Rosa 'Penelope'

Penelope was bred in 1924 by Rev. Joseph Pemberton of the United Kingdom and introduced to Australia in 1925. It is a hybrid musk shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae). Parentage is Ophelia (hybrid tea, Paul 1912) x unnamed seedling.    

This shrub will grow 4- 8 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide. It prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade in fertile moist well-drained soil but will tolerate poor soils. It is somewhat drought-tolerant once established. Lightly prune in late winter to remove dead, diseased and crossed canes. Does not like to be heavily pruned. Avoid overhead watering and crowding to help prevent diseases.

Penelope boasts 4-5" large saucer-shaped strongly fragrant blooms with 16 to 25 petals that bloom in large clusters.  Although it has a long bloom season, flowering continuously from summer into the fall, the spring blooms are superior. Young foliage has a showy copper tint, which will turn a dark glossy green as it ages.  It will also provide winter interest with a production of orange-red hips.  

Use this shrub in the mixed shrub border, as a hedge, as a foundation plant or as a specimen. Small groups are effective for screening/privacy.

Penelope was a winner of the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society,

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Has good disease resistance. 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 offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Rosa.