Port Sunlight
Best low-maintenance shrub for gardeners seeking continuous, fragrant apricot blooms.
Port Sunlight is a vigorous English Shrub Rose with a rather upright growth habit. It produces medium-sized, flat, quartered rosettes of rich apricot blooms that pale towards the edges. The flowers possess a lovely Tea fragrance. Young stems and foliage emerge a beautiful bronzy-red, maturing to a dark green. This repeat-flowering rose is well-suited for mixed borders and rose hedges, thriving in full sun to partial shade and all soil types. It is a robust variety, offering a beautiful display of color and scent.
$40.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.5
/ 5
Category Rank
1595
/ 2596
#1595 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
+2%
Above average
Height
5
/ ft
Who it's for
- Gardeners seeking a warm, multi-toned focal point
- Sensory garden enthusiasts craving a classic tea scent
- Homeowners wanting consistent color throughout the growing season
Who should skip it
- Gardeners in regions with harsh, unrelenting sun exposure
- Urban gardeners with limited space for large shrubs
- Beginners uncomfortable handling plants with sharp thorns
Performance breakdown
Bloom Consistency
Repeat-flowering habit ensures a steady supply of color throughout the season.
Fragrance Intensity
The medium Tea scent provides a pleasant presence without overwhelming the garden.
Environmental Adaptability
Robust performance across diverse soil types and varying light conditions.
Foliage Appeal
Striking bronzy-red new growth offers visual interest even between bloom cycles.
Growth Habit
Upright structure makes it an ideal candidate for structured hedges or borders.
Hardiness Range
Exceptional versatility across zones 5 through 11 ensures wide regional viability.
Key Specs
Height
5ft
Width
4 1/2ft
Petal Count
90 petals
Suitable for zones
Zones 5-11
Fragrance
Medium, Tea
Bloom Size
Medium
Breeder
David Austin
Year of Introduction
2007
Features
- Repeat flowering for continuous blooms
- Medium Tea fragrance
- Attractive bronzy-red young foliage
- Suitable for mixed borders and rose hedges
- Thrives in full sun to partial shade
- Adaptable to all soil types
- Comes with a 5-year guarantee
What customers say
Customers consistently praise Port Sunlight for its exquisite design, highlighting its vibrant apricot orange blooms and delightful, strong tea fragrance. Many reviewers note the exceptional quality of the plants, describing them as vigorous growers that establish well and produce an abundance of healthy, beautiful flowers throughout the season. The rose's reliable performance and stunning visual appeal make it a cherished addition to gardens, often exceeding expectations for its aesthetic contribution and robust nature.
Know before you buy
This is a repeat-flowering variety, meaning it will produce waves of blooms consistently from late spring until the first frost, provided it is properly deadheaded.
Yes, Port Sunlight is quite versatile. While it thrives in full sun, it is also well-adapted to partial shade, making it a good choice for borders that receive less than six hours of direct light.
At maturity, the shrub reaches approximately 5 feet in height and 4 1/2 feet in width. You should allow for this footprint when planting to ensure adequate airflow and prevent overcrowding.
Port Sunlight is highly adaptable and will grow well in all soil types. As with most roses, it performs best when planted in well-draining soil enriched with organic matter.
The Tea fragrance is a classic, sophisticated rose scent. It is medium in intensity and often described as fresh, clean, and slightly spicy, reminiscent of traditional tea roses.
Port Sunlight is suitable for USDA zones 5 through 11. If you are in the colder end of that range, it is recommended to provide a layer of mulch around the base in late autumn to protect the roots during winter.
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Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
Ready to buy?
$40