The Emma Bridgewater Rose (Ausb44a16) is a, relatively new,, 2024-introduced, English shrub rose from David Austin Roses, named in honor of the renowned British pottery designer, Emma Bridgewater. It represents a collaboration between two iconic British heritage brands.
Key Characteristics and Appearance
- Color-Changing Blooms: The medium-sized, cupped, and rosette-shaped blooms start as a rich, vibrant pink with a yellow/orange button eye, then fade through shades of coral-pink to lilac and mauve.
- Appearance: It has been described as looking like an “impressionist painting,” where no two blooms look exactly the same.
- Fragrance: It features a light to medium tea rose-like fragrance with notes of rosewater and meadow-hay.
- Growth Habit: It forms a compact, upright, and bushy shrub, reaching about 1.25 meters (4 feet) in height and spread, making it suitable for mixed borders, pots, and containers.
- Repeat Flowering: It is a repeat flowerer, producing flushes from late spring through to early winter (summer to autumn)
Cultivation and Care
- Position: Thrives in full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Prefers moist but well-drained, fertile soil.
- Hardiness: Considered fully hardy (RHS H6, down to -20°C).
- Maintenance: Generally considered low-maintenance with good disease resistance. Regular deadheading is recommended to encourage new, repeated blooms.
Collaboration and Context
- Unveiled: Introduced at the 2024 Chelsea Flower Show.
- Complementary Products: To celebrate the launch, Emma Bridgewater created a matching hand-painted mug and other pieces in the “David Austin® Rose Collection,” which can be used to display the flowers.
- Background: The collaboration highlights a shared love of British craftsmanship, heritage, and the “heart of the home”.
The Emma Bridgewater rose is a versatile, colourful, and highly-regarded addition to the English rose collection, popular for both its visual appeal in the garden and its association with classic British design.
