Heritage rose is a hybrid shrub or climber in the rose family (Rosaceae) bred by David Austin of Britain and released in 1984. Parentage is Seedling x (Iceberg x Wife of Bath). It is said to be Mr Austin's favorite rose. This vigorous arching shrub grows 4-7 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide and can be grown as a shrub or a climber. Plant in full sun in amended, well-drained, moist soil. Prune in late winter to early spring. The light pink flower has darker edges in a cupped, rosette bloom form with 26-40 petals. Flowers are 3-4 inches wide and occur in small clusters in flushes throughout the season. The glossy gray-green foliage is on nearly prickle-free stems. Use this shrub in the border, as a specimen, in groups such as a hedge or train to a vertical surface. Works well in a cutting, cottage or English garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Some susceptibility to black spot. See pests of roses to the left. Deer will browse roses. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common rose diseases as well as a factsheet on insects and other related pests. 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 Abraham Darby 'AUScot'Rosa America™ 'JACclam'Rosa Gertrude Jekyll® 'AUSboard'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Rose; Shrub
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 texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Glossy gray-green leaves
Flower color
Pink
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
The 3-4 inch wide light pink flower has darker edges in a cupped, rosette bloom form with 26-40 petals. Occur in small clusters in flushes throughout the season.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Stem detail
Stems are nearly prickle-free
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Attracts
Bees
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Vertical Spaces
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; English Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Border; Hedge; Small groups; Specimen
Garden tags
#non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #showy flowers #pink flowers #specimen #fence #trellis #climbing rose #fragrant flowers #hedge #long bloom season #shrub rose #vertical spaces