Of the most coveted flowers in a landscape environment, residential and commercial, is the rose. Diversified in fragrance, flowering, and spread, the rose lends a soft, graceful beauty to its natural environment while inviting a host of pollinators to partake of its nectar. Among the most known and desired roses are those among the David Austin cultivars. David Austin was a British rose breeder who introduced his first cultivar – the Constance Spry, in 1961. Up until his exit from this world in 2018, he was continuously seeking exquisitely beautiful cultivars that were fragrant and resistant. Among his roses are the Charles Austin (1973), Dapple Dawn (1983), Happy Child (1993), Rose-Marie (2003), and the Lady of Shalot (2009) named for the Lord Alfred Tennyson poem written in 1842.

The Lady of Shalot, viable to grow in regions 5-9, is a double flowered blossom with color variations between salmon on the upper petal and yellow on the lower petal. The blooms are said to have a scent of warm tea with hints of spiced apple and cloves. Requiring no less than six hours exposure to full sun, the Lady of Shalot thrives in fertile, well-drained soil, and should be checked routinely for exposure to fungus or pests. Growing up to four feet tall with a spread of nearly four feet, the Lady of Shalot would add visual interest to beds and borders as it is a repeat flowering rose.

At LMP, we have personnel whom can assist you in selecting the best cultivar for the soil, sun, and water conditions of your property. As great admirers of the color, fragrance, and visual impact roses have we continue to lavish attention on the very first “Rose” to ever bloom at LMP nearly 30 years ago.

To learn more about David Austin and his cultivars, visit the David Austin website. If you are interested in learning more about Shrub Roses, the UF IFAS has a great resource located here.

Dedicated to M. R. C.