David Austin Rose ‘Desdemoda’
£30.00
Frequently Bought Together
Description
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Desdemona English Rose
- Botanical Name: Rosa ‘Desdemona’ (Auskindling, David Austin)
- Plant Type: Deciduous, repeat-flowering shrub rose
- Mature Height: 1–1.2m
- Mature Spread: 80–100cm
- Flowering Period: June to October (repeat-flowering)
- Flower Colour: Pure white, sometimes with the softest hint of pink in bud
- Foliage: Healthy, mid-green, semi-glossy leaves
- Fragrance: Strong, old rose scent with hints of almond blossom, cucumber, and lemon zest
- Hardiness: RHS H6 (hardy throughout UK & Ireland)
- Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained, fertile soil; prefers neutral to slightly acidic
- Aspect: Full sun (best flowering); tolerates light shade
- Maintenance: Moderate (annual pruning, deadheading, feeding)
Description
Rosa ‘Desdemona’ is a beautifully refined English shrub rose from David Austin, admired for its pure white, cupped blooms and powerful, complex fragrance. The flowers are large, fully double, and open in elegant clusters from early summer to autumn. Buds are tinged with the palest pink, but the blooms mature to a glowing white, standing out against the healthy, mid-green foliage.
Desdemona forms a bushy, upright shrub with excellent disease resistance and a graceful, natural habit. The strong scent is a highlight—combining classic old rose with fresh notes of almond blossom and lemon zest. It’s a superb choice for mixed borders, rose gardens, or as a specimen shrub, and is equally at home in contemporary or traditional designs.
Perfect for Irish and UK gardens, this rose thrives in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Its reliable repeat flowering, healthy growth, and elegant blooms make it a favourite for both gardeners and florists.
Caragh Garden Notebook
Planting:
Space plants 80–100cm apart for a full, bushy effect. Plant container-grown roses in spring (March–May) or autumn (September–October). Choose a sunny, open position for best flowering—at least 4–6 hours of direct sun daily. Dig a generous hole, enrich the soil with well-rotted manure or compost, and plant at the same depth as in the pot. Firm in gently, water thoroughly, and mulch.
Space plants 80–100cm apart for a full, bushy effect. Plant container-grown roses in spring (March–May) or autumn (September–October). Choose a sunny, open position for best flowering—at least 4–6 hours of direct sun daily. Dig a generous hole, enrich the soil with well-rotted manure or compost, and plant at the same depth as in the pot. Firm in gently, water thoroughly, and mulch.
Soil Preparation:
Prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil. Improve heavy clay with compost and grit to aid drainage; improve sandy soils with compost to retain moisture. Mulch annually with well-rotted manure or garden compost to feed the soil and suppress weeds.
Prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil. Improve heavy clay with compost and grit to aid drainage; improve sandy soils with compost to retain moisture. Mulch annually with well-rotted manure or garden compost to feed the soil and suppress weeds.
Seasonal Care:
Prune in late winter or early spring—remove dead, damaged, or weak growth and shape the shrub as desired. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage repeat flowering. Feed in early spring and again after the first flush of flowers with a balanced rose fertiliser.
Prune in late winter or early spring—remove dead, damaged, or weak growth and shape the shrub as desired. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage repeat flowering. Feed in early spring and again after the first flush of flowers with a balanced rose fertiliser.
Pests & Problems:
Generally disease resistant, but watch for aphids, black spot, and powdery mildew. Good spacing, regular feeding, and prompt removal of diseased leaves help prevent problems.
Generally disease resistant, but watch for aphids, black spot, and powdery mildew. Good spacing, regular feeding, and prompt removal of diseased leaves help prevent problems.
Design Notes:
Perfect for mixed borders, rose gardens, or as a specimen shrub. Combines beautifully with perennials, lavender, catmint, and hardy geraniums. The glowing white flowers are also excellent for cutting and bringing fragrance indoors.
Perfect for mixed borders, rose gardens, or as a specimen shrub. Combines beautifully with perennials, lavender, catmint, and hardy geraniums. The glowing white flowers are also excellent for cutting and bringing fragrance indoors.
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