Photo: Geolina163, CC BY-SA 4.0

English rose (Shrub)David Austin, 1989Pink

Sharifa Asma

One of the most refined early English Roses, with a 'porcelain' flower form; a strong fruity scent (white grape, mulberry); parentage Mary Rose × Admired Miranda.

David Austin

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat-flowering, in flushes through the season

Plant size

90–150 × 75–120 cm

Habit: Compact, upright, neatly bushy; holds its shape without support
Dimensions: 90–150 cm tall × 75–120 cm wide
Support: Not needed; the compact bush holds its shape on its own
Shoots: Upright, sturdy
Branching: Well branched, forming a dense, even bush

Flower

9–12 cm

Bud shape: Round, soft pink, opening gradually
Open flower: Cupped, becoming a shallow, symmetrical rosette with age; diameter 9–12 cm
Fullness: Fully double, around 90 petals
Flower carriage: Singly or in small clusters, typical of English Shrub roses

Fragrance

Strong, fruity (white grape, mulberry)

A strong fruity scent with notes of white grape and mulberry, one of the most striking scents among early English Roses.

Sun

Sun or partial shade

The flowers are rain-resistant and hold their shape in bad weather.

Thorns

Many

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Numerous thorns: choose the planting spot away from paths and places to sit.

Foliage

No data.

All characteristics in a table

Group: English rose (Shrub)
Breeder: David Austin, United Kingdom, 1989
Bud shape: Round, soft pink, opening gradually
Open flower: Cupped, becoming a shallow, symmetrical rosette with age; diameter 9–12 cm
Colour: Soft pink centre fading to cream-white edges: a 'porcelain' delicacy of colour; in bright sun the petals fade to almost white
Fullness: Fully double, around 90 petals
Flower carriage: Singly or in small clusters, typical of English Shrub roses
Flowering: Repeat-flowering, in flushes through the season
Fragrance: A strong fruity scent with notes of white grape and mulberry, one of the most striking scents among early English Roses
Hips: Not a defining feature of the variety; to prolong flowering, spent flowers are usually removed
Habit: Compact, upright, neatly bushy; holds its shape without support
Branching: Well branched, forming a dense, even bush
Shoots: Upright, sturdy
Thorns: Numerous thorns: choose the planting spot away from paths and places to sit.
Dimensions: 90–150 cm tall × 75–120 cm wide
Support: Not needed; the compact bush holds its shape on its own
Foliage: No data
Resistance: Good natural disease resistance: one of the variety's strengths
Variations of the variety: Code AUSreef; parentage Mary Rose × Admired Miranda; named in honour of an Omani princess, at the request of her family

Colour scheme

Soft pink centre fading to cream-white edges: a 'porcelain' delicacy of colour; in bright sun the petals fade to almost white

Rose neighbours

Heritagesoft pink

Queen of Swedencool pink

Olivia Rose Austinpure pink

Munstead Wooddark raspberry · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Lavenderlilac-blue

Catmint (Nepeta)blue-violet

Lamb's ear (Stachys)silver foliage

Baby's breath (Gypsophila)white

Neighbouring roses

Soft pink roses — one colour family:

Heritage Queen of Sweden Olivia Rose Austin Munstead Wood

Perennial companions

Blue, lilac and silver neighbours set off the soft pink:

lavendercatmint (Nepeta)lamb's ear (Stachys)baby's breath (Gypsophila)

Features of this variety

Sharifa Asma combines the typical traits of an English Rose with a unique “porcelain” softness of colour and a strong fruity fragrance:

English Austinporcelainfruity fragranceAUSreef

More about the variety

Hips: Not a defining feature of the variety; to prolong flowering, spent flowers are usually removed
Variations of the variety: Code AUSreef; parentage Mary Rose × Admired Miranda; named in honour of an Omani princess, at the request of her family

How to grow

Where to plant. The compact bush does well in a mixed border, beside paths and places to sit, where the scent opens in warm weather; its moderate size also suits container growing.

Climate. USDA 5b–10b, RHS H6; in Ukraine, with light winter protection and protection of young shoots from spring frosts.

Care. Standard spring pruning for an English Shrub; good natural disease resistance makes care easier; removing spent flowers encourages new flushes of bloom.

About the name

Name. 'Sharifa Asma' was given in honour of an Omani princess, at the request of her family.

Breeding. Bred by David Austin, Great Britain, in 1989. Code AUSreef. Parentage: Mary Rose × Admired Miranda.

Significance. One of the most refined early English Roses, combining a 'porcelain' flower form with a strong fruity scent (white grape, mulberry).

Frequently asked questions about Sharifa Asma

How many times a season does Sharifa Asma flower?

Repeat-flowering, in flushes through the season.

How big does Sharifa Asma grow?

90–150 cm tall, 75–120 cm wide.

How much sun does Sharifa Asma need?

Sun or partial shade; the flowers are rain-resistant and hold their shape in bad weather.

What does Sharifa Asma smell like?