Kew Gardens® David Austin® English Shrub Rose
Graceful, floriferous, and exceptionally healthy, Kew Gardens® is a truly distinctive English shrub rose from David Austin®, introduced in 2009 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London. Unlike traditional English roses, this charming variety produces masses of delicate single blooms that create an airy, natural display reminiscent of flowering shrubs in full bloom.
Soft apricot buds gradually open into pristine pure white flowers, each accented by a subtle wash of soft lemon surrounding bright golden stamens. The blooms are borne in enormous, hydrangea-like clusters that cover the shrub almost continuously from early summer through fall, creating one of the longest-lasting floral displays in the David Austin collection.
A light musk fragrance adds a gentle sweetness to the garden without overwhelming nearby plantings. Its almost thornless stems, exceptionally healthy foliage, and bushy upright growth habit make Kew Gardens® remarkably easy to grow and maintain. Equally at home in mixed borders, flowering hedges, or naturalistic landscapes, this variety offers outstanding performance with very little effort.
Its simple, open blooms are also highly attractive to bees and other beneficial pollinators, making Kew Gardens® a beautiful and ecologically valuable addition to any garden.
* Unknown if own root or budded
Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Rose Type | English Shrub Rose |
| Breeder | David Austin® |
| Variety | Kew Gardens® |
| Year Introduced | 2009 |
| Flower Color | Pure White with Soft Lemon Tones Around Golden Stamens |
| Bloom Size | Small |
| Bloom Form | Single Blooms Held in Large Hydrangea-Like Clusters |
| Petal Count | 5 Petals |
| Fragrance | Light Musk Fragrance |
| Flowering Habit | Nearly Continuous Repeat Blooming from Early Summer Through Fall |
| Growth Habit | Bushy, Upright Shrub |
| Special Feature | Nearly Thornless with Exceptional Disease Resistance |
Growing Information
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Light Needs | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 5–11 |
| Mature Height | Approximately 4' |
| Mature Width | Approximately 4' |
| Plant Spacing | 3–4' Apart |
| Soil Preference | Adaptable to All Soil Types |
| Exposure | North, East, South, or West Facing |
Ideal Uses
✔ Mixed Borders
✔ Flowering Hedges
✔ Cottage Gardens
✔ Pollinator Gardens
✔ Naturalistic Landscapes
✔ Foundation Plantings
✔ Partial Shade Gardens
Recommended Growing Regions
Kew Gardens® performs exceptionally well in:
- Northeast
- Mid-Atlantic
- Midwest
- Southeast
- Southwest
- West Coast
- Intermountain West
- Pacific Northwest
Behind the Name
Kew Gardens® was introduced to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, one of the world's most celebrated botanical institutions. David Austin Roses also helped restore the historic rose garden behind Kew's iconic Palm House, filling it with a magnificent collection of English Roses, Old Roses, and classic shrub roses.
Why You'll Love Kew Gardens®
- Masses of delicate white blooms create an extraordinary floral display
- Unique hydrangea-like flower clusters bloom almost continuously
- Soft apricot buds open to luminous white flowers with golden centers
- Light musk fragrance provides subtle garden perfume
- Nearly thornless stems make maintenance easier
- Exceptionally healthy, vigorous, and easy to grow
- Highly attractive to bees and other beneficial pollinators
- Bred by the world-renowned David Austin® Roses
Bring effortless beauty and season-long elegance to your garden with Kew Gardens®, a David Austin® English shrub rose celebrated for its abundant clusters of pristine white blooms, exceptional health, and nearly continuous flowering. Its natural charm, pollinator-friendly blossoms, and graceful habit make it an outstanding choice for gardens both traditional and contemporary.