English Shrub RoseDavid Austin, 2006Red

Darcey Bussell

US PP18717; one of the best dark raspberry English Roses of the last decade.

English Roses · Old Rose Hybrid

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat, in flushes

Very good repeat flowering, in waves from late spring to winter. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Awards

AGM · Biltmore

RHS AGM 2012 · Biltmore Best Shrub 2013

Winter hardiness

−29 °C

USDA zone 5b–11. All of Ukraine with light protection, even the Carpathians.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

100–120 × 100–120 cm

Habit: Compact and rounded; one of the neatest English Roses
Dimensions: 100–120 cm tall × 100–120 cm wide (HMF up to 150 cm tall)
Support: No support needed; a compact shrub
Shoots: Medium stiffness; they hold the double flowers well
Branching: Dense; the bush looks round without any shaping

Flower

7–8 cm

Bud shape: Round-globular, dark crimson
Open flower: Perfect rosette, from cupped to open medium rosette; 7–8 cm across
Centre: Dense heart with petal swirls
Fullness: Very double, 65–80 petals (very full)
Flower carriage: In small clusters on the stem

Fragrance

Moderate

Medium fruity; fresh, with notes of blackcurrant and raspberry.

Disease resistance

4 out of 5

Black spotresistantPowdery mildewresistant

Good overall resistance to black spot and powdery mildew.

Sun

Sun or part shade

Tolerates eastern, western and southern exposure.

Thorns

Moderate

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Moderate number of thorns.

Foliage

Dark green, semi-glossy.

Other names

Breeder's code AUSdecorum.

All characteristics in a table

Group: English Shrub Rose
Breeder: David Austin, 2006
Bud shape: Round-globular, dark crimson
Open flower: Perfect rosette, from cupped to open medium rosette; 7–8 cm across
Centre: Dense heart with petal swirls
Colour: Deep raspberry-crimson with a velvety sheen; with age it takes on a purple-mauve tone before the petals drop
Fullness: Very double, 65–80 petals (very full)
Flower carriage: In small clusters on the stem
Flowering: Very good repeat flowering, in waves from late spring to winter
Fragrance: Medium fruity; fresh, with notes of blackcurrant and raspberry
Hips: Does not set hips (typical of very full doubles)
Habit: Compact and rounded; one of the neatest English Roses
Branching: Dense; the bush looks round without any shaping
Shoots: Medium stiffness; they hold the double flowers well
Thorns: Moderate number of thorns.
Dimensions: 100–120 cm tall × 100–120 cm wide (HMF up to 150 cm tall)
Support: No support needed; a compact shrub
Foliage: Dark green, semi-glossy
Resistance: Good overall resistance to black spot and powdery mildew
Variations of the variety: No official sports

Colour scheme

Deep raspberry-crimson with a velvety sheen; with age it takes on a purple-mauve tone before the petals drop

Rose neighbours

Munstead Wooddark raspberry

Black Magicdark red

Papa Meillanddark burgundy

Icebergpure white · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Astrantia 'Roma'pink-white

Sage 'Caradonna'purple

Artemisia 'Powis Castle'silvery

Catmint 'Walker's Low'blue

Neighbouring roses

A dark raspberry palette for a dramatic 'velvet' flower bed:

Munstead Wood Black Magic Papa Meilland Iceberg

Perennial companions

Silver and blue — a classic contrast to deep crimson (as in Austin's official photo, with astrantia):

astrantia 'Roma'sage 'Caradonna'artemisia 'Powis Castle'catmint 'Walker's Low'

Availability worldwide

One of the most popular English varieties:

🇬🇧 Europe: David Austin · Promesse de Fleurs · Tantau
🇺🇸 USA: Grace Rose Farm · Heirloom · Regan Nursery
🇦🇺 Australia: Eumundi · David Austin Australia
🇺🇦 Ukraine: Florium · Yaskrava Klumba · Tsvitsad · Rozina

More about the variety

Hips: Does not set hips (typical of very full doubles)
Variations of the variety: No official sports

How to grow

Where to plant. The front of a border with low perennials, containers, group plantings of 3 bushes; the compact, rounded silhouette suits even small beds.

Climate. Down to −29 °C; a full comfort zone for the whole of Ukraine, including the Carpathians with light protection.

Care. Minimal; the compact bush needs almost no shaping. Removing spent flowers encourages new waves; standard prevention of leaf diseases in humid climates.

About the name

Name. After Dame Darcey Bussell (born 1969), one of the most famous British ballerinas of the twentieth century, principal ballerina of the Royal Ballet from 1989 to 2007. After her ballet career she became a judge on the BBC show 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

Breeding. Raised by David Austin Sr. in Great Britain. Registered 2005; presented at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2006. Patent code AUSdecorum (US PP 18,717). Parentage: unnamed seedling × unnamed seedling (Austin does not disclose it).

Significance. One of the best dark raspberry English Roses of the last decade. Won the RHS Award of Garden Merit (2012) and the Best Shrub Award at the Biltmore International Rose Trials (2013, Chauncey Beadle Award). It combines a dramatic velvety colour with a healthy, compact bush, a rare combination among dark crimson varieties.

Frequently asked questions about Darcey Bussell

Does Darcey Bussell need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −29 °C (USDA zone 5b–11). Overwintering depends on the conditions. All of Ukraine with light protection, even the Carpathians.

How many times a season does Darcey Bussell flower?

Very good repeat flowering, in waves from late spring to winter.

How big does Darcey Bussell grow?

100–120 cm tall, 100–120 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Darcey Bussell?

Overall resistance: 4 out of 5. Good resistance to black spot and powdery mildew.

How much sun does Darcey Bussell need?

Sun or part shade; tolerates eastern, western and southern exposure.

What does Darcey Bussell smell like?