Rich color and remarkable fragrance define ‘Charles Darwin’, a distinguished English shrub rose from David Austin. The blooms begin very full and rounded before opening into shallow cups, displaying a warm yellow tone that can deepen toward mustard. Each large flower carries a strong, delicious fragrance that blends soft floral Tea notes with bright lemon.
Forming a sturdy, broad, and spreading shrub, Charles Darwin offers reliable repeat flowering and classic English rose charm throughout the season.
🌸 Why You’ll Love It
Large, many-petalled blooms (approx. 140 petals)
Warm yellow to mustard tones
Strong Tea fragrance with lemon notes
Repeat flowering
Sturdy, spreading shrub habit
🌿 Shrub Details
Bloom Time: Repeat flowering through the season
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Size: Large
Petal Count: Approx. 140 petals
Fragrance: Strong, Tea with lemon notes
Habit: Broad, spreading shrub
Light Requirement: Full sun to partial sun
Soil: Adaptable to most well-drained soil types
Hardiness Zones: 5–11
Breeder: David Austin
Year Introduced: 2003
📏 Size
Mature Height: 4½ ft
Mature Width: 4 ft
🌼 Landscape Uses
Mixed borders
Rose borders
Cutting gardens
Accent shrub
Partial shade plantings
🌹 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.
