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Olivia Rose Austin (Rosa 'Olivia Rose Austin'), whole plant
  • Olivia Rose Austin — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Olivia Rose Austin — seasonal appearance
  • Olivia Rose Austin in a garden setting

Olivia Rose Austin

Rosa 'Olivia Rose Austin'

Easy · Beginner friendly

About Olivia Rose Austin

Olivia Rose Austin is David Austin's most disease-resistant English rose, introduced in 2014 and named for his granddaughter. Producing medium pink cupped rosette blooms with a sweet fruity fragrance on a tidy 3 to 4 foot shrub, it blooms continuously from late spring through hard frost. Considered by David Austin himself as the best rose he had ever bred, a modern benchmark for American English-rose collections.

  • Fragrant
  • Disease-resistant
  • Long-blooming
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Full sun
6+ hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to -20°F (-29°C)
USDA hardiness zones 5–9

How to care for Olivia Rose Austin

Watering

  • Springevery 5 days
  • Summerevery 3 days
  • Fallevery 7 days
  • Winterevery 14 days

Soil · Rich & loamy

  • Top dressingBark mulch15%
  • Main mixRich loam + compost 3:170%
  • DrainageGravel15%

Use fully finished compost — fresh compost burns roots.

FERTILIZER

Balanced Feed 14-14-14

An even feed covers all three needs at once, keeping leaves, roots and blooms moving together with nothing pushed out of balance.

N33%P33%K33%
  • Nitrogen · Leaves
  • Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
  • Potassium · Strength
  • Springevery 30 days
  • Summerevery 30 days
  • Fallevery 45 days
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At a Glance

  • Height3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
  • Spread3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
  • Flower colorPink
  • Foliage colorGreen
  • SoilWell-drained, Loamy, Rich
  • LocationsYard

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Pink cupped rosettes with fruity fragrance, continuous bloom through season

Fragrance

STRONG FRAGRANCE

Classic old-rose fragrance with fruit notes.

Toxicity

Humans Slight

Unknown toxic principle

Slight

  • Stem
  • Contact

EXPOSURE Touching stems.

EFFECT Pricks from thorns.

NOTE Not toxic; thorns cause mechanical injury.

Safe

EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.

EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.

NOTE Listed as non-toxic for dogs; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.

Safe

EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.

EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.

NOTE Listed as non-toxic for cats; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.

Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

History

Illustrated historical scene for Olivia Rose Austin

Rosa 'Olivia Rose Austin' is a soft pink English shrub rose bred by David Austin at Albrighton, England, released in 2014 from proprietary parentage and named for Austin's granddaughter Olivia. Austin reserved the highest family-name honor in his catalog for this rose, and in the catalog entries he described it as possibly the most beautiful English Rose he had ever bred. The perfect rosette-shaped fully double blooms, eight to ten centimeters across, open pure soft pink with a slightly deeper pink heart and age gracefully without turning blousy, carried on bushy upright plants 1.1 meters tall with notably disease-resistant dark green foliage.

A strong classic old-rose fragrance with a subtle hint of fruit complements the form. Austin selected the cultivar to be as easy to grow as a Knock Out while offering full English Rose form and scent.

David Austin publicly called it the best rose he had ever bred, and it has won the Royal National Rose Society's James Mason Gold Medal. It is widely regarded as the benchmark modern English rose in American gardens.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

Olivia Rose Austin is a Beloved legacy in floral form — David Austin named it for his granddaughter, choosing what he considered his finest breeding achievement to carry its name. As a Modern benchmark it sets the standard for new English roses: pure pink, deeply fragrant, reliably healthy. A rose that wears family love openly in its very title.

  • Beloved legacy — David Austin named it for his granddaughter
  • Modern benchmark — considered Austin's finest breeding achievement

Where the Name Comes From

Named for Olivia Rose Austin, granddaughter of rose breeder David Austin.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Soft pink English rosette flowers carry classic fruity perfume
  • Cabbage-style blooms star in romantic bouquets
  • Repeat-flowering David Austin shrub rose for mixed borders

Related plants

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Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Olivia Rose Austin?

In summer, water about every 3 days; in winter, about every 14 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.

How much light does Olivia Rose Austin need?

Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Olivia Rose Austin toxic to cats or dogs?

Pets Safe (Dogs Safe · Cats Safe) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Is Olivia Rose Austin easy to grow?

Yes — it is considered an easy, beginner-friendly plant.

When does Olivia Rose Austin bloom?

It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.

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