AUSJOLLY – peach-pink English rose – Austin
Stepping outside to the gentle scent of raindrops and soft, peach-pink blooms, this English shrub rose brings effortless romance to Irish cottage borders and Dublin terrace fronts. ‘Mary Magdalene’ (AUSjolly) is bred by David Austin for full, rosette flowers and a strong, spicy-tea fragrance that feels like a quiet evening walk after showers, with green foliage glowing in soft light. Its bushy, upright habit fits neatly into small and medium family gardens, while own-root growing gives reassuring longevity and easy recovery if stems are damaged. In Ireland’s damp, changeable weather, it responds well where soil is improved for better drainage on heavier clay, rewarding you with reliable repeat flushes through the season. Planted once and left to establish, it progresses naturally from settling its roots in the first year, to strong shoot growth in the second, and then a generous, fully developed display by year three.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front cottage border near the path |
Bushy, upright growth and large, soft peach-pink rosettes make a welcoming, romantic focal point beside the front path, ideal for narrow beds typical of Irish cottages and terraced homes, suiting the relaxed gardener beginner. |
| Small family garden feature shrub |
At around a metre high and wide, this shrub fits comfortably in small lawns or mixed borders, offering structure without overwhelming the space and providing dependable character year after year for the time-pressed homeowner. |
| Fragrant seating area or patio corner |
The strong, spicy, tea-like scent is best enjoyed up close, so planting by a bench, patio, or back-door step creates a scented nook that feels like a calm evening walk in soft weather for the fragrance-loving visitor. |
| Own-root long-term planting in family borders |
As an own-root rose it stabilises well, replaces older canes naturally and copes better if pruned hard, giving a long-lived planting that matures steadily with minimal fuss for the long‑term‑thinking gardener. |
| Season-long repeat-flowering display |
Remontant flowering with a plentiful second flush keeps colour returning through a short Irish summer, so borders never look bare for long, especially when dead-headed, satisfying the colour-hungry observer. |
| Partial-shade side border |
Suitable for partial shade, it will still flower well along side paths or north-east facing beds, helping you green up those awkward, not-fully-sunny corners that often frustrate the urban planter. |
| Clay soil beds with improved drainage |
Works reliably in heavier Irish soils once you loosen the ground and mix in organic matter or grit to improve drainage, supporting healthy roots even where winter wet can be an issue for the cautious buyer. |
| Large containers on sheltered patios |
In a 40–50 litre container with quality compost and regular watering, it becomes a compact, fragrant shrub for balconies and patios, bringing cottage-garden charm within arm’s reach for the busy city dweller. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Romantic – Combine with Geranium sanguineum and low yarrows for a soft, pastel cottage feel – for those who like a “girly”, storybook front garden.
- Fragrant-Nook – Place near a bench with lavender and thyme edging to create an intimate, scented corner – for evening tea drinkers and book lovers outdoors.
- Soft-Hedging – Plant in a loose, low hedge at 60 cm spacing to frame a path or lawn – for families who want structure without harsh, formal lines.
- Patio-Showpiece – Grow one plant in a 40–50 litre terracotta pot with trailing herbs – for balcony and courtyard owners craving a single, elegant centrepiece.
- Mixed-Border – Thread through perennial borders with catmint and hardy geraniums for long, layered colour – for gardeners who enjoy relaxed, naturalistic planting.
Technical cultivar profile
| Trait |
Data |
| Name and registration |
English shrub rose from the English Rose Collection; registered as AUSjolly, marketed as Mary Magdalene and Ausjolly English Rose, exhibition category shrub rose. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by David C. H. Austin, Albrighton, UK; parentage unknown; introduced and registered in 1998 by David Austin Roses Ltd as a romantic English shrub rose. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub, typically 90–140 cm high and 80–120 cm wide; dense, matt mid‑green foliage (RHS 137A); moderately thorny shoots, forming a rounded, full-bodied plant. |
| Flower morphology |
Large 7–10 cm rosette blooms, very double with over 40 petals, mainly solitary on stems; remontant habit with particularly generous second flush when regularly dead‑headed. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Soft peach‑pink flowers, ARS Ap; RHS 35D outer and 31C inner petals; buds pastel peach‑pink, fading to creamy pale peach, with stronger lightening in intense sunshine. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, distinctly noticeable perfume with a spicy, tea‑like character; best appreciated near paths, doors, or seating where air movement carries the scent towards the observer. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hips form only occasionally due to very double flowers; when present, spherical orange‑red hips around 12–19 mm add discrete late‑season interest for close observers. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately –26 to –23 °C (H7, USDA 5b, Swedish zone 4); moderate resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; benefits from good airflow and timely care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in fertile, well‑drained loam with improved clay; spacing 70 cm in beds, 60 cm as hedge, 110 cm as specimen; suitable for containers, cut flowers, parks, and urban greens. |
AUSjolly – Mary Magdalene – rewards patient gardeners with romantic repeat flowering, a strong spicy-tea scent and long-lived own-root reliability, making it a thoughtful choice for Irish cottage-style gardens.
