Bishop's Castle
Best repeat-flowering shrub for gardeners seeking vibrant, fragrant mixed borders.
Experience the charm of the Bishop's Castle English Shrub Rose, a distinguished variety from David Austin Roses. This rose features pure, rich rose-pink blooms that retain their vibrant color even in direct sunlight. Its fully double flowers, complete with a delightful central button eye, are presented on attractive, rounded bushy growth. Enjoy a lovely Old Rose fragrance from this repeat-flowering shrub, which typically reaches about 4ft in height and width, ensuring continuous color throughout the season. David Austin Roses confidently backs this garden gem with a 5-year guarantee.
$40.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
857
/ 2596
#857 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
+2%
Above average
Colour
Pink
/ Pink
Who it's for
- Gardeners prioritizing sensory experiences and classic floral scents
- Homeowners seeking consistent, season-long color in their landscape
- Designers creating formal garden beds with vibrant, structured plants
Who should skip it
- Gardeners who prefer low-maintenance, thorn-free pruning tasks
- Residents in damp, rainy climates prone to bud rot
- Growers in humid regions wanting disease-resistant, spray-free roses
Performance breakdown
Bloom Longevity
Rich pink petals maintain their vibrant hue even under intense sun.
Fragrance Intensity
Classic Old Rose scent provides a sophisticated, medium-strong aromatic presence.
Growth Habit
Rounded, mounding structure creates a tidy, full appearance in garden borders.
Repeat Flowering
Consistent bloom cycles ensure your garden stays colorful all season long.
Environmental Adaptability
Versatile enough to thrive in partial shade or full sun conditions.
Warranty Assurance
Five-year guarantee offers significant peace of mind for long-term planting.
Key Specs
Colour
Pink
Fragrance
Medium-strong, Old Rose
Bloom Size
Medium (2-3.5")
Height
4ft
Width
4ft
Petal Count
80 petals
Year of Introduction
1990
Mature Height
4.0 feet
Features
- Pure rich rose pink flowers
- Pleasant Old Rose fragrance
- Repeat flowering for continuous color
- Attractive bushy growth habit
- Ideal for mixed borders
- Tolerates partial shade
- Comes with a 5-year guarantee
- Shallowly cupped, very double blooms
What customers say
Bishop's Castle is overwhelmingly cherished for its magnificent, intense old rose fragrance, often called intoxicating. Gardeners celebrate its robust vigor and reliable performance, noting it establishes quickly and produces an abundance of deep magenta pink blooms with excellent repeat flowering. Its strong upright growth makes it versatile as a shrub or short climber. Reviewers also appreciate its better than average disease resistance compared to other English roses. While the deep color can occasionally fade slightly in extreme heat, customers view this variety as a high performing, reliable, and deeply fragrant centerpiece, making it highly recommended for its intense color and scent.
Know before you buy
This shrub reaches a mature height and width of approximately 4 feet. Its mounding, bushy habit makes it a versatile choice for mixed borders or as a standalone feature.
Yes, Bishop's Castle is quite adaptable and tolerates partial shade well. While it thrives in full sun, it will still bloom effectively in spots with limited direct light.
This is a repeat-flowering variety, meaning it will produce waves of blooms throughout the growing season rather than just once in the spring. You can expect continuous color from your shrub from late spring until the first frost.
It features a medium-strong, classic Old Rose fragrance. It is a traditional, sweet scent that is characteristic of many English roses.
Like most roses, Bishop's Castle requires well-drained soil to thrive. Ensure the planting site does not hold standing water to prevent root issues.
David Austin Roses provides a 5-year guarantee on their plants, reflecting their confidence in the variety's health and vigor. This covers the plant's performance when provided with proper care and suitable growing conditions.
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Ready to buy?
$40