Rosa Maid Marion - English Shrub Rose

The English rose Maid Marion produces sumptuous, almost perfect, pale pink roses. The outer petals, arranged in a cup shape, enclose a multitude of smaller, perfectly arranged petals. The fragrance of the flowers is like myrrh, followed by cloves. It is a bush with a compact and well-branched habit, and it blooms repeatedly.

This bush, slightly smaller than others in the same range, has an upright but also branching and bushy habit, somewhat wild. It reaches about 1m (3ft) in all directions, with fairly rapid growth. It stands out for the perfection of its flowers, which are among the most beautiful that can exist. The buds open into rounded cups, with large outer petals enclosing numerous smaller petals inside. When fully open, the flowers form a perfect rosette shape, with outer petals forming a perfectly rounded edge. They are highly fragrant, and their fragrance is noticeable in the evening air during summer. The scent evolves from old rose notes to more fruity, spicy, and powerful accents as the flower ages. It blooms from June until frost, with a pause in August. It shows good resistance to rain and also performs well under the sun.

Perfect for small gardens, this Maid Marion rose is very effective in flower beds. As it sometimes tends to thin out at the base, about 25 cm (10in), it can associate well with perennials such as lavender, catmints, sage (Salvia pratensis), or Gauras. Just for its fragrance, it should be placed near a pathway, as it perfumes the surrounding air.

Maid Marion was the fiancée of the legendary hero Robin Hood, in Sherwood Forest.

Obtained by David Austin in 2010.