Northwest Blooms · Roses
Rosa 'Carding Mill'
Carding Mill Rose
- Rose type
- Shrub
- Height
- 3 to 4 feet
- Bloom size
- Medium (2–4 in)
- Flower color
- Apricot-pink to soft yellow, aging to creamy outer petals
- Fragrance
- Strong
About this plant
Rosa 'Carding Mill' is an English shrub rose with full, cupped rosette blooms in glowing apricot tones that soften to cream at the edges. These richly petaled flowers emit a distinctive myrrh fragrance, especially noticeable in early morning. Blooming in abundant flushes from late spring through fall, they are held on upright, slightly arching stems above glossy, semi-gloss foliage. The clean leaves support repeated showings of silky blooms.
Bred in Great Britain by David C. H. Austin and introduced in 2004, 'Carding Mill' draws its name from a scenic Shropshire valley near the Austin nursery. This rose is valued for its reliable disease resistance and consistent repeat flowering. Its warm hues, refined form, and sweet scent make it a graceful addition to cottage gardens, borders, or fragrance-focused plantings.
Planting & care
Roses reward a sunny, open site with at least six hours of direct light, good air movement, and well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Water deeply and less often, soaking the root zone while keeping the leaves dry, and mulch with two to three inches of compost or shredded bark held back from the canes. Feed repeat-blooming roses in early spring as growth starts and again after the first flush, then prune in late winter to remove dead or crossing canes and open the center. Shrub roses need only light thinning, keeping their natural full shape and repeat bloom.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Portland International Rose Test Garden.
