Rosa 'La Belle Distinguée' (RH)

Roses Shrubs

A vigorous, compact, bushy deciduous shrub rose to around 120cm in height, with small, delicate dark green foliage on arching stems, which emit a slight fragrance of apple. Double, cup-shaped, bright fuchsia-pink flowers appear in early summer followed by oval-shaped red fruits

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
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 ornamental - 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
Unresolved
Horticultural Group
Rubiginosa hybrids (Hybrid Sweet Briar) are vigorous, arching, deciduous shrubs with prickly stems bearing apple-scented foliage, and cupped single flowers in summer, followed by ovoid red fruits

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. 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

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

See pruning group 20 (shrub roses), don't deadhead flowers if fruit (hips) are required

Diseases

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