Many Happy Returns is a floribunda shrub rose cultivar in the rose family (Rosaceae). It was introduced to the UK in 1991 by R. Harkness and Co. Parentage is Herbstfeuer × Pearl Drift. This shrub will grow 2-4 feet tall and wide. Be sure not to crowd the roe due to its spreading habit. It prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade. Plant in any well-drained soil, as it is not picky about soil type or pH. Prune in late winter or early summer to remove dead, diseased, damaged or crossed canes. Prune remaining canes to 1/3 or more if needed. Propagation is from stem cuttings. This rose will bloom in flushes throughout the season with 4-inch light pink fragrant flowers. The glossy foliage grows from stems with prickles. It will set rose hips if not pruned off. Use many happy returns in a border, in small groups or as a specimen. It can also be grown in a container. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Good disease resistance. See pests of roses to the left. Deer and rabbits will browse roses. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. 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 Flower Carpet® GroupRosa International Herald Tribune 'HARquantum'Rosa 'Old Blush'
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; Loam (Silt); Sand
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: 2 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Dark green shiny leaves
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
4-inch blush pink semi-double flowers with 9-16 petals. Blooms in clusters with many blooms per stem. It has a strong fruity fragrance.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Orange
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Will set orange rose hips if not pruned off.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Green stems with prickles
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; English Garden
Design feature
Border; Small groups; Specimen
Garden tags
#long bloom time #hardy #showy flowers #specimen #pink flowers #border planting #full sun tolerant #container plant #fragrant flowers #English garden #deer browsing plant #cottage garden #shrub rose