Romantic and richly fragrant, ‘Bathsheba’ is a stunning English climbing rose from David Austin. Apricot-yellow buds open to shallowly cupped, many-petalled rosettes blending soft apricot-pink and warm yellow, with creamy outer petals that create an overall apricot glow. Each large bloom is packed with petals and carries a superb floral myrrh fragrance layered with hints of honey and Tea.
A short but vigorous climber, Bathsheba is perfect for walls, fences, doorways, and sunny vertical accents. Repeat flowering throughout the season ensures months of beauty in the garden.
🌸 Why You’ll Love It
Large, many-petalled English rosette blooms
Soft apricot, pink, and yellow blended tones
Medium-strong myrrh fragrance with honey and Tea notes
Repeat flowering
Elegant short climbing habit
🌿 Rose Details
Bloom Time: Repeat flowering through the season
Flower Color: Apricot blend
Bloom Size: Large
Petal Count: Approx. 170
Fragrance: Medium-strong, myrrh with honey and Tea
Habit: Short climber
Light Requirement: Full sun
Soil: Adaptable to most well-drained soil types
Hardiness Zones: 5–11
Breeder: David Austin
Year Introduced: 2016
📏 Size
Mature Height: Up to 10 ft (with support)
🌼 Landscape Uses
Walls and fences (approx. 6 ft coverage or higher)
Doorways and arches
Cottage gardens
Formal rose gardens
Vertical focal points
📖 Behind the Name
Named after the heroine of Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd, Bathsheba reflects classic English romance and timeless garden elegance.
🌹 What Makes an English Rose Different?
English Roses, bred by David Austin, combine the charm of old-fashioned roses with the reliability of modern varieties. They are known for:
🌸 Full, many-petalled blooms with classic rosette form
🌿 Strong fragrance, often with notes of myrrh, fruit, honey, or Tea
🔁 Repeat flowering throughout the season
🌼 Shrub or climbing habits that blend beautifully into mixed borders
💪 Improved disease resistance compared to traditional heirloom roses
Unlike many modern landscape roses that focus primarily on durability and mass color, English Roses emphasize romance, fragrance, and intricate bloom form while still offering dependable garden performance.
They’re ideal for cottage gardens, mixed borders, cutting gardens, and vertical accents — anywhere you want timeless beauty paired with modern resilience.
