Rose Emma Bridgewater

'Emma Bridgewater' demonstrates very changeable, painterly colouring and very full, rosette flowers. It produces medium-sized blooms whose warm pink base shifts through coral-pink, apricot, mauve and lilac tones, often surrounding a small golden-yellow button-eye. The flowers are carried generously in clusters on a balanced, bushy shrub, making it suitable for mixed borders, informal hedges and sufficiently large containers. Its fragrance is lighter than that of the most strongly scented English Shrub roses, but possesses a recognizable Tea character. A repeat-flowering habit, manageable dimensions and reported good health make it particularly well suited to contemporary gardens where a rose is expected to combine the romantic appearance of an Old garden rose with the performance of a modern landscape shrub.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

'Emma Bridgewater' was introduced to the world at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2024 and subsequently presented at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, where for the first time it presented its rosette flowers as moving through apricot and coral towards mauve and lilac. It represents a relatively recent generation of the Austin breeding programme, having originated from a controlled cross made in 2013 and undergone almost a decade of subsequent assessment before commercial release.

The essential character of the variety lies in the contrast between a relatively neat shrub and flowers that are deliberately less uniform in visual effect. Individual blooms vary as they develop. A flower may begin with pronounced red-pink and coral colouring, open into a warmer medium pink and acquire cooler mauve or lilac intonations with age and changing light. Consequently, a flowering plant rarely appears monochromatic. Tight buds, newly opened flowers, mature rosettes and ageing blooms create several related colours simultaneously. The flowers are exceptionally full, yet the flowers are not excessively large. This combination of moderate diameter and numerous petals produces a concentrated, substantial rosette.

The plant itself is of medium vigour and develops into a semi-upright, approximately as broad as high shrub. This balanced architecture is important horticulturally. It allows the rose to function as a specimen in a small or medium border without dominating neighbouring perennials, while three or more plants can be repeated to produce an informal flowering hedge or broad drift. David Austin Roses also recommends this rose for containers, provided the pot offers adequate root volume and reliable moisture.

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2015 edition).

FLOWERING

English rose 'Emma Bridgewater' is a repeat flowering, under normal garden conditions and it flowers in successive flushes from late spring into early winter. The patent for this rose even notes that flowering can continue through the year under warm greenhouse conditions, although this should not be interpreted as year-round outdoor flowering in temperate climates.

The flowering is profuse, with approximately eight to nine blooms typically borne on a flowering stem in a cluster. Because buds and flowers are present at different stages within the same inflorescence, the changing colours become particularly noticeable: deeper buds may appear beside warm coral-pink flowers and older, softer mauve-pink rosettes. In temperate gardens the strongest flush should normally be expected around early summer, followed by renewed cycles after the first flush has finished. Deadheading is useful where prolonged ornamental flowering is the priority, although adequate water and nutrition are equally important to maintaining strong later flushes. In climates with severe winters the flowering season will naturally be shorter.

Flower bud:

The flower bud before opening is approximately 3.0 cm (1.2 in) long and 1.9 cm (0.75 in) wide, and is long and broad-based with a pointed-ovoid outline. As the corolla begins to emerge, its colouring is complex: the upper surfaces combine red and red-purple shades (Group 39B and Group N57B on the very outer petals), while the reverse may be paler red-purple, red or an intermediate mixture (Group 65C and 50B ). This richer bud colouring contributes to the striking tonal progression seen across a flowering cluster of 'Emma Bridgewater'.

There are five lanceolate shaped sepals. There are 3 lightly appendaged and 2 unappendaged sepals with smooth edges. They are approximately 3.3 cm (1.3 in) long and 0.95 cm (0.37 in) wide, acuminate at the tip, with weak to medium extensions and smooth, glandular margins. Their upper surface is strong yellowish-green (Group 143C) while the lower surface is yellow-green (Group 144A) and has a smooth and slightly hairy surface.

The peduncle averages to about 3.7 cm (1.46 in) in length and 0.27 cm (0.11 in) in diameter. It is yellow-green in colour (Group 144A), predominantly smooth but may have some prickles on the surface.

The receptacle has a diameter of about 0.9 cm (0.35 in) on average and depth of approximately 1.0 cm (0.39 in) on average. The peduncle is pitcher shaped, has smooth surface and yellow-green colour (Group 144A).

The bud opens from its pointed ovoid state into a shallow, increasingly rounded cup and eventually develops the densely petalled rosette for which it has become popular.

Bloom:

Fully open flowers of 'Emma Bridgewater' are medium to large in size, flower averages to approximately 8 cm (3.1 in) in diameter and around 3.2 cm (1.25 in) in depth under the normal growing conditions. The flower is very full, containing roughly 120–130 petals. Its form changes substantially during development. The opening flower has initially a cupped shape, but as the inner petals expand it becomes a broad, densely furnished rosette. Viewed from above, the outline is irregularly rounded, the upper profile is flattened-convex, while the lower profile may be flat or somewhat concave. Outer petals reflex progressively, helping to broaden the mature flower and exposing different surfaces and shades and display a small button-eye in the centre.

The colour is outstanding, the red-purple outer areas merging into warmer red tones, accompanied by a medium-sized yellow basal spot. The result is considerably softer than these technical colour-chart names imply. David Austin describes the flower as mid-pink, while promotional and nursery observations record an evolving composition of soft pink, coral, apricot, mauve and lilac. The yellow bases of the petals can produce the impression of a small golden button or illuminated eye at the centre. The apparent complexity results partly from these pigments being displayed differently as the numerous petals unfold, reflex and age. Environmental conditions may affect the colour's expression, and phenotype can vary with light, agricultural conditions and other environmental factors.

According to the formal description petal color when opening on the upper surface is vivid purplish red (Group 67B) on the outer part blending to deep pink (Group 47D) in the middle while the lower surface is deep pink (Group 51C) and the basal spot has medium and vivid yellow colour (Group 13A). The petal color when the flower fully opens on the upper surface is vivid purplish red (Group 67B) on the outer part of the petals blending to deep pink (Group 47D) in the middle; the lower surface of the petals have deep pink colour (Group 51C) with the basal spot of medium and vivid yellow (Group 13A).

Individual flowers have quite good lasting quality and tend to remain on the plant for approximately five to seven days.

Petals:

The flowers are exceptionally full, typical flowers carry approximately 125 - 126 true petals together with about five or six petaloids. Such a petal count places 'Emma Bridgewater' firmly among the most densely petalled modern English Shrub roses.

Individual petals average approximately 4.3 cm (1.69 in) long and 3.1 cm (1.22 in) wide. Outer petals are broadly rounded, whereas the inner petals become more obovate; the margins are entire, the apex rounded and the base acute. This progression in petal shape allows the outside of the bloom to form a broad supporting cup while the many inner petals build the densely layered centre. The outer petals show medium to strong reflexing as the flower ages.

There are also typically 5 to 6 petaloids present in flowers, approximately 2.0 cm (0.79 in) in length on average and with a width of approximately 1.0 cm (0.39 in) on average; their colour is deep yellowish pink (Group 39B).

The petals do not necessarily fall cleanly immediately after flowering; they may remain attached and dry. In wet climates this makes attentive deadheading worthwhile, especially after prolonged rain, because old, densely petalled flowers can otherwise detract from the fresh clusters beneath them.

The colour evolution of the petals is conspicuous. Newly opening petals show stronger pink-red and coral qualities; mature flowers may appear softer and cooler, sometimes developing mauve or lilac intonations. Temperature, sunlight and the age of the bloom are likely to influence this visual effect, so plants grown in different climates should not be expected to reproduce precisely the same balance of shades.

Fragrance:

The fragrance is present in flowers of 'Emma Bridgewater', but it is not the strongest. The aroma is light to medium in strength and has slight to moderate Teacharacter. Its scent is therefore best appreciated at close range rather than expected to perfume an entire garden. Positioning the shrub beside a path, terrace, entrance or seating area allows both the subtle fragrance and the intricate colour transitions to be appreciated.

Reproductive parts:

The extreme fullness of the flowers greatly reduces the prominence of the stamens: most flowers have no visible stamens, and only occasional flowers show only one or two. Where present, the anthers are small, approximately 0.2 cm (0.08 in) in length and brilliant yellow (Group 13B) in colour. The filaments have length of approximately 0.3 cm (0.12 in) on average and their width is approximately 0.1 cm (0.04 in); the colour of the filaments is on average; and color is vivid yellow (Group 9A). The amount of pollen is scarce.

Approximately 47 - 48 pistils are typically observed in its flowers, with pale green-white (group 157A) styles of approximately 0.75 cm (0.30 in) in length on average and with width of approximately 0.1 cm (0.04 in) on average. The stigma is approximately 0.1 cm (0.04 in) in length and is less than 0.1 cm (0.04 in) in diameter, typically has bright yellow colour (Group 10A).

No hips or seeds were observed during the breeder's formal examination up to this date, but combined with the scarcity of functional stamens and pollen, it is most likely that the fruit production is not profuse and does not present ornamental value.

PLANT

Rose variety 'Emma Bridgewater' is a complex hybrid rose classified botanically as a Shrub Rose. It is also part of the English Shrub Rose family created by the David Austin Roses. It is a deciduous modern English Shrub Rose, with a semi-upright and moderately vigorous, medium sized growth character. The mature and established specimens are able to reach approximately 125 cm (about 4 ft) in height and about 125 cm (4 ft) in width. However for such a new rose it is too early to estimate if this rose will stay in formal descriptions or its dimensions be larger in warmer climates and under good cultivation.

It forms a substantial but controlled shrub, neither markedly arching nor narrowly upright. It is particularly suitable for the middle of a mixed border, repeated groups, informal rose beds and low flowering hedges. A large container is also practical, provided that it has generous depth, unrestricted drainage and sufficient volume to prevent rapid drying.

The combination of its variable colour makes it particularly effective in informal planting. Blue and violet companions such as hardy geraniums, salvia, nepeta and lavender can emphasize the cooler mauve phases, whereas cream, peach and soft apricot flowers reinforce the warmer stages. Its relatively manageable and compact form also permits it to be integrated among perennials rather than isolated exclusively in a formal rose bed.

Cultivation should follow sound practice for repeat-flowering English shrub roses. The best flowering is normally obtained in fertile, humus-rich, moisture-retentive but freely drained soil. The cultivar is sold for full sun and partial shade; however, in cooler climates a position receiving several hours of direct sunlight promotes stronger flowering, ripening of the shoots and rapid drying of foliage after rain. In very hot climates, some protection from the strongest afternoon sun may help preserve flower colour and reduce heat stress.

Pruning should aim to maintain the naturally balanced shrub form. Once established, remove dead, weak, damaged and badly crossing growth in late winter or early spring, then shorten the main flowering shoots sufficiently to stimulate fresh basal and lateral growth while retaining a rounded framework. Regular removal of spent clusters encourages a neat appearance and supports repeat flowering.

In cold climates, planting with the graft union at or slightly below the local recommended soil level, followed by winter mulching, gives greater protection than exposed planting. Container-grown plants require substantially more winter protection because their root systems experience lower temperatures than equivalent plants in open ground.

Foliage:

There is a normal quantity of the foliage on the plants of the rose variety 'Emma Bridgewater'. The foliage is dark green and contributes a relatively quiet background to the colourful flowers. Mature leaves on the upper surfaces are dark brown green (Group 147A) and slightly lighter, muted dark yellow green on the undersides (Group 147B). The young foliage is lighter medium yellow-green (group 146B) and on the lower surface is lighter medium yellow-green (group 146C) and may show dark red purple intonations on the edges during early development of the leaves.

The size of the leave averages at approximately 15.8 cm (6.2 in) in length and 11.8 cm (4.7 in) in width on normal medium sized leaves. The upper surface is smooth and only weakly glossy. The foliage creates sufficient mass to support the numerous bright flowers without giving the plant an excessively coarse appearance. Its deciduous character should be expected in climates with a genuine winter dormancy.

Leaflets:

Normal medium sized leaves in the middle of the flowering steam most commonly consist of five leaflets, with seven occurring occasionally, including the terminal leaflet. The terminal leaflet averages approximately 6.7 cm (2.6 in) in length and about 4.6 cm (1.8 in) in width, while lower leaflets average length is approximately 6.2 cm (2.4 in) and width is about 4.0 cm (1.6 in). The leaflets have a pointed-oval shape with an acuminate apex, cordate base and serrated margins; the type of serration is double and medium sized. The undulation is weak and both surfaces are smooth.

The petiole on the upper surface is glandular while on the under surface has few prickles. The length of the petiole is approximately 4.7 cm (1.9 in) on average and the width is approximately 0.17 cm (0.07 in). The colour of both surfaces of the petiole is medium brown green (Group 138B).

The petiole rachis on the upper and on the lower surface has medium brown green colour (Group 138B).

The stipules are approximately 3.0 cm (1.2 in) in length, have smooth and glandular surface texture; the colour of the stipules on both surfaces is deep yellow-green (Group 144A).

The venation pattern is reticulate and the colour is the same as the colour of the leaflets - dark brown green (Group 147A).

Wood:

The plant develops a semi-upright, branched shrub, with main canes averaged approximately 110 cm (43.3 in) long and 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in diameter, while secondary stems reaching around 70 cm (27.6 in) in length and 1.2 cm (0.5 in) in diameter. The internode distance on the canes of this rose is 4.7 cm (1.85 in) on average. Both young and older stems have yellow-green colour (146C ), with absent to very weak anthocyanin pigmentation on young shoots and smooth bark. The plant is of medium rather than exceptionally powerful vigour. Its eventual growth at roughly equal height and width, creates a full, balanced framework capable of supporting the relatively heavy clusters of flowers.

Prickles:

There is a normal quantity of the prickles on the main canes from the base and on the laterals from the main canes of the rose variety 'Emma Bridgewater'. Mature major prickles have pyramidal and slightly curved downward shape, average approximately 0.6 cm (0.24 in) long and 0.5 cm (0.2 in) wide at the base. The young prickles are dark grey-purple (Group 187A ) and become grey-brown (Group 187A ) with age.

Small prickles:

Under normal growing conditions the small prickles are not observed on the main canes from the base and on the laterals from the main canes. Small prickles may occur on the underside of the petiole and small prickles may occur on the peduncle, and they have the same colour as the large prickles.

Disease resistance and stress tolerance:

'Emma Bridgewater' has good resistance to powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa), black spot (Diplocarpon rosae) and rose rust (Phragmidium tuberculatum) under normal growing conditions. This is useful cultivar-specific evidence, but it should not be interpreted as proof of immunity in every climate. Disease pressure can be substantially greater in humid gardens, under overhead irrigation, where air circulation is poor, or where locally aggressive pathogen strains occur. David Austin Roses has also included 'Emma Bridgewater' among selections recommended as dependable for beginning rose growers.

The cold-hardiness has not been explored to the full extend, but this rose is regarded as recommended for growing in climates similar USDA zones 6 - 11, while some UK nurseries commonly give it an RHS H6 rating, corresponding approximately to winter minima of −20 to −15 °C (−4 to 5 °F). These should be treated as horticultural marketing and growing guidance as the rose is still relatively new and should be properly tested. In Zone 5 and similarly cold continental climates, winter protection of the crown and graft union is prudent, particularly during the establishment years.

The commercial name honours Emma Bridgewater, the British pottery designer and founder associated with the Stoke-on-Trent ceramics company bearing her name. David Austin Roses states that the rose was created as a tribute both to the painterly character of her ceramic designs and to her personal love of gardening. Bridgewater has described roses as part of her family gardening memories, recalling that her mother and grandmother were keen gardeners and grew David Austin Roses.

The rose was publicly unveiled at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2024 as part of a collaboration between David Austin Roses and Emma Bridgewater. The collaboration extended beyond the living plant to ceramics decorated with imagery of the new rose, reinforcing the relationship between horticultural breeding and the namesake's decorative work.

As of the date there is no specific ADR award, RHS Award of Garden Merit, All-America Rose Selections award, Australian National Rose Trial certificate, major European rose-trial medal, or comparable formal competitive award was given to rose 'Emma Bridgewater'. This absence of confirmed awards is unsurprising for a rose introduced only in 2024.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety 'AUSB44A16' / 'Emma Bridgewater' originated at Albrighton, England, during 2013 by controlled artificial pollination. The seed parent was an unnamed, unpatented seedling and the pollen parent was a different unnamed, unpatented seedling.

The resulting seeds were sown in January 2014. Among the genetically variable seedlings produced, the plant that became 'AUSB44A16' was selected in July 2014. Eight buds were subsequently taken from this individual and T-budded onto Rosa laxa rootstock. From 2015 through 2023 the selection was repeatedly grown, assessed and reselected at Albrighton before introduction. David Austin Roses introduced it commercially in the United Kingdom in 2024, unveiling it at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

'AUSB44A16' / 'Emma Bridgewater' belongs to a comparatively recent stage of the English Rose concept. Its ancestry remains genetically undisclosed beyond two unnamed seedlings, but its twelve-year breeding and evaluation history illustrates the long selection process behind a commercial Austin introduction. Within the English Shrub roses, its strongest individual identity is its mutable colour: pink and coral tones coexist with apricot warmth and cooler mauve-lilac ageing effects. This gives a mature shrub a subtly multicoloured appearance without the sharply striped or bicoloured pattern of a conventional novelty rose.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

'AUSB44A16' / 'Emma Bridgewater' is a medium-sized, repeat-flowering English Shrub rose whose uniqueness is in successful union of densely petalled old-fashioned form, clustered flowering, balanced shrub architecture and unusually mutable colour. This rose variety incorporated the following unique combination of characteristics:

  very full, medium-sized flowers typically containing approximately 125 - 126 petals with a light to moderate Tea fragrance;

  pink-blend colouring capable of developing coral, apricot, mauve and lilac shades as flowers mature;

  profuse flowering in clusters from late spring into autumn or early winter under favourable temperate conditions;

  balanced, semi-upright shrub growth.

The propagation methods suitable for the rose 'Emma Bridgewater' include vegetative grafting, specifically including T-budding onto Rosa laxa rootstock. Because this rose is a protected modern variety in jurisdictions where plant-breeder or patent rights remain in force, propagation for commercial purposes is subject to the applicable intellectual-property rights.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

When compared to the seed parent - unnamed rose seedling, 'Emma Bridgewater' produces smaller individual flowers but substantially more petals.

The pollen parent differs more conspicuously in colour and growth: it bears apricot-orange flowers and forms a larger plant than 'Emma Bridgewater'. The selected seedling therefore combines a more compact shrub with a pink-blend floral phenotype rather than retaining the male parent's predominantly apricot-orange expression.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The most similar rose to 'AUSB44A16' / 'Emma Bridgewater' still available in common trade is the English Shrub rose 'Princess Anne' ('AUSkitchen') and David Austin's patent itself identifies it as a similar non-parental cultivar and specifies measurable distinctions between the two.

Both are repeat-flowering English Shrub Roses, approximately 125 cm in height under David Austin's current European specifications, and both combine clustered pink flowers with Tea-type fragrance. Their ornamental personalities, however, differ markedly. 'Princess Anne' opens deep pink, almost red, before becoming a strong, comparatively pure rich pink. 'Emma Bridgewater' is less saturated and considerably more variable: pink flowers pass through coral and warm apricot shades before cooler mauve and lilac tones become evident.

Flower forms also differ: 'Princess Anne' has about 85 petals, with relatively narrow, unusually substantial petals and larger blooms, while 'Emma Bridgewater' carries approximately 120 - 130 petals in a medium-sized flower, producing a denser, more intricate rosette. The latter's small yellow basal zone and button-eye adds another tonal layer that is less central to the appearance of 'Princess Anne'.

In growth habit, 'Princess Anne' is bushy and upright and is particularly noted for thick, succulent, highly polished foliage. 'Emma Bridgewater' is semi-upright, with very weakly glossy foliage and medium vigour. Thus 'Princess Anne' makes the stronger statement in saturated pink and substantial foliage, whereas 'Emma Bridgewater' is preferable where the intended design depends upon subtle colour transitions and a softer, more impressionistic floral effect.

USDA 6

USDA Zone 6 - hardiness guide