Rose Hero

‘Hero’ is a distinctive and highly fragrant English shrub rose which is celebrated for its exquisite pure pink blooms, poised elegance, and the captivating power of its myrrh fragrance. It is one of the early triumphs of David Austin’s breeding program - combining Old Rose charm with modern performance and remains a beloved choice for gardeners seeking a rose that blooms abundantly and smells divine, even if its growth habit demands a bit of thoughtful placement.

FLOWERING

This rose variety has a recurrent flowering habit. Blooms in flushes with short breaks from summer until frosts, the flowering is long and generous, often described as almost never out of flower. The number of blooms per plant during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count. Regular deadheading enhances rebloom.

‘Hero’ produces medium to large semi-double flowers, typically around 9 - 10 cm (3.5 - 4 inches) in diameter. The blooms begin as pointed red or coral-pink buds, gradually unfolding into deep globular cups in early flushes. As the season progresses, later blooms open more widely into shallow cups, offering a dynamic floral display that shifts with time and temperature.

Each flower is a soft yet vibrant clear pink, often showing hints of coral near the center and fading gracefully to blush at the edges. The stamens, glowing gold with crimson filaments, are revealed as the petals reflex slightly, adding a glowing heart to the bloom. The petals are broad, notched and overlap so generously that the blooms often look double at first glance. The petals of this rose variety have good self-cleaning quality, they normally drop off cleanly before drying.

The flowers are borne in small open sprays or clusters of 3 - 7, and appear on long, slender, arching stems, with each bud well spaced so every bloom is shown off, making them ideal for cutting. Their rich myrrh scent - a signature of many early English Roses - is profound and lasting, making 'Hero' as delightful to the nose as to the eye.

PLANT

The rose variety 'Hero' is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. It grows with a tall, willowy, and somewhat open habit, often reaching 120 - 150 cm (4–5 feet ) in height and width. In hot climates, it can climb to nearly 300 cm (10 feet) in height with light support.

The shrub tends to be sparsely foliated, with light green leaves occasionally tinged with bronze in new growth. Foliage is arranged in 5 - 7 leaflets, with a subtle grey cast. While the overall appearance may seem airy or even gawky when planted alone, ‘Hero’ shines when grouped in threes, creating a magnificent shared silhouette that hides any legginess and adds visual mass to the border.

The stems are long and relatively smooth, though scattered prickles appear - green and red on young growth. Its overall stature is graceful, but it may require companion planting or thoughtful placement among taller perennials or other roses to mask its open structure. They also tend to bend outward under the weight of flowers.

It performs well in both cool and warm climates, but is especially vigorous and capable of climbing in hotter zones. Full sun gives the strongest colour and quickest repeat but the blooms may sun-fade in extreme heat, though colour generally holds; a dash of afternoon shade is tolerated in hot interiors.

The rose variety 'Hero' is fairly robust but has light-to-moderate susceptibility to rust and mildew in still, humid air. Basic preventative care and good air circulation recommended - start a preventative programme of weekly organic sprays (sulphur or potassium bicarbonate) once leaves appear. Good airflow and clean-up of fallen leaves keep problems minimal.

Rose variety is recommended for growing in climate conditions similar to USDA 6 and requires winter protection in more colder climates.

Whether adorning a walkway in mass plantings, mingling with tall perennials, or ascending a warm garden wall, ‘Hero’ lives up to its name: dignified, striking, and worth celebrating. It is very well suited for mass plantings and for hedges - rows or drifts deliver a sheet of pure pink and perfume. It can be used on an obelisk, pergola leg or along split-rail fencing, ‘Hero’ arches into a loose, informal climber and adds astonishing vertical accents. The semi double form of this rose provides open access to pollen for bees; spent blooms set attractive hips if not dead-headed and this makes it look very natural in wildlife gardens. The long flexible stems of ‘Hero’ clip easily for arrangements; stamens add a fresh “just-picked” look.

Named for Shakespeare’s virtuous Hero of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ (and echoing the mythic priestess loved by Leander).

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Aushero’ / 'Hero' originated by David Austin by crossing female parent (seed parent) - English shrub rose ‘The Prioress’ with the male parent (pollen parent) - an unnamed and unpatented rose seedling.

USDA 6