who was an influential gardener. This is an upright bushy shrub growing 4-10 feet tall and 4-8 feet wide. It tends to be taller in warmer climates and could be trained as a climber with persistence as canes are rather stiff. Grow in full sun in amended, well-drained, moist soil. Prune in late fall. The flowers are a golden yellow that fades to pale lemon with age. They are 3-4 inches wide with 26-40 petals and a strong tea fragrance. They bloom in small clusters and repeat blooms spring through frost. The leaves vary from bright to pale green on stems with prickles. In 1993, it won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It was named The World's Favourite Rose and entered the Rose Society Hall of Fame in 2009 Use this shrub as a specimen, in groups as a hedge, in a border, a foundation plant or train to a trellis if desired. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Very disease resistant. See pests of roses to the left. Deer will browse roses. More information on Rosa .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheRosa Gertrude Jekyll® 'AUSboard'Rosa Hero® 'AUShero'Rosa Perdita 'AUSperd'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Rose; Vine
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf detail
Mid to light green leaves
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Apricot-pink buds; open to golden yellow double flowers that are 3-4 inches wide with 26-40 petals and a strong tea fragrance. It will repeat bloom late spring through frost.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit detail
Will produce golden rose hips in fall if deadheading stops in fall.
Stem detail
Stems with prickles
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Pome
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Vertical Spaces
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; English Garden
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Small groups; Specimen
Garden tags
#non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #foundation planting #yellow flowers #small groups #specimen #full sun #hedge #long bloom season #border #fragrant flowers #repeat flowering