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Rosa × damascena 'Versicolor' (D)

York and Lancaster rose

Lax, spreading rose about 1.5m tall, with greyish-green stems bearing sharp thorns, and greyish-green foliage. Very double, strongly fragrant, blush white flowers, striped or mottled with pink are carried on long stalks, once flowering in midsummer. Very old rose of unknown origin, pre 1600

Other common names
York-and-Lancaster rose
Synonyms
Rosa galllica 'Versicolor' misapplied
Rosa York and Lancaster
see moreRosa × damascena var. versicolor
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Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
1–1.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Grey Silver Green
Summer Pink White Grey Silver Green
Autumn Grey Silver Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Rosaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Fruit are ornamentl - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus

Rosa can be deciduous or semi-evergreen shrubs or scrambling climbers, with usually thorny stems bearing compound pinnate leaves and solitary or clustered flowers. Flowers may be followed by showy red or purple fruits in some varieties.

Name status

Accepted

Horticultural Group
Damask roses are shrubs of loose growth, with prickly stems and semi-double or fully double, usually very fragrant flowers, borne mostly in summer with a slight repeat in autumn

How to grow

Cultivation

Needs fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun to do well. Mulch with well-rotted organic matter in late winter or early spring, and for best flowering apply a general rose or shrub fertiliser in early spring and again in early summer. See rose cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by hardwood cuttings in autumn, softwood cuttings (under glass) in spring or summer or by chip budding in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

See pruning group 20 (roses)

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, rose leafhopper, glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects, caterpillars, large rose sawfly, rose slugworm sawfly and rose leaf-rolling sawfly. Deer and rabbits can cause damage

Diseases

May be susceptible to rose black spot, rose rust, replant disease, rose dieback, and rose powdery mildew. May also be susceptible to disorders rose blindness and flower balling and sometimes honey fungus

Get involved

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