A Shropshire Lad
Best climbing rose for gardeners wanting long-lasting, fragrant vertical color.
Discover 'A Shropshire Lad,' an elegant English Climbing Rose from David Austin Roses, named in homage to A.E. Housman's poetry. This rose presents large, softly cupped rosettes in a delicate peach-pink hue, emitting a charming fruity Tea fragrance. It offers continuous blooms from late spring through early winter, making it a repeat-flowering specimen. As a short climber reaching about 10 feet, it's perfectly suited for adorning walls or fences. David Austin Roses stands behind this exceptional cultivar with a 5-year guarantee.
$40.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
858
/ 2598
#858 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
+2%
Above average
Colour
Light peach-pink
/ Light peach-pink
Who it's for
- Gardeners who prioritize aromatic blooms for bouquets and outdoor spaces
- Landscapers needing flexible plants for both borders and vertical structures
- Busy homeowners wanting low-maintenance, high-performing, and disease-resistant roses
Who should skip it
- Urban gardeners with limited garden beds or small patio spaces
- Residents in regions with intense, unrelenting direct summer sun
- Casual hobbyists who prefer handling plants without protective gear
Performance breakdown
Bloom consistency
Repeat flowering ensures a reliable display from spring through early winter.
Fragrance profile
Delicate fruity Tea notes provide a sophisticated, non-overpowering garden scent.
Climbing versatility
Ideal height for vertical accents on fences or smaller garden walls.
Hardiness range
Exceptional adaptability across USDA zones five through eleven.
Visual impact
Large, multi-petaled rosettes offer a classic, high-end aesthetic.
Brand assurance
Five-year guarantee provides significant peace of mind for long-term planting.
Key Specs
Colour
Light peach-pink
Flowering
Repeat Flowering
Fragrance
Medium, Fruity/Tea
Bloom Size
Large (3.5-5")
Size
Short Climber (Height: 10ft)
Petal Count
90 petals
Year of Introduction
1996
USDA Hardiness Zones
5 through 11
Features
- Produces large, light peach-pink blooms
- Features a fruity Tea fragrance
- Repeat flowering throughout the season
- Short climber, up to 10ft
- Suitable for walls or fences
- Thrives in full sunlight
- Tolerates various soil types
- Backed by a 5-year guarantee
What customers say
Customers overwhelmingly favor this David Austin rose for its magnificent, deeply cupped blooms displaying a beautiful apricot center fading to soft pink edges. The strong, classic tea rose fragrance with fruity notes is a major highlight, enhancing its sensory appeal. Gardeners consistently praise its exceptional vigor and versatility, noting it excels as both a large shrub and a robust climber, quickly covering structures. Repeat flowering is excellent, ensuring reliable seasonal color. While its enthusiastic growth requires careful siting and pruning, this rose is viewed as a high impact, reliable performer delivering classic English rose beauty and fragrance, making it a staple for those seeking a vigorous apricot climber.
Know before you buy
As a short climber, this rose typically reaches a mature height of about 10 feet. It is an ideal choice for covering smaller walls, fences, or pillars where you want height without it becoming overwhelming.
It is a repeat-flowering variety, meaning you can expect continuous blooms from late spring all the way through early winter. This makes it a reliable choice for maintaining color in your garden for most of the year.
For the best performance, plant it in a location that receives full sun. It is quite versatile regarding soil, provided the ground is well-drained.
The fragrance is a medium-strength, fruity Tea scent. It is pleasant and distinct without being overpowering, making it a lovely addition to seating areas near walls or fences.
This cultivar is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 11. This wide range makes it suitable for a variety of climates, from cooler northern regions to warmer southern environments.
David Austin Roses provides a 5-year guarantee on this cultivar, which reflects their confidence in the plant's health and vigor. It offers peace of mind that the rose is expected to establish and thrive in your garden over the long term.
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Ready to buy?
$40