A Shropshire Lad

Where to plant. Arches, obelisks, walls, pergolas up to 2 m, and a group accent in a mixed border. As a shrub, it works well as a specimen or in a group of 3 bushes. As a short climber, it creates a romantic vertical accent.

Climate. Hardy to −26 °C; in USDA zone 5 (northern Polissia, Ukraine) light winter protection is advisable. In the Forest-Steppe and Steppe it overwinters without protection.

Care. A vigorous, healthy variety; almost thornless, so pruning is comfortable. When trained as a climber, tie the canes in horizontally for abundant flowering along their full length.

Name. A Shropshire Lad is the title of a poetry collection published in 1896 by the English poet Alfred Edward Housman. David Austin released the variety in 1996, for the 100th anniversary of the collection. It is a tribute to Shropshire, the English county where the poet was born and where the David Austin Roses nursery is located.

Breeding. Bred by David C. H. Austin in 1996. Parentage: 'Heritage' (AUSblush) × an unnamed seedling; according to the breeder, the line descends from 'Leander', which explains its outstanding health, vigour and almost complete absence of thorns. Breeder's code: AUSled.

Significance. It belongs to Leander Group David Austin, a line of large shrubs that can be trained as short climbers. In 2012 it received the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit, a mark of excellent garden performance. One of the most loved English roses for arches and vertical planting.