'Vanity' is a hybrid musk shrub rose in the rose family (Rosaceae) bred by Rev. Joseph Hardwick Pemberton in 1920. Parentage is Château de Clos Vougeot × Unnamed Seedling. After 2 to 5 years, the vigorous shrub reaches 4-10 feet tall and 3–5 feet wide. It tolerates shade but prefers full sun. For best flowering, plant in fertile, moist, well-drained soil with good air circulation. Fertilize in late winter and early summer and mulch in the winter to encourage flowering. Prune up to 1/3 of the shrub lightly in late winter. Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer, hardwood cuttings in autumn, or grafting in the summer. The 2–3-inch, fragrant flowers are deep pink with darker edges and 9-16 petals, appearing in large clusters in flushes throughout the season. Rose hips will follow if the flowers are not pruned off. The leaves are glossy green on stems with prickles. Let 'Vanity' climb against a wall or fence. Grow it as a specimen or in borders in a cottage, cutting, or pollinator garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Good disease resistance. Watch for powdery mildew, rust and black spot in humid conditions. See pests of roses to the left. Deer will browse roses. 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 Heritage 'AUSblush'Rosa 'The Garland'Rosa 'Thelma'
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; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 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
Arching; Erect; Open
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
leathery glossy rich green foliage
Flower color
Pink
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Long Bloom Season
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The flowers are deep pink with carmine-pink edges and a musk fragrance. They are single to semi-double with 9-16 petals. The large clusters of 2.5" flowers bloom spring to winter.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit detail
Will produce large rose hips if some of the flowers are not pruned off.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
Stems have prickle
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Attracts
Bees
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Pome
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Rock Wall; Vertical Spaces
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Border; Hedge; Screen/Privacy; Small groups; Specimen