Rose Cardinal Hume

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Registration code: HARregale
Breeder: Harkness
Year of introduction: 1984
Introduced by: The Harkness Rose Company

Main color: Red
Flowering: Repeat flowering
Flower size: Medium
Aroma: Light, fruity and spicy
90 - 180 cm / 3' - 6'
105- 240 cm / 3' 5" - 8'

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Characteristics

Main color: Red

Color: Violet red

Flowering: Repeat flowering

Flower size: Medium

Flower: Very double, cupped-to-flat, in large clusters

Foliage: Dark green, medium, glossy, leathery

Aroma: Light, fruity and spicy

Class: Modern Shrub rose

Sub-class: Modern Shrub rose

Type: Large shrub

Growth type: Arching, bushy, dense, upright

Height: 90 - 180 cm / 3' - 6'

Width: 105- 240 cm / 3' 5" - 8'


Description

’Cardinal Hume’ is a richly coloured and highly floriferous shrub rose. Though not officially an English Rose, its aesthetic, continuous flowering, and elegant form led David Austin himself to include it among his collections by recommendation of its breeders, Harkness of Hitchin.

The flowers are small but profuse, about 6 cm (2.4 inches) in diameter, opening in large, tight clusters of 15 to 30 blooms. Their coloring is one of the most unusual in modern roses: a blend of deep crimson, rich tyrian purple, and dusky violet, often with a silvery reverse and hints of magenta as they mature. The flowers are very double and have cupped to flat flower form. The petals are narrow and pointed, with outer edges that fold slightly, giving a star-like silhouette. Many blooms contain quilled inner petaloids that add texture and charm.

The fragrance is light and spicy-fruity, occasionally described as reminiscent of old Gallica roses. Although not overpowering, it adds a pleasant note to the long blooming season, which begins early and continues reliably until frost.

The shrub itself is vigorous, wide-spreading, and arching, growing significantly broader than tall, and can grow up to 240 cm (8 feet wide) in warm climates. It has a natural tendency to climb and his canes can be beautifully trained over fences, walls, or garden tripods. Alternatively, it makes a dramatic, low-flowing feature when allowed to cascade freely in beds or along slopes. Pegging long canes outward can promote even more flowering along the stems. A mature and well-established plant has a height of about 180 - 240 cm and the width of about 90 - 105 cm.

Foliage is dark green, glossy, and abundant, forming a dense background for the vibrant blooms. New growth is reddish and smooth, and the canes have few to moderate numbers of prickles. In hot, dry climates the plant thrives with very few issues. However, in cooler or humid regions, blackspot can be a concern, especially in damp summers, prompting the need for preventive spraying with fungicides.

Its unusual form and habit make it an excellent statement plant—best suited to gardeners who appreciate expressive, slightly untamed roses with high impact and old-world flair.

In autumn, ‘Cardinal Hume’ produces a charming crop of round, glowing scarlet hips, which add ornamental value and food for birds. These often appear while the plant is still blooming, providing a striking seasonal contrast.


Name origin

Named in honor of Cardinal George Basil Hume, Archbishop of Westminster (1923–1999).


Awards

RNRS Certificate of Merit, Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) Show or Trials, 1984.


Parentage

The parentage of this rose can be expressed with the formula:

[(Unnamed seedling × (‘Orange Sensation’ × ‘Allgold’)) × Rosa californica] × ‘Frank Naylor’


Climate zones

USDA 6



Growing tips

roses for full sun areas Sun position: Grows well on full sun.
soil reuirements Preference in type of soils: Grows well on all types of soils.
rose prunning tips Prunning: Requires deadheading after the flowering.

Health

Black spots:

Mildew:

Botrytis:

Rust:

Rain resistance:

Cold hardy:

Heat resistance:


Published May 24, 2025, 6:36 p.m. by Yuri Osadchyi

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