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Kathryn Morley

Rosa (RO-zuh)

Family: Rosaceae Unknown Shrub (3-15 ft)

Kathryn Morley is a hybrid rose bred by David Austin in the United Kingdom in 1990. It is a cross of Mary Rose® × Chaucer. It is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae). This is a semi-evergreen, compact, dense, bushy shrub rose that can also be grown as a vine. It will grow 3-6 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. Grow in full sun in evenly moist, well-drained, amended soil. Fertilize in spring and summer. Mulch will help retain moisture. Prune in late winter. The large double pink blooms grow in clusters and give off a sweet scent. They will repeat bloom in flushes throughout the season. The foliage is glossy green and grows on stems with prickles. Use this plant as a hedge, specimen, in a cutting garden or as an accent. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Roses are susceptible to many diseases and pests. See pests of roses to the left. Diseases include mildew, black spot and rust. More information on Rosa .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 48 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

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 niche Buddleja Lo & Behold® 'Blue Chip Jr.' Rosa 'Penelope' Syringa Bloomerang® Group

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Rose; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
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
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Glossy dark green compound foliage with 5-7 leaflets.
Flower color
Pink
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Long Bloom Season
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Delicate soft pink flowers are 4-5 inches across with 40 or more petals. They occur in large clusters of cupped blooms with enfolding petals towards the center. Repeat blooms throughout the season
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Green stems with prickles
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
United Kingdom
Wildlife value
Attracts bees.
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Walkways
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Accent; Hedge; Specimen
Garden tags
#deciduous shrub #cutting garden #deciduous #thorns #fragrant flowers #showy flowers #long bloom time #pink flowers #frequent disease problems #frequent insect problems #repeat flowering
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Pests of Rose; Rose Pest Management Calendar
Problems
Spines/Thorns

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.