Spotlight on Emma Bridgewater™
(Ausb44a16)
Emma Bridgewater™ (Ausb44a16) is an exciting new addition to the English Shrub Rose family, introduced in 2024. This medium-sized shrub rose grows broad and upright yet maintains a compact, bushy shape, making it a versatile choice for various garden settings. Whether planted in borders, creating romantic rose hedges, or adding vibrant pops of colour in pots and containers, the Emma Bridgewater™ rose’s unique colour palette of pink, coral-pink, mauve, and lilac will make a lasting impact in any garden.
BEHIND THE NAMEThis rose is named in honour of the iconic British potter Emma Bridgewater, whose designs have become synonymous with British craftsmanship and charm. The Emma Bridgewater™ rose brings the heart of the home into the garden, embodying the warmth and timeless appeal of Emma’s beloved pottery. It’s a fitting tribute to a figure who has brought so much beauty and joy to homes across the world.
BEST FOR FRAGRANCEThis rose is named in honour of the iconic British potter Emma Bridgewater, whose designs have become synonymous with British craftsmanship and charm. The Emma Bridgewater™ rose brings the heart of the home into the garden, embodying the warmth and timeless appeal of Emma’s beloved pottery. It’s a fitting tribute to a figure who has brought so much beauty and joy to homes across the world.
COMPANION PLANTING
The Emma Bridgewater™ rose, with its broad, upright growth and colourful blooms, pairs beautifully with a variety of companion plants. Its pink, coral, mauve, and lilac tones kaleidoscope can be enhanced by planting alongside flowers that provide complementary colours and textures, creating a harmonious and visually appealing garden design.
SUGGESTED COMPANION PLANTS:
Lupins (Lupinus): The tall, spiky blooms of lupins add vertical interest and a striking contrast to the Emma Bridgewater™ rose. White or soft pink lupins blend beautifully with the rose’s changing hues, creating a soft, romantic palette. Lupins also attract beneficial pollinators, enhancing the ecological diversity of your garden.
Foxgloves (Digitalis): Foxgloves bring elegance and a traditional cottage garden feel with their towering spires of bell-shaped flowers. Opt for white or pale pink foxgloves to complement the rich tones of the Emma Bridgewater™ rose. The tall, graceful stems of foxgloves add vertical drama and a touch of nostalgia to your garden display.
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A Return to Simplicity: The Beauty of Planting Bare Root RosesPlanting a bare root rose is a gesture of quiet confidence, a small act of faith in the turning of the seasons. It asks the gardener to trust in time, in patience, and in the rose’s own ancient rhythm. Long before plastic pots and glossy labels, this was how roses were grown and shared. Lifted carefully from the fields in autumn, their roots bare and bundled, they travelled lightly, ready to settle into new gardens and new soil.
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World Mental Health Day: How Gardening Nurtures the MindAs World Mental Health Day reminds us, the way we care for our minds can be as natural and nourishing as tending a garden. Among plants, soil, and sky, we find a space that allows both body and spirit to rest and renew. Few experiences embody this better than the simple act of planting a rose. It asks for patience, attentiveness, and trust in the rhythm of life, and it rewards us with beauty that feels deeply earned.
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What to Plant with English Roses for Autumn ColourBy the end of September, the rose garden is changing. The exuberance of summer is fading, and the rhythm of the season is slowing. Many English Roses are setting hips now, their once-constant flowers giving way to clusters of glowing fruits. Yet the borders need not feel diminished. With the right companions, roses can be framed and supported so that the garden still sings with colour, texture and grace well into autumn.
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An English Rose Garden Fit for a Period DramaImagine a garden where the air is filled with the gentle perfume of roses and every corner seems to invite a pause, a quiet moment of reflection. English shrub roses, with their soft, cupped blooms and delicate fragrances, have long been linked with the elegance and charm of period dramas. These gardens are more than a collection of plants. Each rose adds to the story, creating a sense of romance and timeless beauty.
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When Music Meets the Garden: Roses Inspired by the PromsEach summer the Proms bring music, tradition and joy to the Royal Albert Hall. From the first shimmering notes to the final chorus, audiences are carried into a world where sound becomes memory. At David Austin®, we mark this festival in our own way, with roses that are themselves named after music and musicians who have moved us. These varieties hold within them the same qualities of rhythm, harmony and timeless beauty.
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Penelope Lively™ (Ausb18a15): A Rose for a StorytellerSome roses seem to hold a story in their petals, and Rosa Penelope Lively® (Ausb18a15) is one of them. Named for the much-loved writer, this English Shrub Rose carries both elegance and quiet depth, a living tribute to a voice that has shaped contemporary literature.
