Introduction & History

Evelyn is one of David Austin's most celebrated English roses, a variety whose sumptuous apricot-peach blooms and extraordinarily powerful fragrance have made it a touchstone of modern rose breeding. Introduced in 1991 and named in collaboration with the English perfumery house Crabtree & Evelyn, this rose was specifically chosen for its scent, which the company considered the finest of any rose they had encountered. The blooms are large, deeply cupped, and filled with over forty petals arranged in a glorious rosette that evokes the romance of old garden roses while performing with the repeat-flowering reliability of a modern hybrid. The fragrance is a complex, heady blend of fresh fruit and old rose, carrying strongly on warm garden air. In the border, Evelyn produces a generous, upright shrub clothed in healthy mid-green foliage, and its willingness to bloom repeatedly from late spring through autumn ensures months of pleasure. Few roses combine such opulence of flower form, richness of color, and intensity of fragrance in a single package.

Breeding History

Evelyn was bred by David Austin and introduced in 1991, registered under the cultivar name 'AUSsaucer'. Its parentage involves a cross between 'Graham Thomas' and 'Tamora', combining the vigor and golden tones of Graham Thomas with the myrrh-scented, rosette-formed blooms of Tamora. The result was a rose of exceptional fragrance and unusually large, shallow-cupped flower form. It was named in partnership with Crabtree & Evelyn, the luxury bath and body company, who selected this variety as the rose whose scent best represented their brand. This commercial partnership was one of the first of its kind in the rose world. Evelyn has been used extensively in David Austin's subsequent breeding program as a parent, contributing its powerful fragrance and generous bloom form to many later introductions.

Flower Form & Fragrance

Evelyn produces very large blooms, often 10 to 12 cm across, with 40 or more petals arranged in a deeply cupped, then opening to a wide, shallow saucer-shaped rosette. The color is a warm blend of apricot and peach, paler at the outer petals and richer toward the center, sometimes with soft pink undertones in cooler weather. The fragrance is exceptionally powerful and has been rated among the strongest of all David Austin roses. It is a complex blend of fresh fruity notes over a rich old rose base, sometimes described as having overtones of ripe peach and citrus. Blooms appear singly and in small clusters of two to three, held on sturdy stems that may nod slightly under the weight of the largest flowers.

Garden Design & Uses

Evelyn excels as a specimen rose in mixed borders, where its large apricot blooms create a warm focal point. Plant near paths, seating areas, or bedroom windows to enjoy the extraordinary fragrance. It combines beautifully with blue and purple companions such as lavender, nepeta, and geranium 'Rozanne' for classic English garden color harmony. The warm apricot tones pair elegantly with bronze fennel, heuchera, and ornamental grasses. Use in groups of three for maximum impact in larger borders. Evelyn also works well in a dedicated fragrance garden alongside other powerfully scented roses such as Gertrude Jekyll and Jude the Obscure.

Growth Habit & Hardiness

Evelyn forms an upright, bushy shrub reaching 90 to 110 cm tall with a spread of approximately 75 to 90 cm. Growth is moderately vigorous, producing sturdy, well-branched canes that create a shapely plant. Foliage is medium green, semi-glossy, and reasonably plentiful. Thorn density is moderate. The plant produces bloom flushes approximately every six weeks from late spring through autumn, with the first and final flushes typically being the most impressive. In warmer climates, the bush may reach up to 120 cm with a slightly more open habit. New basal growth emerges reliably each season, keeping the plant rejuvenated.

Climate & Hardiness

Evelyn is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, performing best in zones 6 to 8 where moderate temperatures allow full fragrance and color development. It tolerates summer heat reasonably well, though blooms may open more quickly and fade faster in temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius. Cold hardiness extends to approximately minus 23 degrees Celsius with appropriate winter protection. Rain can damage the large, petal-heavy blooms, so good drainage and air circulation are important. The variety performs well across most of the United Kingdom and temperate continental Europe.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Planting & Container Growing

Plant in full sun with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8. Prepare the planting hole at least 45 cm wide and deep, enriching with well-rotted manure and garden compost. Set the bud union 5 to 8 cm below soil level in cold climates. Space plants 75 to 90 cm apart. Mulch with 5 to 8 cm of organic material annually. Ensure the site has good air circulation to reduce fungal pressure on the large, densely petalled blooms.

Container Growing

Evelyn is a reasonable candidate for container growing due to its moderate size. Use a pot of at least 45 litres with excellent drainage. Fill with a blend of 60 percent quality potting compost, 20 percent garden soil, and 20 percent perlite. Water when the top 3 cm of soil feels dry, which may be daily in summer. Feed fortnightly with liquid rose fertilizer from April through August. The powerful fragrance makes it superb on patios and balconies. Overwinter containers in an unheated garage or wrap with insulating material in zones 5 to 6. Feasibility rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Seasonal Care & Pruning

Spring: Prune in late February to early March, reducing stems by one-third to one-half to strong outward-facing buds. Apply balanced granular rose fertilizer and fresh mulch. Begin preventive fungicide sprays as leaves emerge. Summer: Deadhead spent blooms promptly to the first strong five-leaflet leaf. Water deeply two to three times weekly. Apply a second feeding in late June. Watch for aphids on new growth. Autumn: Reduce watering and cease feeding by early September. Allow the final blooms to set hips for dormancy signaling. Winter: Apply winter protection mulch in zones 5 to 6. Remove any remaining diseased foliage. Do not prune until spring.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

First, failing to deadhead promptly, which slows the rebloom cycle on this otherwise reliably recurrent variety. Second, planting in too much shade, which weakens fragrance intensity and reduces flower production. Third, neglecting to support heavy bloom-laden stems with discreet staking or peony rings in windy sites. Fourth, over-fertilizing with high-nitrogen feeds, promoting lush foliage at the expense of flowers. Fifth, ignoring early signs of blackspot, to which Evelyn has moderate susceptibility in humid climates.

Propagation

Evelyn is commercially propagated by budding onto Rosa laxa or Rosa canina rootstocks. Softwood cuttings taken in early summer can root with moderate success rates of 45 to 55 percent using rooting hormone and bottom heat. Take 10 to 15 cm cuttings of semi-ripe wood, remove lower leaves, and root in a perlite and peat mix under a humidity cover. Hardwood cuttings in autumn have lower success rates. Own-root plants may be slightly less vigorous initially but develop strong, long-lived specimens. Propagation difficulty is moderate. This variety is protected by plant breeders' rights.

Diseases & Pests

Evelyn has moderate disease resistance typical of English roses of its generation. Blackspot can be problematic in humid climates and wet summers, requiring preventive fungicide treatment. Powdery mildew appears occasionally, particularly in sheltered positions with poor air circulation. The large, densely petalled blooms can ball in prolonged wet weather, failing to open and developing botrytis. Aphids target new growth and flower buds in spring. Sawfly larvae may cause leaf damage. Spider mites can appear in hot, dry summers. A regular spray program and good garden hygiene minimize most issues.

Cut Flowers & Exhibition

Evelyn is superb as a cut flower, with large blooms and exceptional fragrance that perfumes an entire room. Cut stems in early morning when buds are one-third to one-half open. Take 25 to 35 cm stems, strip lower foliage, and place immediately in warm water with floral preservative. The full, rosette-form blooms open beautifully in the vase. Vase life is 5 to 7 days. A single stem in a bud vase can scent a bedroom. For arrangements, pair with blue delphiniums or white sweet peas.

Collector & Exhibition Notes

Evelyn holds significant collector value as one of the definitive fragrance roses in the David Austin collection and as the namesake of the Crabtree & Evelyn partnership. For exhibition, it competes strongly in English rose and shrub rose classes, where its large, well-formed rosettes and powerful scent earn high marks. Show blooms should be cut at the half-open stage for best presentation. The variety is also valued in fragrance competitions and rose trials. It remains commercially available from David Austin Roses, ensuring accessibility for new collectors.

Comparison with Similar Roses

Compared to 'Jude the Obscure', another powerfully fragrant Austin apricot rose, Evelyn has a more open, saucer-shaped bloom and slightly better disease resistance, while Jude the Obscure offers a more globular flower form and fruity-guava fragrance. Against 'Crown Princess Margareta', Evelyn is more compact with larger individual blooms but less vigorous overall. Versus 'Port Sunlight', Evelyn has deeper apricot tones and stronger fragrance but is slightly more susceptible to blackspot.

Heritage & Conservation

Evelyn is well-established in commerce and maintained in the David Austin Roses collection at Albrighton, England. As a key parent in Austin's breeding program, its genetics are preserved through its descendants. The variety is not at risk commercially, though older Austin introductions occasionally face discontinuation as the catalogue evolves. Its importance as a breeding parent and as the Crabtree & Evelyn namesake ensures it will remain in cultivation for the foreseeable future.

Cultural Significance

Evelyn occupies a unique place at the intersection of horticulture and the luxury fragrance industry. Its partnership with Crabtree & Evelyn brought rose gardening into the world of high-end consumer products and demonstrated that a rose's scent could be a marketable commodity in itself. The variety has been featured in numerous fragrance studies and rose perfumery articles. In the David Austin catalogue, Evelyn serves as a benchmark for fragrance quality, and it has influenced how breeders market and communicate scent intensity to consumers.

Frequently Asked Questions