Lilac rose is a hybrid shrub rose in the rose family (Rosaceae). It was bred by David C. H. Austin in 1990 and is part of the English Rose Collection. Parentage is Unnamed Seedling × Hero ®. Patent No: PP 8,837. This is a thorny, upright shrub with a bushy habit, reaching heights and widths of 2' to 4'. It prefers moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Good air circulation is key to a disease-free, healthy plant. Pruning to remove dead branches or crossed branches will ensure good air circulation. Pruning is best accomplished in late winter to early spring. Avoid overhead watering. It boasts large, fragrant, double pink flowers with a touch of lilac that occur in spring and repeat blooms in flushes throughout the season. The medium green foliage is on stems with prickles. Use this rose shrub as a hedge, in a shrub border, as a specimen or as a foundation plant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insect issues may include spider mites, aphids, beetles, borers, scale and thrips. Diseases that can be encountered are black spot, powdery mildew, rust and rose rosette. 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 Abraham Darby 'AUScot'Rosa Fair Bianca® 'AUSca'Rosa Sweet Juliet® 'AUSleap'
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
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
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Medium green glossy compound leaves with serrated margins
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Showy
Flower shape
Cup; Dome
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Fully double pink with lilac blooms are 5 inches across and occur in spring at the ends of branches. Will repeat bloom throughout the season. 40 or more petals.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Stem detail
Green stems with prickles
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Attracts butterflies.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Walkways
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; English Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Accent; Barrier; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Mass Planting; Specimen
Garden tags
#non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #showy flowers #cutting garden #thorns #fragrant flowers #English garden #lilac flowers #high maintenance #full sun #hedge #border #cottage garden