Rosa Tess of the d'Urbervilles®

Everything about this rose is irresistible: rich red tones, romantic, fully double form, a climbing yet compact habit, and a rich old rose fragrance!

Tess of the d'Urbervilles® is named for an 1891 novel by British author Thomas Hardy. The tragic story follows the main character, Tess, a peasant woman who aspires to earn her place among the noble d'Urberville family, but in the process finds blood on her hands. The rich red colors, ever-striving habit, and romantically plush blooms are all a perfect expression of Tess' beauty.

Rose breeders have long faced a nasty dilemma: grow the high-performing modern hybrids, but miss out on fragrance, or grow the richly-scented antique roses, but miss out on that hybrid vigor. This is why David Austin bred his own, third group: the English Rose. The culmination of over 60 years' work, the English Roses represent the first totally new development in Roses since the introduction of the Hybrid Teas in the 1860's, and the Floribundas in the early 1930's. Seeking to create repeat flowering, disease-resistant shrubs for today's smaller gardens, David Austin selected the parents well: Old Shrub Roses for vigor and full doubling of the flowers, Floribunda or Cluster Roses for modern colors, scents, glossy foliage, and repeat flowering.

Originally introduced to American gardeners by Wayside Gardens, the English Roses have created a sensation among Rose growers, and because of their superior performance have caused all gardeners to reassess the value of Roses in general as garden plants. Wayside is proud to present to you here the very best of the English Roses, like Tess of the d'Urbervilles ®!

Plant Tess of the d'Urbervilles® in a sunny spot with rich, moist, and well-draining soil. Free blooming, deeply cupped, and delightfully perfumed, this red English Rose is a gift for the garden! Zones 5 to 9.