Eglantyne English Shrub Rose

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

5 Feet

Mature Spread

4 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 11

Eglantyne English Shrub Rose combines a classic, high-petal-count flower with a true Old Rose scent. Those large, saucer-shaped soft pink blooms stack up with a button-eye center, and the shrub matures about 4–5 ft. tall and 3–4 ft. wide with a well-rounded, upright shape. Unlike many pale pink roses that look pretty from a distance but fade up close, this one keeps its intricate form and perfume through repeat flushes. We highly recommend it for spots where you’ll cut a few stems, because the flowers hold their shape beautifully in a vase.

Botanically called Rosa ‘AUSmak’, this David Austin English shrub rose was introduced in 1994 and named for Eglantyne Jebb, founder of Save the Children. The plant grows bushy rather than rangy, so it looks tidy even when it’s in full bloom. Flowers come in clusters and return in cycles through the season, so the shrub looks “freshly arranged” more than once. Eglantyne is a perfect fit for mixed borders where you want a soft pink anchor with fragrance.

Eglantyne English Shrub Rose Care

Plant Eglantyne English Shrub Rose in full sun for the best flower quality, with at least six hours of direct light. It prefers fertile, humus-rich soil that drains well, with a slightly acidic pH around 6.0–6.5. Avoid sites that stay soggy after rain, since waterlogged roots invite problems.

Water deeply at planting and keep the root zone evenly moist during establishment. After settling in, soak when the top 2–3 inches of soil dry down. Feed in early spring as buds swell and again after the first major flush with a rose fertilizer or balanced, slow-release formula. It goes dormant in winter and will leaf back out strongly once temperatures warm.

Remove spent blooms back to a strong leaf to encourage quicker repeat flowering, especially during peak summer. In late winter, thin out dead or crossing canes and shorten remaining stems to keep the plant open and well-shaped. If you grow it in a container in colder areas, insulate the pot or move it to a protected, unheated space so the roots don’t take the brunt of freeze-thaw swings.

Eglantyne English Shrub Rose Spacing

Space plants about 3–4 feet apart so the foliage dries quickly after rain and the shrub can round out naturally. For containers, choose a 20–24 inch pot with drainage so the root system can support those heavy blooms.

In the landscape, pair it with boxwoods for evergreen structure and daylilies for summer color at the base. In pots, tuck in coleus for bold foliage and bacopa to trail over the rim without competing with the flowers.

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