Robin Hood is a hybrid musk shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae). It was bred by Rev. J. H. Pemberton before 1927. Parentage is Seedling x Miss Edith Carvell. This rose will grow 4-5 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide in a graceful shape. It will do best in average well-drained soil in full sun and tolerates some shade. It is fairly drought-tolerant once established and tolerates poorer soils. Prune in late winter to remove dead and diseased canes and to shape. The red fragrant flowers are single to semi-double and appear in clusters all season long. The foliage is dark green and dense on canes with prickles. Small red rose hips are produced in the fall. Use this versatile shrub in groups, as a specimen or in the border. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: See pests of roses to the left. Deer 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 'Belle Poitevine'Rosa Iceberg Schneewittchen® 'KORbin'Rosa International Herald Tribune 'HARquantum'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Rose; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 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
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Small dark green compound leaves
Flower color
Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Cherry red flowers with white centers deepen with age, Clusters of small flowers all season. Flowers are 2 inches across with 4-20 petals.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Small red rose hips will form in fall
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
Green to brown stems with prickles
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Attracts bees
Attracts
Bees
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; English Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Small groups; Specimen
Garden tags
#English garden #red flowers #long bloom season #accent #specimen #border middle #full sun #groups #shrub rose #fragrant flowers #cottage garden #partial shade tolerant