Abraham Darby is a hybrid shrub rose in the rose family (Rosaceae) bred by David Austin of the United Kingdom in 1985. Parentage is Aloha × Yellow Cushion. It was named after one of the founding figures of the Industrial Revolution. This vigorous shrub grows 5-7 feet tall with a 3-5 foot spread in a bushy rounded form. In mild climates, it can grow 8-10 feet and be trained as a climber if desired. Plant in full sun in amended well-drained moist garden soil. Prune in late winter. The large fully-double flowers are an apricot-yellow-pink blend in a quartered shape with a rich fruity fragrance and 50-70 petals. It blooms nearly continuously in small clusters through fall. The flowers are large and heavy and tend to nod on the stem. Foliage is glossy medium to dark green on nearly prickle-free stems. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Generally disease resistant but susceptible to ruse. See pests of roses to the left. Deer will browse roses. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common rose diseases as well as a factsheet on insects and other related pests. More information on Rosa .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheRosa 'Cornelia'Rosa Heritage 'AUSblush'Rosa Sweet Juliet® 'AUSleap'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Rose
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Climbing; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Glossy leathery mid to dark green leaves
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Pink
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Large 4-5 inch full double flowers are an apricot-pink-yellow blend with a strong fruity fragrance. They have 50-70 petals and bloom in small clusters in flushes throughout the season,
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Stem detail
Stems are nearly prickle-free
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Landscape Use
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; English Garden
Design feature
Border; Hedge; Screen/Privacy; Small groups
Garden tags
#non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #apricot flowers #large flowers #long bloom season #fragrant flowers #English garden #vertical spaces #cutting garden #hedge #border #cottage garden #climbing rose #screen #shrub rose