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Rose Cardinal Hume
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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
Gardening design tips
Growing tips
Health
Black spots:
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Botrytis:
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Rain resistance:
Cold hardy:
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Published May 24, 2025, 6:36 p.m. by Yuri Osadchyi
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