Rose Lucetta

‘Lucetta’ is an elegant, arching English rose of refined beauty and versatile growth habit. Stands out for its large, open blooms of soft blush pink, romantic growth habit, and enduring garden performance. Adds a poetic charm and movement to borders, pillars, and informal hedges.

FLOWERING

This rose variety has a recurrent flowering habit. The flowering is recurrent: after the first flush in late spring to early summer, further blooming cycles continue through summer and into autumn. In newly planted specimens, rebloom may be modest until the plant is well-established.

Flowers open from clear pink buds and retain a soft, rounded shape, eventually forming flat rosettes that display a generous boss of golden stamens, which fade to brown over time. Blooms appear in relaxed clusters of 3–7, held gracefully above the foliage and well-distributed along the length of arching canes.

‘Lucetta’ offers large, semi-double blooms with a casual, saucer-like form that feels both open and classical. Each flower measures approximately 12 cm (4.7–5 inches) in diameter, with scalloped and ruffled petals of blush pink that lighten with age to creamy white. Some blooms exhibit subtle saffron or apricot tones at the base, particularly in warm light, creating a watercolor effect across the shrub.

The fragrance is strong and richly perfumed, classic, with hints of sweet Old rose and fruits. It is consistent throughout the flowering season, making this rose a pleasure both visually and aromatically.

PLANT

‘Lucetta’ is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. Forms a medium to large shrub with a relaxed, arching habit, and can easily transition between being a freestanding shrub or trained as a low climber or pillar rose. It reaches approximately 125 - 200 cm (4 - 7 ft) in height and 125 - 180 cm (4 - 6 ft) in width, depending on the climate and pruning style. In hot climates or with support, it may stretch up to 250 (8 ft).

This rose’s long, supple canes make it ideal for training around a tripod or small obelisk or arches. Self-pegging techniques help reduce vertical height, encourage side branching, and improve flower production by stimulating lateral bud development. It is Ideal for large borders, background plantings, or as part of a mixed rose bed. Planting two or three in a group enhances the full, mounded form and increases visual impact.

Looks naturally in cottage-style borders, adding movement, fragrance, and lightness when interwoven among perennials. This rose is especially effective when allowed to arch gently over paths or spill naturally through herbaceous companions. Its soft coloring complements silver foliage, purples, or deeper-toned roses.

The foliage is lush, dark green, and semi-glossy, with a leathery texture and good disease resistance. Leaves are typically composed of seven leaflets. New growth emerges with reddish edges, while the canes themselves carry small, well-spaced red-tipped green prickles. ‘Lucetta’ thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It benefits from airflow and good spacing to reduce the risk of mildew in humid climates. It is rarely without flowers during the season and performs with quiet resilience, making it a dependable component of cottage gardens or mixed borders.

As most rose plants, it grows best in well-drained soil with regular watering, and performs well in USDA zones 5 - 9 (with winter protection in colder regions). Minimal pruning needed beyond shaping and as usual deadheading encourages repeat blooms.

Rose variety ‘Lucetta’ is generally disease-resistant and reliable, though occasional rust or mildew may occur in poorly ventilated areas.

Named for Lucetta, the witty and loyal lady-in-waiting to Julia in Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona, this rose reflects its namesake’s graceful presence and understated charm.

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ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The parentage of ‘Ausemi’ / ‘Lucetta’ remains undocumented, but its style places it among Austin’s Heritage-type English Roses, combining old-world bloom form with modern reblooming traits. It was released in 1983 as part of Austin’s early efforts to refine the shrub rose form.

USDA 5