Bonica
Best low-maintenance shrub for gardeners seeking long-lasting color and winter interest.
Discover the Bonica® Shrub Rose, a dependable and attractive addition to any garden from David Austin Roses. This rose is known for its neat, spreading habit and abundant foliage, producing charming clusters of mid-pink flowers. It offers a long blooming season from late spring through early winter and develops bright red hips for winter interest. Exceptionally hardy and healthy, Bonica® is ideal for mixed borders and areas that receive partial shade, reaching approximately 4ft in height and width.
$40.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
34
/ 2598
#34 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
+2%
Above average
Colour
Mid pink
/ Mid pink
Who it's for
- Busy gardeners wanting a low-maintenance, healthy landscape
- Homeowners seeking constant color throughout the entire growing season
- Northern gardeners living in regions with harsh winter climates
Who should skip it
- Fragrance lovers prioritizing scent in their floral displays
- Exhibition rose enthusiasts looking for complex, long-lasting blooms
- Small-space gardeners needing compact, easy-to-manage shrubs
Performance breakdown
Bloom Longevity
Consistent flowering from late spring through winter sets a high bar.
Hardiness Range
Exceptional adaptability across USDA zones four through ten.
Maintenance Ease
A reliable, healthy performer that requires minimal fuss for gardeners.
Wildlife Attraction
Bright winter hips provide a vital food source for local birds.
Shade Tolerance
Thrives in partial shade where many other roses struggle to bloom.
Structural Form
Neat, spreading habit creates a tidy aesthetic for mixed garden borders.
Key Specs
Colour
Mid pink
Flowering
Repeat Flowering
Bloom Size
Small (1-2")
Height
4ft
Width
4ft
Petal Count
78 petals
Year of Introduction
1981
USDA Hardiness Zones
Zones 4-10
Features
- Produces abundant mid-pink flowers
- Features bright red hips in winter
- Forms a tidy, spreading shrub
- Hardy, healthy, and reliable performer
- Blooms repeatedly from spring to winter
- Suitable for mixed borders
- Tolerates partial shade
- Attracts birds to the garden
What customers say
Gardeners overwhelmingly praise the Bonica rose for its exceptional reliability and low maintenance. Its remarkable hardiness and strong disease resistance allow it to thrive where other roses falter, making it a true landscape workhorse. Reviewers consistently highlight its prolific blooming, offering a steady display of medium pink clusters all season long. Its tidy, mounding habit is ideal for hedges and mass planting. While the plant delivers unparalleled performance and longevity, customers note that the fragrance is mild to nonexistent. Despite this trade off, satisfaction remains high due to its dependable results and excellent value, solidifying Bonica as a top choice among shrub roses.
Know before you buy
The Bonica rose grows into a tidy, spreading shrub that reaches approximately 4 feet in height and 4 feet in width. You should plan for this footprint to ensure it has enough room to maintain its natural shape without crowding neighboring plants.
Yes, Bonica is notably versatile and tolerates partial shade well. While many roses require full sun to thrive, this variety is a reliable performer even in less-than-ideal light conditions.
It is a prolific repeat bloomer. You can expect charming clusters of mid-pink flowers from late spring continuously through early winter.
After the final blooms fade, the plant develops bright red hips. These provide visual interest during the colder months and serve as a food source that attracts birds to your garden.
It is exceptionally hardy and is rated for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 10. This wide range makes it a dependable choice for gardeners in both very cold and warmer regions.
The flowers are small, measuring 1 to 2 inches across, and feature a dense petal count of 78 petals per bloom. They appear in clusters, creating a soft, abundant display of mid-pink color against the foliage.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
Ready to buy?
$40