Charles Darwin™ David Austin® English Shrub Rose
A true classic among English roses, Charles Darwin™ combines exceptional beauty, remarkable fragrance, and outstanding garden performance. Bred by David Austin®, this award-worthy shrub rose produces impressively large, deeply cupped blooms packed with petals in rich shades of soft yellow to warm ochre, with color intensity varying beautifully according to weather and bloom maturity.
The flowers are held gracefully on a vigorous, bushy shrub with attractive mid-green foliage, creating a striking presence in garden beds, borders, and landscape plantings. One of Charles Darwin™’s most celebrated qualities is its powerful, complex fragrance, blending traditional tea rose notes with hints of fresh lemon and soft musk for a scent that lingers throughout the garden.
Reliable and repeat flowering, this robust variety produces flush after flush of blooms throughout the growing season. Whether planted near a walkway, patio, or seating area where its fragrance can be fully appreciated, Charles Darwin™ offers the perfect balance of elegance, vigor, and resilience.
Own Root
Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Rose Type | English Shrub Rose |
| Breeder | David Austin® |
| Variety | Rosa 'AUSpeet' |
| Flower Color | Soft Yellow to Ochre |
| Bloom Size | Large |
| Bloom Form | Fully Cupped |
| Petal Count | Approximately 140 Petals |
| Fragrance | Strong Tea & Lemon Fragrance |
| Flowering Habit | Repeat Blooming |
| Vase Life | 4–6 Days |
| Growth Habit | Broad, Spreading Shrub |
| Disease Resistance | Good |
Growing Information
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Light Needs | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5–11 |
| Mature Height | 4–5' |
| Mature Width | 4' |
| Plant Spacing | 4' Apart |
| Rootstock | Own Root |
Ideal Uses
- Mixed Borders & Foundation Plantings
- Cottage Gardens
- Fragrant Garden Displays
- Cutting Gardens
- Walkways & Pathways
- Patio & Seating Areas
Recommended Growing Regions
- Northeast
- Mid-Atlantic
- Midwest
- Southeast
- Southwest
- West Coast
- Intermountain West
- Pacific Northwest
Why You'll Love Charles Darwin™
- Large, fully cupped blooms with classic English rose charm
- Rich yellow-to-ochre coloring that changes beautifully with the seasons
- Powerful tea fragrance with refreshing lemon notes
- Repeat flowering throughout the growing season
- Vigorous, broad growth habit with excellent garden presence
- Good disease resistance and reliable performance
- Grown on its own roots for long-term garden strength
Bring timeless elegance and unforgettable fragrance to your landscape with Charles Darwin™, a David Austin® English shrub rose celebrated for its richly colored blooms, exceptional scent, and dependable garden performance year after year.