English Shrub RoseDavid Austin, 1994Yellow

Molineux

Ausmol; RHS Award of Garden Merit; President's International Trophy 1996, 'best new rose of the year' (RNRS).

English Musk · compact, very free-flowering

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat, in flushes

Repeat-flowering in strong waves from early summer to the frosts; one of the most reliably repeating English roses. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Awards

RHS AGM

+ 'Best New Rose' 1996 · Henry Edland Medal for fragrance

Winter hardiness

−20 °C

USDA zone 5–9. Most of Ukraine; the north with light winter protection. Most of Ukraine · north — with light cover.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

90–120 × 60–90 cm

Habit: Compact, even, upright: closer to floribundas and hybrid teas than to typical English roses
Dimensions: 90–120 cm tall × 60–90 cm wide
Support: Needs no support: a self-supporting bush, suitable for a border, a container or a low hedge
Shoots: Strong, healthy
Branching: Good, bushy; holds its shape

Flower

7–8 cm

Bud shape: Round, with a slight orange tint as it opens
Open flower: Very double rosette of the old-fashioned type; about 7–8 cm across
Centre: Tightly packed, symmetrical rosette
Fullness: Very double, 110–120 petals
Flower carriage: In small clusters

Fragrance

Moderate; a tea-musk scent

Moderate; a tea-rose fragrance with musky notes (Tea/musk).

Disease resistance

4 out of 5

Black spotresistantPowdery mildewresistantRustresistant

Good: resistant to the main rose diseases.

Sun

5–6 hours

Full sun; tolerates light partial shade; at least 5–6 hours of direct light.

Thorns

Few

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Almost thornless: comfortable to care for.

Foliage

Large, leathery, semi-glossy dark green; 5 leaflets.

All characteristics in a table

Group: English Shrub Rose
Breeder: David Austin, 1994
Bud shape: Round, with a slight orange tint as it opens
Open flower: Very double rosette of the old-fashioned type; about 7–8 cm across
Centre: Tightly packed, symmetrical rosette
Colour: A clean, saturated deep yellow; it holds its colour better than most yellow varieties and hardly fades
Fullness: Very double, 110–120 petals
Flower carriage: In small clusters
Flowering: Repeat-flowering in strong waves from early summer to the frosts; one of the most reliably repeating English roses
Fragrance: Moderate; a tea-rose fragrance with musky notes (Tea/musk)
Hips: Practically none form, because of the double-ness
Habit: Compact, even, upright: closer to floribundas and hybrid teas than to typical English roses
Branching: Good, bushy; holds its shape
Shoots: Strong, healthy
Thorns: Almost thornless: comfortable to care for.
Dimensions: 90–120 cm tall × 60–90 cm wide
Support: Needs no support: a self-supporting bush, suitable for a border, a container or a low hedge
Foliage: Large, leathery, semi-glossy dark green; 5 leaflets
Resistance: Good: resistant to the main rose diseases
Variations of the variety: An unusual English Musk: in character it leans towards old tea roses (Tea), hence the tea fragrance and abundant repeat flowering

Colour scheme

A clean, saturated deep yellow; it holds its colour better than most yellow varieties and hardly fades

Rose neighbours

Graham Thomaspure yellow

Golden Celebrationgolden yellow

The Poet's Wifelemon-yellow

Munstead Wooddark raspberry · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Sage 'Caradonna'violet

Catmintblue

Lavender 'Munstead'lavender

Perovskiagrey-blue

Neighbouring roses

Other yellow English roses by Austin keep a single warm, sunny mood around Molineux.

Graham Thomas Golden Celebration The Poet's Wife Munstead Wood

Companion perennials

Blue-violet flowers give a clean contrast to the saturated yellow — a classic sunny lavender palette:

sage 'Caradonna'catmintlavender 'Munstead'perovskia

Contrasting accents

For rhythm and depth — blue spires, violet globes and a sheer 'smoke':

DelphiniumAllium Purple SensationNepeta Six Hills Giant

More about the variety

Hips: Practically none form, because of the double-ness
Variations of the variety: An unusual English Musk: in character it leans towards old tea roses (Tea), hence the tea fragrance and abundant repeat flowering

How to grow

Where to plant. Ideal for the front of a mixed border, a low hedge, a container or beside a path, thanks to its compact, even bush and continuous flowering.

Climate. Most of Ukraine; the centre, west and south without problems; in the north, with light winter protection (USDA zone 5).

Care. Prune by a third in spring to shape it; removing spent flowers encourages new flushes; mulch; feed twice (in spring and after the first flush).

About the name

Name. 'Molineux', after the Molineux stadium, the home ground of the Wolverhampton Wanderers football club, David Austin's favourite team (the name sounds French, but it is actually English).

Breeding. Bred by David C. H. Austin (David Austin Roses) in 1994. Patent code Ausmol. Parentage: 'Graham Thomas' × a seedling ('Golden Showers' × unknown).

Significance. 'best new rose of the year' in RNRS trials in 1996, RHS Award of Garden Merit (2001), and the Henry Edland Medal for fragrance. An unusual member of the English Musk Roses; in character it is closer to old tea roses, hence its tea fragrance and abundant repeat flowering.

Frequently asked questions about Molineux

Does Molineux need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −20 °C (USDA zone 5–9). Overwintering depends on the conditions. Most of Ukraine; the north with light winter protection.

How many times a season does Molineux flower?

Repeat-flowering in strong waves from early summer to the frosts; one of the most reliably repeating English roses.

How big does Molineux grow?

90–120 cm tall, 60–90 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Molineux?

Overall resistance: 4 out of 5. Good; resistant to powdery mildew, blackspot and rust.

How much sun does Molineux need?