Rosa 'The Ancient Mariner'

Rosa ‘The Ancient Mariner’ – A Majestic, Abundantly Flowering English Rose

Rosa ‘The Ancient Mariner’ is an exquisite English shrub rose from David Austin, celebrated for its large, opulent blooms, powerful fragrance, and generous, long-lasting flowering season. Named after the famous Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, this variety brings a sense of drama, romance, and presence to the garden. It is a rose that delivers both scale and elegance, making it highly desirable for gardeners who want a truly standout shrub.

The blooms of ‘The Ancient Mariner’ are notably large, full, and deeply cupped. Each flower is packed with petals arranged in a swirling rosette shape, giving a luxurious and textured appearance. The colour is a soft warm pink, with a slightly deeper centre that adds richness and depth. As the flowers mature, they open wider but never lose their form or beauty. When the plant is in full flush, the effect is breathtaking—dozens of oversized blooms covering the shrub in layers of romantic pink.

Equally impressive is its intense fragrance. Rosa ‘The Ancient Mariner’ has a strong, classic old-rose scent with warm, honeyed undertones that carry beautifully through the garden. This makes it an excellent choice for planting near patios, entrances, walkways, or seating areas where the perfume can be fully appreciated.

This variety forms a vigorous, upright shrub, typically reaching around 1.4–1.5 metres in height. It has a strong structural presence that works beautifully in large borders, cottage-garden settings, and mixed beds where height and volume are desired. Despite its strong size, it maintains an elegant, balanced shape with healthy mid-green foliage that remains attractive throughout the season. Its excellent disease resistance ensures reliable performance even in challenging weather.

Rosa ‘The Ancient Mariner’ is a superb repeat-flowering rose, producing regular flushes from early summer through to autumn. The blooms appear in clusters, often with multiple large flowers per stem, creating a sense of abundance and drama. This constant production makes it an ideal rose for gardeners who want continuous colour and impact throughout the warmer months.

In terms of companion planting, this rose pairs beautifully with soft-toned perennials such as lavender, nepeta, astrantia, salvia, veronica, lady’s mantle, and hardy geraniums. Its height and presence also make it ideal as a backdrop to lower planting or as a central feature in a rose border.

Key Features of Rosa ‘The Ancient Mariner’

• Large, Showy Blooms: Deeply cupped pink rosettes with impressive size and fullness.

• Strong Fragrance: Rich old-rose scent with warm, sweet undertones.

• Outstanding Repeat Flowering: Blooms abundantly from early summer to autumn.

• Vigorous, Upright Habit: Reaches approx. 1.4–1.5m, giving structure and presence.

• Healthy and Reliable: Excellent disease resistance and robust growth.

• Beautiful Foliage: Mid-green leaves that stay fresh and attractive.

• Versatile Garden Use: Ideal for borders, mixed beds, cottage gardens, and feature planting.

Planting & Care Guide

Sun Requirements:

• Thrives in full sun for maximum flower production.

• Tolerates light shade but will produce fewer blooms.

Soil:

• Prefers fertile, well-drained but moisture-retentive soil.

• Improve planting areas with compost or well-rotted manure.

Watering:

• Water deeply during establishment and during dry spells.

• Keep soil evenly moist in summer for best flowering.

Feeding:

• Feed with a high-quality rose fertiliser in early spring.

• Feed again after the first flush of blooms to encourage continued flowering.

Pruning:

• Prune in late winter or early spring.

• Remove weak stems and shorten remaining stems by one-third.

• Aim for an open, balanced shape to encourage airflow.

Perfect for Garden Centre Displays

Rosa ‘The Ancient Mariner’ stands out brilliantly in garden centre displays thanks to its huge blooms, strong fragrance, and majestic presence. Customers looking for a dramatic, high-impact rose are instantly drawn to it. With its dependable health and superb flowering, it is a variety that appeals to both experienced gardeners and those new to roses.

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.