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Alba Maiden's Blush rose

Rosa (RO-zuh)

Family: Rosaceae Unknown Shrub (3-15 ft)

Maiden's Blush is a hybrid shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae) by an unknown breeder in the 1500s. It was introduced in Australia in 1843 as 'Maiden's Blush'. Parentage is uncertain. This is a vigorous old-time shrub rose that grows 5-8 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide. Plant in full sun to part shade where the fragrance can be enjoyed. Prune after flowering is finished. Tolerant of a wide range of soils but needs regular fertilization. The fragrant white-pink blend double flowers are 2-4 inches wide with more than 40 petals. The canes are nearly prickle-free and the foliage is glossy gray-green. Use this shrub in the border or as a hedge in a cottage, English or cutting garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Good disease resistance. See pests of roses to the left. Deer will browse roses. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Rosa .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 45 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

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 niche Rosa 'Belle Poitevine' Rosa 'Madame Hardy' Syringa oblata

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Rose; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Medium, semi-glossy, gray-green foliage. 5 to 7 leaflets.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Dome
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
2-4 inch white to pink blush blooms with 40-50 petals each. Petals remain slightly incurred on themselves. No repeat blooming.
Bloom time
Summer
Stem detail
Nearly thornless canes
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Landscape Use
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden
Design feature
Border; Hedge
Garden tags
#hardy #double flowers #white flowers #disease resistant #shrub #pink flowers #fragrant flowers #full sun tolerant #partial shade tolerant #hedge #English garden #cottage garden #cutting garden #shrub rose
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Potato Aphid on Ornamental Plants; Pests of Rose
Other problems
White-Tailed Deer
Propagation
Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.