Darcey Bussell Rose > National Home Gardening Club

There’s more to love than flowers on Valentine’s Day, and there’s more to this red, red rose than meets the eye.

BY: Elizabeth Noll

There’s more to love than flowers on Valentine’s Day, and there’s more to this red, red rose than meets the eye. Darcey Bussell, a 2008 introduction from David Austin Roses, is a small shrub rose with fragrant, repeat-blooming, deep red rosettes. The moderate-sized crimson flowers, with about 70 petals each, have a deliciously fruity scent, and the plant itself is a tidy size. If you’ve got room for a doormat on your balcony, you’ve got room for this beauty: It will thrive in a large container as well as in a perennial bed. A bouquet in a vase is nice, but a garden with this spectacular rose will keep romance at your door for months.

Common name: Rose
Botanical name: Rosa ‘Ausdecorum’ Darcey Bussell
Plant type: Shrub
Zones: 5 to 9
Height: 3 feet
Family: Rosaceae

Growing conditions
· Sun: At least 5 to 6 hours of sun. Afternoon shade in hot regions.
· Soil: Rich in organic matter.
· Moisture: Average to moist, and well-drained.

Care
· Mulch: Mulch to preserve moisture in the soil.
· Pruning: Prune branches to about half their height in late winter or early spring.
· Fertilizer: Fertilize roses in containers once every two to four weeks; fertilize roses in the ground about once a month in spring and early summer.

Propagation
· By cuttings.

Pests and diseases
· Roses in general are vulnerable to a variety of diseases, including powdery mildew, black spot, cankers, and botrytis blight. Darcey Bussell is said to have good disease resistance.
· Aphids, spider mites, caterpillars, cane borers, and Japanese beetles can be serious problems.

Garden notes
· Like most other English roses, Darcey Bussell has a strong fragrance. Plant it where you will be able to appreciate the fragrance daily: along a path that you use every day, near a doorway, or next to the patio or deck.
· Because its mature size is only 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide, Darcey Bussell can be tucked into a large pot or in a small flower bed.
· Underplant with white alyssum, thyme, or lavender. White, pink, and pale purple marry well with the deep crimson color of the roses.

All in the family
· Rosaceae is a large family—it contains 3,000 to 4,000 species, including many of our favorite fruit trees and bushes.

Where to Buy
David Austin Roses
Tyler, TX
800-328-8893
www.davidaustinroses.com

(Text by Elizabeth Noll, photo of Rosa ‘Ausdecorum’ Darcey Bussell courtesy of David Austin Roses, www.davidaustinroses.com)

Comments

By Sarah_Caddell Friday, September 10, 2010 1:34 PM

These look like my rose bush, but beside it I also have a pink rose bush. I need to know when to prune each. I keep the dead limbs cut off as they appear.

By pminga Saturday, February 05, 2011 7:57 PM

I prune mine back in the fall.

By pnance Sunday, March 13, 2011 8:01 PM

I live in Indiana, does anyone know what my zone would be?

By bjones31 Friday, June 17, 2011 6:38 AM

Why the KNOCK OUT ROSE didn't make the list. That's a rose that anyone can grow and it grows any where I believe

By cgott Tuesday, June 28, 2011 9:39 PM

Sarah: I read somewhere that you can prune a rosebush whenever you want. Just a little hint. I do and it works well for me.

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Darcey Bussell Rose

There’s more to love than flowers on Valentine’s Day, and there’s more to this red, red rose than meets the eye.

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Current Articles \| Archives \| Search Darcey Bussell Rose There’s more to love than flowers on Valentine’s Day, and there’s more to this red, red rose than meets the eye. BY: Elizabeth Noll 5 There’s more to love than flowers on Valentine’s Day, and there’s more to this red, red rose than meets the eye. Darcey Bussell, a 2008 introduction from David Austin Roses, is a small shrub rose with fragrant, repeat-blooming, deep red rosettes. The moderate-sized crimson flowers, with about 70 petals each, have a deliciously fruity scent, and the plant itself is a tidy size. If you’ve got room for a doormat on your balcony, you’ve got room for this beauty: It will thrive in a large container as well as in a perennial bed. A bouquet in a vase is nice, but a garden with this spectacular rose will keep romance at your door for months. Common name: Rose Botanical name: Rosa ‘Ausdecorum’ Darcey Bussell Plant type: Shrub Zones: 5 to 9 Height: 3 feet Family: Rosaceae Growing conditions · Sun: At least 5 to 6 hours of sun. Afternoon shade in hot regions. · Soil: Rich in organic matter. · Moisture: Average to moist, and well-drained. Care · Mulch: Mulch to preserve moisture in the soil. · Pruning: Prune branches to about half their height in late winter or early spring. · Fertilizer: Fertilize roses in containers once every two to four weeks; fertilize roses in the ground about once a month in spring and early summer. Propagation · By cuttings. Pests and diseases · Roses in general are vulnerable to a variety of diseases, including powdery mildew, black spot, cankers, and botrytis blight. Darcey Bussell is said to have good disease resistance. · Aphids, spider mites, caterpillars, cane borers, and Japanese beetles can be serious problems. Garden notes · Like most other English roses, Darcey Bussell has a strong fragrance. Plant it where you will be able to appreciate the fragrance daily: along a path that you use every day, near a doorway, or next to the patio or deck. · Because its mature size is only 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide, Darcey Bussell can be tucked into a large pot or in a small flower bed. · Underplant with white alyssum, thyme, or lavender. White, pink, and pale purple marry well with the deep crimson color of the roses. All in the family · Rosaceae is a large family—it contains 3,000 to 4,000 species, including many of our favorite fruit trees and bushes. Where to Buy David Austin Roses Tyler, TX 800-328-8893 www.davidaustinroses.com (Text by Elizabeth Noll, photo of Rosa ‘Ausdecorum’ Darcey Bussell courtesy of David Austin Roses, www.davidaustinroses.com) Comments By Sarah_Caddell Friday, September 10, 2010 1:34 PM These look like my rose bush, but beside it I also have a pink rose bush. I need to know when to prune each. I keep the dead limbs cut off as they appear. By pminga Saturday, February 05, 2011 7:57 PM I prune mine back in the fall. By pnance Sunday, March 13, 2011 8:01 PM I live in Indiana, does anyone know what my zone would be? By bjones31 Friday, June 17, 2011 6:38 AM Why the KNOCK OUT ROSE didn't make the list. That's a rose that anyone can grow and it grows any where I believe By cgott Tuesday, June 28, 2011 9:39 PM Sarah: I read somewhere that you can prune a rosebush whenever you want. Just a little hint. I do and it works well for me. Post Comment Only registered users may post comments.