Rosa Desdemona

Named after the Venetian beauty and tragic heroine of Shakespeare's Othello, Desdemona is a regal and romantic shrub rose, one of David Austin's® whitest roses. The buds have a very tight form and a pretty peachy-pink color, with each of its 52 petals exhibiting a very light cerise stripe, which fades as the flowers open to a chalice shape and turn pale dusty pink. Fully open, the 2- to 3½-inch blooms become pure white, like fine bone china, and take on a very round, very flat shape that allows its strong old-rose fragrance to waft through the garden and freely release clean, fresh notes of almond blossom, cucumber, and lemon zest. Borne on strong stems, these exceptional blooms make extraordinary cut flowers for bouquets and mixed floral arrangements. A star of the garden, rarely without blooms, Desdemona flowers in flushes over a long season, from late spring or early summer through fall.

The medium-sized shrub grows to approximately 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide, with an attractive neat, rounded, and bushy habit. It's a perfect choice for planting in a patio pot or massing in a long, contemporary container, mixed border, or rose hedge.

For expert tips on how to prune your Desdemona rose, read our blog How to Prune Roses. Additionally, ensure your roses thrive by visiting our Fertilizer & Soil Conditioning supplies page for all the essential nutrients and products your garden needs.