Princess Anne rose

Sun

Full sun, ideally at least 6 hours daily; light afternoon shade is helpful in very hot climates.

Water

Water deeply during establishment and dry spells, keeping the root zone moist but not waterlogged. Established plants tolerate brief dry periods, but flowering suffers in prolonged drought.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil; slightly acidic to neutral is ideal. Improve sandy or heavy soils with organic matter.

Height

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Spread

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Flowers

Repeat flushes from late spring or early summer into autumn; deep pink flowers soften to clearer pink, with occasional yellow tones on the petal undersides.

Foliage

Glossy, mid- to dark-green leaves with toothed leaflets; young growth may be bronze-tinted.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Medium

• Disease resistant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2 ft (0.61 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.4 ft (0.72 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.7 ft (0.83 m)

5. After 5 years

   3 ft (1.1 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water at soil level, soaking the root zone rather than frequently wetting the surface.
• Feed with a rose fertiliser in spring and again after the first main flowering flush, following the label; avoid late-season nitrogen in cold climates.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch in spring, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Remove spent flower clusters back to a strong leaf to encourage repeat flowering.
• In cold, exposed gardens, protect the crown or graft union with a loose mound of soil after the plant becomes dormant.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, after the worst freezes and as buds begin to swell, remove dead, damaged and crossing stems, then shorten the remaining growth by roughly one-third to one-half. Aim for an open, balanced framework and use clean, sharp secateurs.

Late autumn

Plant bare-root roses where the ground is workable; in very cold regions, wait until spring.

Winter

Check that winter protection remains in place in cold regions and that roots are not sitting in water.

Late winter to early spring

Prune as buds begin to swell, adjusting the timing to local frost conditions.

Spring

Feed, water if needed and replenish mulch before strong growth begins.

Summer

Deadhead spent clusters, water deeply during dry spells and feed after the first main flush.

Autumn

Collect fallen diseased leaves and stop feeding; avoid hard pruning before winter.

• Plant near the front or middle of a sunny mixed border, with catmint or hardy geraniums softening the base.
• Repeat several shrubs along a path to create a low, flowering boundary without formal clipping.
• Use in a traditional rose bed with pale pink, purple or white companions.
• Grow in a large, well-drained container near a seating area where the flowers and fragrance can be enjoyed.

Garden styles it suits: English country, Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden, Traditional, Sensory garden and Modern courtyard.

Plant it with: Catmint, Hardy geranium, Salvia, Lady's mantle, Allium and Lavender.

Wildlife: The densely double flowers offer less accessible pollen than single roses. The shrub can provide shelter for small garden wildlife, and aphids on its shoots support predatory insects.

• Black spot: remove affected fallen leaves, water at soil level and maintain airflow; use a locally approved rose fungicide if persistent disease warrants treatment.
• Powdery mildew: avoid drought stress and overcrowding, and remove badly affected shoots.
• Aphids: wash small colonies off young shoots with water and encourage ladybirds and other predators.
• Poor flowering: check for insufficient sun, drought or excess nitrogen; improve light and watering, and use a balanced rose feed rather than lawn fertiliser.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. Thorns can puncture skin or injure mouths, and swallowing plant material may cause mild stomach upset; hairs inside rose hips can irritate the mouth and digestive tract.

• Gertrude Jekyll rose (Rosa 'Ausbord')

  Gertrude Jekyll usually grows taller, with larger, more classically quartered pink rosettes and a strong old-rose fragrance; Princess Anne is more compact, with narrower petals and a tea fragrance.

Bred by David Austin, Princess Anne was named in honour of Anne, the Princess Royal.

Propagation. Softwood or semi-ripe cuttings can produce plants true to the cultivar, although rooting success varies. Seedlings will not come true; check local plant breeders' rights or patent restrictions before propagating.

Accepted botanical name

Rosa

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.