Rose Proud Titania

‘Proud Titania’ is a classically styled English Shrub Rose with old-fashioned form, creamy-white blooms, and medium sweet fragrance, this rose evokes the ethereal beauty of antique roses. Though no longer promoted by its breeder due to its susceptibility to disease, ‘Proud Titania’ has found a niche among collectors and gardeners in warm, dry climates where its challenges are minimized and its graceful form can be fully appreciated.

FLOWERING

The rose variety ‘Proud Titania’ has a recurrent flowering habit, it repeats the flowering, though inconsistently; with stronger flush later in season. The flowering improves with plant maturity.

The blooms are large, up to 10 cm in diameter (~3.9 inches) when fully open, very double (about 35 petals), and carried either singly or in small clusters. They open from rounded, cream-colored buds into flat, expansive rosettes with a distinct button eye. The petals are creamy white, often flushed with the faintest pink or buff blush at the center, especially in warm weather, and backed with a hint of pale pink on the reverse.

The form is intricate and multi-layered: quilled, narrow petals cluster densely in the middle, framed by broader outer petals with gentle notches. The result is a richly textured flower that exudes a medium to strong, sweet Damask-like fragrance, often compared to heritage roses.

PLANT

The rose variety ‘Proud Titania’ is classified as a Shrub rose and is part of David Austin’s English Shrub Roses collection. This rose is a tall, upright shrub with arching canes and a graceful, informal appearance. In warm climates, ‘Proud Titania’ can reach up to 180 cm (6 ft) in height and spread, making it suitable for use as a short climber, tall border specimen, or self-pegging shrub. In cooler regions, it maintains a more modest size of around 120 - 140 cm (4 - 4.5 ft) both in width and in height.

Foliage is small, semi-glossy, and dark green, but unfortunately highly susceptible to fungal diseases such as mildew, rust, and black spot, particularly in humid or damp spring conditions. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is usually 5, including the terminal leaflet. Canes are prickled with thorns of various sizes, making handling more challenging.

While aesthetically captivating, ‘Proud Titania’ is considered one of the more temperamental early English Roses. In cool or damp climates, its blooms often ball (fail to open), and its foliage suffers from persistent mildew and rust, even with standard care. Repeating blooms can be erratic, especially in the first few seasons.

However, in hot, arid climates, the rose’s performance improves markedly: blooms open cleanly, fragrance intensifies, and the disease pressure significantly diminishes. Under such conditions, the rose can thrive and dazzle, covering itself with large nodding blooms during its main flush and continuing sporadically throughout the season.

Due to its growth character and size, ‘Proud Titania’ can serve as a statement shrub, informal climber, or even be used in self-pegged training systems in classic rose borders. Gardeners in dry-summer climates may find it a hidden treasure for fragrance and heritage charm. However, it is not ideal for beginners or regions with wet springs unless carefully managed.

Rose variety is recommended for growing in climate conditions similar to USDA 5 and requires winter protection in more colder climates.

Introduced by David Austin in 1983, drawing its name from the regal fairy queen Titania in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream:

• “Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania,” said Oberon.

English Shrub Roses

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Austania’ / 'Proud Titania' originated by David Austin by crossing two unnamed and unpatented rose seedlings of class Rosa hybrida.

USDA 5