Rose Hilda Murrell

‘Hilda Murrell’ is a rose of old-fashioned elegance and modern resilience. It boasts deep pink, ruffled blooms with rich Damask fragrance, borne on a tall, thorny, upright shrub clad in rough-textured foliage. While it may not be the most floriferous of Austin’s creations, it delivers memorable blooms both in form and scent, especially when grown in groups or allowed to reach its full stature.

FLOWERING

This rose variety has a recurrent flowering habit. Blooms in flushes with rather long breaks with first flush in early summer and second flush typically happen in early autumn.

The flowers of ‘Hilda Murrell’ are large and very full, reaching up to about 11 cm (4.3 inches) in diameter. They open from dark red buds into deep pink rosettes with ruffled edges and a shallowly cupped to flat form. The outer petals reflex widely with time, giving the bloom an almost quartered structure. Flowers are usually borne singly, though occasional clusters may appear.

Their color palette is dynamic, rich pink at first, sometimes touched with hints of apricot or peach at the center, fading gently as they mature into softer pink tones. The backs of the petals are darker, adding depth and visual texture.

The fragrance is one of its finest features, having a rich, Damask character, both sweet and classic, evoking the timeless charm of heritage roses.

PLANT

The rose variety ‘Heritage’ is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. This variety grows into a tall, upright, and vigorous shrub, ranging from 120 - 180 cm (4 - 6 feet) in cooler zones, and potentially can grow up to 275 cm (9 feet) in warmer climates if unpruned. Mature and well-established plants have a height of about 120 - 275 cm (4’ - 9’) and the width of about 90 - 125 cm (3’ - 4’).

There is an abundant quantity of the foliage on the plants of rose variety ‘Hilda Murrell’. The foliage is large, medium to dark green, and distinctly wrinkled, with leaflets that are broad, closely set, and typically arranged in seven leaflets, including the terminal leaflet. Young growth is tinged with red, enhancing the ornamental appeal in early stages of the season.

Its strong, vertical canes are densely covered with crimson prickles, giving the bush a robust, sometimes rugged appearance reminiscent of Rugosa roses.

This rose variety is ideal for planting position in the back of borders, hedges, or standalone feature shrubs in cottage-style gardens. Blends beautifully with silvery-leafed perennials or pastels like lavender, nepeta, or salvia. Produces elegant stems suitable for cutting, though the flowers are best enjoyed on the bush. Thrives best in cool to temperate climates and benefits from hard pruning to maintain a manageable size and shape.

Though vigorous and hardy, ‘Hilda Murrell’ is not immune to diseases. It can be prone to mildew and rust, especially in humid or congested settings, so it benefits from good air circulation and proactive garden hygiene. The resistance to blackspot (diplocarpon rosae) is good under normal growing conditions. The pest resistance has not been tested yet.

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

Named in honor of the British plantswoman and rose conservationist Hilda Murrell (3 February 1906 – on or before 24 March 1984), this rose pays tribute not only to its namesake's passion for preserving old garden roses, but also to the very spirit of the classic Damask bloom. Introduced by David Austin in 1984, just before Murrell’s tragic and mysterious death.

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Ausmurr’ / 'Hilda Murrell' originated by David Austin by crossing female parent (seed parent) - English shrub rose ‘Aussquire’ /‘The Squire’ with the male parent (pollen parent) - an unnamed and unpatented rose seedling of the following origin: [Climbing rose ‘Parade’ x English shrub rose ’Auscer’ / ‘Chaucer’].

USDA 6