Rosa The Dark Lady 'AUSbloom'

The Dark Lady is a hybrid English shrub rose bred by David Austin in 1987.  The name is based on the Dark Lady in Shakespeare's sonnets.  The seed parent is ‘Mary Rose’ (David Austin rose) x Prospero ®.

The hardy bushy shrub is 4 feet tall and spreads up to 6 feet.  For the best results, grow in full sun with moist, well-drained, fertile soil with good air circulation.  Fertilize in early spring and summer.  Deadhead the blooms to encourage continuous blooming. Prune the previous season’s growth by one-third in late winter.  Remove some of the older stems on mature plants to encourage new shoots. Propagate by hardwood cuttings in autumn, softwood cuttings (under glass) in spring or summer, or by grafting.

The Dark Lady reblooms summer to fall with a peony-like, globular flower containing 40 to 140 petals.  The outer edges curl slightly.  It is deep red and has a fragrance similar to old roses.  In warmer climates, the flowers may fade to dark pink. The prolific flowers are 3” to 5” wide mostly solitary roses or in small clusters.  Cut flowers can last 5 to 7 days.

Plant the Dark Lady in a cottage or cutting garden along borders or in flower beds.  Grow them in masses, as a specimen, or a short hedge.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  These plants are frequently damaged by deer.  Somewhat disease-prone, rose black spot, powdery mildew and rose rust.  Providing good air circulation will help to prevent diseases.  Insects include spider mite, rose leaf-rolling sawfly, scale insects and aphids.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common rose diseases as well as a factsheet on insects and other related pests.

More information on Rosa.