Plant Profile: Rosa 'AUSbloom'

Rosa AUSbloom features striking dark red blooms that emit a classic old rose fragrance, earning it the nickname "The Dark Lady," inspired by the character from Shakespeare's sonnets. The flowers are medium-sized, typically boasting over 41 petals, although some specimens can have as many as 140. They bloom in small clusters, predominantly showcasing solitary flowers, and their buds are elongated and pointed. This prolific flowering shrub exhibits a bushy, spreading growth habit and is adorned with dark green leaves that consist of five leaflets, along with noticeable thorns.

In terms of vulnerabilities, these plants often fall prey to deer and are somewhat susceptible to various diseases, including rose black spot, powdery mildew, and rose rust. Ensuring adequate air circulation around the plants can help mitigate these issues. Additionally, they may attract pests such as spider mites, rose leaf-rolling sawflies, scale insects, and aphids.

For further details on Rosa, please refer to additional resources.