Rosa Darcey Bussell 'Ausdecorum'

The  English rose Darcey Bussell proves to be one of the most resistant roses in the David Austin collection, and probably one of its best red roses to date. Its flowers, round and very double, display at full bloom a vibrant and velvety crimson hue, which slightly deepens into a bluish purple before fading. It forms a modest-sized bush, with a repeat flowering until the frost, and its roses exude a unique, fruity and herbaceous scent, which is very noticeable. This variety is highly recommended for container cultivation, and it will easily find its place at the front of shrub borders or among light perennials.

This rose, standing at 1m (3ft) high and 70cm (28in) wide, has a strong constitution. Its flower, with outer petals forming an almost perfect circle, encloses a sumptuous rosette that reveals the depth of its red hues. Moreover, they are resistant to rain, which does not affect their brightness or texture. The fragrant roses continue to bloom throughout the summer and often into November. They are of medium size, about 7 to 8cm (3in) in diameter. Their scent is rustic, with hints of fruits and a touch of grass, of a moderate intensity. This rose has a bushy and low habit, with rather bluish deciduous foliage, remarkably resistant to diseases.

The bushy and compact growth of this rose makes it an ideal plant for borders, but it could also fit well in a small flowering hedge. It allows for beautiful combinations with annual or perennial plants, in a harmonious or contrasting style, in a modern and minimalist garden or, on the contrary, exuberant. As companion plants, you can choose tall perennials (Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Blackfield', Allium, foxgloves, linarias, paniculate phlox, aconites) or groundcovers (mulleins, Cotoneaster dammeri), airy plants (gauras, paniculate gypsophiles) or graphic ones (grasses), climbing plants (clematis, sweet peas) or trailing ones (purple morning glories, petunias), and thus create infinitely varied scenes and promote biodiversity.

Obtained by David Austin in 2006. Hybrid rose of Old Rose.