Florist Shrub Rose; «Dutch Florist Shrub»Jan Spek Rozen; Boskoop, 2019Pink

Notting Hill

Soft pink with an apricot heart — named after the famous London district and the 1999 film; Dutch Florist Shrub — a hybrid of a modern shrub and a cut-flower rose; sweet lemony-fruity scent — the signature of Jan Spek; 🇳🇱 the Dutch house Jan Spek Rozen (Boskoop).

Jan Spek Rozen · series of 'cinematic and literary' names (Mansfield Park, Notting Hill, etc.)

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat, in flushes

Repeat-flowering from June to October, with a pronounced first flush. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Use

Garden + cut flowers

Dutch Florist Shrub · borders and bouquets

Winter hardiness

−20 °C

USDA zone 6–7. In Ukraine, with winter protection.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

100–120 × 80–100 cm

Habit: Upright, well-branched Dutch shrub
Dimensions: ~100–120 cm × ~80–100 cm — typical of Spek-varieties
Support: Not needed — self-supporting
Shoots: Sturdy, straight — good for home bouquets
Branching: Well branched, with sturdy stems for cutting

Flower

7–10 cm

Bud shape: Round, soft pink with an apricot tinge
Open flower: Very full (41+): cup-and-rosette form, with a noticeable apricot glow in the centre
Centre: Closely packed with an apricot-peach heart — the main visual highlight
Fullness: 50–80 petals (very full)
Flower carriage: In small clusters of 3–5 — typical of Dutch Florist Shrubs

Fragrance

Moderate; sweet lemony-fruity

Moderate, sweet lemony-fruity — the signature of Jan Spek, valued by florists.

Disease resistance

4 out of 5

Good — 4/5; typical of Dutch Florist Shrubs; in Ukraine it needs winter protection.

Sun

Sun and shade

Full sun, tolerates light partial shade.

Thorns

Few

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Few thorns — typical of Dutch Florist Shrubs.

Foliage

Dark green, glossy — a nice contrast to the pastel flowers.

All characteristics in a table

Group: Florist Shrub Rose; «Dutch Florist Shrub»
Breeder: Jan Spek Rozen; Boskoop, Netherlands, 2019
Bud shape: Round, soft pink with an apricot tinge
Open flower: Very full (41+): cup-and-rosette form, with a noticeable apricot glow in the centre
Centre: Closely packed with an apricot-peach heart — the main visual highlight
Colour: Pink to apricot gradient: the outer petals are soft pink with a peach-apricot centre. A pastel 'vintage' palette. The colour is brighter in cool weather
Fullness: 50–80 petals (very full)
Flower carriage: In small clusters of 3–5 — typical of Dutch Florist Shrubs
Flowering: Repeat-flowering from June to October, with a pronounced first flush
Fragrance: Moderate, sweet lemony-fruity — the signature of Jan Spek, valued by florists
Hips: Not documented — cut for repeat flowering and bouquets
Habit: Upright, well-branched Dutch shrub
Branching: Well branched, with sturdy stems for cutting
Shoots: Sturdy, straight — good for home bouquets
Thorns: Few thorns — typical of Dutch Florist Shrubs.
Dimensions: ~100–120 cm × ~80–100 cm — typical of Spek-varieties
Support: Not needed — self-supporting
Foliage: Dark green, glossy — a nice contrast to the pastel flowers
Resistance: Good — 4/5; typical of Dutch Florist Shrubs; in Ukraine it needs winter protection
Variations of the variety: Patent status: unknown (HMF: 'Patent status unknown'). Introduced 2019 through Jan Spek Rozen (Boskoop). Parentage not published. NOT Harkness (a common myth) — it is a Dutch variety

Colour scheme

Pink to apricot gradient: the outer petals are soft pink with a peach-apricot centre. A pastel 'vintage' palette. The colour is brighter in cool weather

Rose neighbours

Bathshebacreamy apricot

Lady of Shalottwarm apricot

Belle de Segosasoft pink-apricot

Blue for Yousmoky purple · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Lavenderlavender

Lamb's ear (Stachys)silver

Sedumpink

Lady's mantle (Alchemilla)lime green

Neighbouring roses

Pastel apricot cottage family — creates an English 'Notting Hill' mood:

Bathsheba Lady of Shalott Belle de Segosa Blue for You

Perennial companions

Classic English cottage palette with purple-silver tones:

lavenderlamb's ear (Stachys)sedumlady's mantle (Alchemilla)

Availability worldwide

Growing popularity as a Dutch Florist Shrub:

🇳🇱 Netherlands: high · Jan Spek Rozen home
🇬🇧 UK: moderate · via importers
🇺🇸 USA: moderate · Grace Rose Farm, April & Ashley
🇺🇦 Ukraine: rare, but emerging

More about the variety

Hips: Not documented — cut for repeat flowering and bouquets
Variations of the variety: Patent status: unknown (HMF: 'Patent status unknown'). Introduced 2019 through Jan Spek Rozen (Boskoop). Parentage not published. NOT Harkness (a common myth) — it is a Dutch variety

How to grow

Where to plant. In an English cottage garden, in borders with lavender, as an accent in a pastel palette. A lovely cut shrub for home bouquets in a 'vintage / romantic' style.

Climate. Central and eastern Ukraine with winter protection (USDA 6–7); in a western climate no protection is needed. The colour is brighter in cool weather.

Care. Full sun or light shade; a well-ventilated spot; feed 2–3 times a season; prune ~⅓ in spring; cut for home bouquets — it lasts well in a vase thanks to its sturdy stems.

About the name

Name. 'Notting Hill' — a district of London known for its pastel façades and the cult film 'Notting Hill' (1999, Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts). The name suits the variety's character perfectly: a soft pastel with an apricot heart, like the façades of Notting Hill at dawn. Part of the 'literary and film' series by Jan Spek (with names such as Mansfield Park and similar).

Breeding. Bred at Jan Spek Rozen (Boskoop, Netherlands), a Dutch house known for the Dutch Florist Shrub category, a hybrid of a modern shrub and a cut-flower rose. Introduced 2019. Parentage not published. Patent status unknown (HMF: 'Patent status unknown'). NOT Harkness (a common myth in catalogues); it is a Dutch variety.

Significance. The 'Dutch Florist Shrub' category is a relatively new one (from the 2010s), combining garden toughness with cut-flower quality. Other members include Mansfield Park, Hot Cocoa and others. The sweet lemony-fruity signature scent of Jan Spek is valued by florists for wedding bouquets. No official awards: AARS, ADR and RHS AGM not given. An 'artistic and florist' variety.

Frequently asked questions about Notting Hill

Does Notting Hill need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −20 °C (USDA zone 6–7). Overwintering depends on the conditions. In Ukraine, with winter protection.

How many times a season does Notting Hill flower?

Repeat-flowering from June to October, with a pronounced first flush.

How big does Notting Hill grow?

100–120 cm tall, 80–100 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Notting Hill?

Overall resistance: 4 out of 5. Good garden performance; typical of Dutch Florist Shrubs.

How much sun does Notting Hill need?

Sun and shade; full sun, tolerates light partial shade.

What does Notting Hill smell like?