The Generous Gardener is a David Austin climbing or shrub rose in the rose family (Rosaceae) introduced in 2002. It was named for the 75th anniversary of the National Garden Scheme in the United Kingdom. Parentage is Sharifa Asma® × Undisclosed. This shrub grows 5-10 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide and can be trained as a climber if desired. Plant in fertile, well-drained, moist soil in full sun. Prune in late winter. The 2–3-inch, pale pink flowers have a strong fragrance and 40-50 petals that open to reveal numerous stamens. It blooms from late spring to fall in small clusters. The leaves are large and glossy, and the stems are nearly prickle-free. The Generous Gardener won the gold medal for climbing roses at The Hague Trials in the Netherlands in 2010. It was given the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society. Use this plant as a shrub in the border or in groups. It can be trained to a vertical surface as a fence or trellis. Plant where you can enjoy the strong fragrance. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Good disease resistance. Watch for black spot, rust and powdery mildew in humid conditions. See pests or 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 'Joseph' s Coat'Rosa 'Red Fountain'Rosa 'Rhonda'
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); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Climbing
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Glossy dark green foliage that is pinnately compound and with an odd number (3-11) of leaflets
Flower color
Pink
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The flowers are very showy and nod gracefully on the stem singly or in small clusters. There are multiple blooms from late spring to fall. 2-3 inches across with 40-50 petals.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is called a rose hip and forms after the flowers finish blooming. The hip will appear under the sepals of where the flower was after the flower dies. They will turn from green to red and are filled with many achenes surrounded by irritating hairs.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Strong, arching thornless stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Attracts pollinators and birds
Attracts
Bees
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Achene
Edibility
Rose hips are high in vitamin C and can be made into jams and jellies.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Patio; Rock Wall; Vertical Spaces; Walkways
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; English Garden; Garden for the Blind
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#rose #fence #trellis #climbing rose #pink flowers #repeat flowering #fragrant flowers #long bloom time #fall interest #cutting garden #shrub rose