Dame Judi Dench
Best low-maintenance shrub for gardeners seeking reliable, weather-resistant seasonal color.
Introducing the 'Dame Judi Dench' English Shrub Rose, a stunning creation by David Austin Roses. This variety boasts rich apricot-orange blooms that soften towards the edges, emerging from distinctive red-tipped buds. The flowers unfurl into large, informal rosettes with beautifully ruffled petals and a charming button eye. A notable advantage is the blooms' exceptional resistance to rain damage, and they drop cleanly after fading. It offers a delightful light-medium Tea fragrance. This rose forms a very healthy, mounding shrub with strong, arching stems, creating an attractive display throughout the season.
$29.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
34
/ 2598
#34 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
-24%
Below average
Mature Height
4.0
/ feet
Who it's for
- Busy gardeners wanting low-maintenance, healthy rose bushes
- Designers seeking vibrant, sun-stable color for garden borders
- Flower lovers desiring a continuous display throughout the season
Who should skip it
- Gardeners preferring thornless varieties for easy pruning
- Fragrance enthusiasts prioritizing intense, heavy perfume
- Residents in humid climates prone to frequent rainfall
Performance breakdown
Weather Resilience
Petals maintain structural integrity even during heavy rainfall.
Bloom Aesthetics
Ruffled apricot rosettes provide a sophisticated, high-impact garden display.
Maintenance Ease
Self-cleaning habit ensures spent blooms drop cleanly without manual deadheading.
Fragrance Intensity
Delicate Tea scent offers a pleasant, subtle presence in the garden.
Growth Vigor
Strong, mounding habit creates a reliable and healthy shrub structure.
Seasonal Versatility
Consistent repeat flowering keeps the landscape vibrant from spring through autumn.
Key Specs
Mature Height
4.0 feet
Mature Width
4.0 feet
Bloom Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Soil Type
Well-Drained
Fragrant Flowers
Yes
USDA Hardiness Zones
Zones 5-10
Sunlight Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
Foliage Type
Deciduous
Features
- Rich apricot-orange blooms
- Large, ruffled rosettes
- Light-medium Tea fragrance
- Excellent rain resistance
- Clean petal drop
- Repeat flowering
- Healthy shrub constitution
- Mounding plant form
What customers say
Reviewers consistently celebrate the 'Dame Judi Dench' rose for its exceptional vigor and reliable performance. The sophisticated coloring, a blend of apricot, peach, and copper, matures beautifully. Gardeners appreciate its robust health and strong disease resistance, making it dependable for all skill levels. A major draw is the impressive repeat flowering, providing continuous visual interest throughout the season. The blooms are perfectly formed rosettes that hold up well. While the fragrance is a light tea scent, the overall aesthetic and dependable nature solidify this variety as a highly recommended, high performing addition to any garden collection.
Know before you buy
This variety forms a compact, mounding shrub that reaches a mature height and width of approximately 4 feet. Its size makes it a versatile choice for mixed borders or smaller garden spaces.
Yes, the blooms are specifically noted for their excellent resistance to rain damage. Unlike some varieties that ball or rot when wet, these flowers maintain their integrity during damp weather.
The Dame Judi Dench rose offers a light-to-medium Tea fragrance. It is a subtle, classic scent that complements the bloom without being overpowering.
Yes, it is a repeat-flowering shrub that provides consistent color throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons.
This rose is adaptable and thrives in full sun, partial sun, or partial shade. For the most prolific blooming, ensure it receives at least six hours of sunlight daily.
One of the benefits of this variety is that the petals drop cleanly after fading. While you can deadhead to encourage faster repeat flowering, the plant manages its own spent blooms quite well.
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