Rose White Leda

‘Leda’ is an old, highly fragrant Damask rose bred by an unknown English breeder in the UK before 1827. This variety is celebrated for its striking contrast of milk-white blooms edged with deep crimson, accompanied by a rich and intense fragrance.

Flower Characteristics

The flowers are medium-sized (6–9 cm), very full, and have flat rosette shape with an old-fashioned button-eye, exuding a strong old rose scent. The milk-white petals occasionally have a soft blush of pale pink and are bordered with dark red or uneven crimson-pink edges, creating a stunning contrast between the white and crimson outline.

The blooms appear in small clusters, typically in late spring or early summer.

The flowering is abundant, mostly once per season, though occasional repeat blooms may occur.

Foliage and Growth Habit

The foliage is attractive, ranging from gray-green to bright dark green depending on soil type, and sometimes surprises with autumnal blush tones. The shrub is medium-sized, compact, and well-branched, reaching heights of 90–180 cm (3–6 feet) and widths of 60–120 cm (2–4 feet). Its stems are prickly, and the rose eventually transitions to its own roots, producing suckers.

Uses in Garden Design

‘Leda’ is versatile in garden settings. It works well in mixed borders, landscape compositions, or tall hedges. It can be planted in small groups for an English or cottage garden style and is suitable for container or pot cultivation. Its flowers are also excellent for cutting.

Care and Pruning

Pruning should be done after the flowering. This rose blooms on old wood. A pruning guide for summer-flowering Damask roses recommends removing one or two very old stems after flowering to maintain vigor.

Provide full sun, moist, fertile soil, and fertilize in spring and summer. Mulching helps retain soil moisture.

Disease Resistance and Growing Conditions

‘Leda’ has good disease resistance but requires monitoring for black spot and mildew. The fragrant blooms attract bees and insects, including pests like beetles and aphids. Without treatment, it can suffer damage from these pests.

It tolerates partial shade, poor soils, and is rain-resistant. Ideal growing conditions include exposure to the east, south, or west, full sunlight, and compatibility with all soil types (though chlorosis may occur on heavy alkaline soils).

Hardiness

Rose variety ‘Leda’ is winter hardy in climate zones similar to USDA Zones 4b to 9b.

Unfortunately we do not have information about the origin of the name of this rose.

"Perhaps 'Leda' is a sport from 'Pink Leda' variety, but more likely the other way around, that 'Pink Leda' sported from the rose variety 'Leda' (Beales, Roses, 168; Thomas, The Old Shrub Roses, 158)."

•Beales, Peter. Roses. Henry Holt and Company, Inc., 1992.

•Thomas, Graham Stuart. The Old Shrub Roses. Chas. T. Branford Co., 1956.

USDA 4 and warmer