Rose Potter And Moore

Bred from the much-admired ‘Wife of Bath’, this variety was envisioned as a refinement of its predecessor - retaining its robustness and floriferous nature while enhancing bloom form, fullness, and overall charm. It captures the nostalgic beauty of antique roses with the modern repeat-flowering traits of Austin’s breeding program. While ‘Potter And Moore’ may demand patience and extra attention from the gardener, its classic charm, Bourbon-style flowers, and soft pink beauty reward the effort, especially in hotter climates or under attentive care. For those seeking the visual character of an Old Rose with a traceable modern origin, this cultivar offers a fascinating blend of heritage form and contemporary potential.

FLOWERING

This rose variety has a recurrent flowering habit. Blooms in flushes from summer until frosts. The flowers are medium to large, the average diameter of the open flower is about 8 cm (3") cm. Flowers are very full, and they are born in singly or in small clusters of 2 - 3 blooms together.

The blooms are classically cupped in the style reminiscent of Bourbon roses, densely filled with numerous petals that reflex slightly at the edges. Buds are full and rounded, blushing in a deep rose-pink that opens to reveal blooms of carnation pink, with a subtle shading - darker in the center and paling toward the reflexed outer petals, which approach a creamy white.

The fragrance of ‘Potter And Moore’ is mild but sweet, carrying a delicate Old Rose character that is particularly noticeable in warm, dry weather.

PLANT

The rose variety ‘Potter And Moore’ is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. It forms a compact, bushy shrub,and grows to about 90 cm (3 ft) in height in cooler climates and up to 120 cm (4 ft) in warmer zones, with a spread of about 60 - 90 cm (2 - 3 ft).

The new foliage emerges with hints of bronze, eventually maturing to a deep mid-green, creating an attractive backdrop for the soft blooms. The leaves typically bear seven leaflets, a feature associated with Old Rose heritage, and the stems are armed with fine, reddish prickles.

Thanks to its moderate height and old-fashioned bloom form, ‘Potter And Moore’ is well suited to the front or middle of borders, mixed rose beds, or even small garden spaces. The rose’s beautifully shaped blooms make it a lovely cut flower for traditional arrangements. With proper placement and cultural care, it can serve as a focal point of vintage beauty in the garden.

The rose variety ‘Potter And Moore’ displays the best flowering in full sun and when planted in rich, well-drained soil with regular watering. Avoid overhead watering and improve air flow to reduce fungal pressure. This rose requires regular deadheading and pruning to maintain shape and air circulation; requires constant monitoring for mildew and rust.

This rose has a notorious susceptibility to fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, rust, and black spot, especially in humid or wet conditions. Early-season blooms are also prone to balling, particularly in damp weather. However, ‘Potter And Moore’ tends to improve with age, both in disease tolerance and floral performance, especially when established for several seasons.

It shows significant improvement in warm, dry climates, where the blooms are better formed and fungal issues are less prevalent. Gardeners in cooler or wetter regions may need to provide additional care and monitoring to bring out this variety’s full potential.

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 a classic British brand of rose-scented toiletries, ‘Potter And Moore’.

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Auspot’ / 'Potter And Moore' originated by David Austin from a seedling of the English shrub rose ’Ausbath’ / ‘Wife of Bath’.

USDA 6