Rosa 'Tottering by Gently'

Rosa ‘Tottering-by-Gently’ – A Light, Naturalistic Rose Full of Character and Charm

Rosa ‘Tottering-by-Gently’ is one of David Austin’s most distinctive and joyful English shrub roses. Named after Annie Tempest’s much-loved countryside cartoon Tottering-by-Gently, this rose perfectly captures the gentle humour and charm of the series. With its simple, open flowers, soft colouring, and graceful habit, it brings a refreshing naturalistic feel to any garden. It is especially well-suited to gardeners looking for an informal, wildlife-friendly rose that blooms continuously throughout the season.

Unlike the classic, full David Austin rosettes, ‘Tottering-by-Gently’ showcases single, primrose-yellow flowers that glow softly in the garden. Each bloom has five clean, rounded petals surrounding a bright golden eye of stamens. This open structure makes the rose highly attractive to pollinators, contributing to a lively and biodiverse garden. The flowers are borne in generous sprays that move gently in the breeze, creating a sense of lightness and rhythm that is both calming and cheerful.

One of the standout qualities of this rose is its exceptional repeat flowering. It produces clusters of blooms from early summer through to late autumn, ensuring months of colour without major gaps. Because the flowers are self-cleaning, they fall neatly once finished, meaning the plant maintains a tidy, fresh appearance even with minimal care. This makes it an ideal choice for gardeners seeking beauty with low maintenance.

Rosa ‘Tottering-by-Gently’ forms a naturally rounded, free-branching shrub, usually reaching around 1.2–1.3 metres in height. Its mid-green foliage is healthy, abundant, and finely textured, enhancing the airy appearance of the blooms. Gardeners also value this variety for its excellent disease resistance, meaning it performs reliably in a wide range of conditions, including cooler and wetter climates typical of the British Isles and Ireland.

In garden design, this rose’s soft colour and relaxed form make it extremely versatile. It blends effortlessly into cottage-style borders, wildlife-friendly planting schemes, prairie-style gardens, and informal mixed beds. Pair it with lavender, salvia, nepeta, gaura, hardy geraniums, or ornamental grasses to create a floating, meadow-like effect. For a gentle colour palette, it also complements pastel pinks, soft whites, and blues beautifully.

Key Features of Rosa ‘Tottering-by-Gently’

• Simple Primrose-Yellow Blooms: Soft, single flowers with golden centres.

• Pollinator-Friendly: Highly attractive to bees, hoverflies, and beneficial insects.

• Generous Repeat Flowering: Long season of bloom from summer to late autumn.

• Self-Cleaning: Spent petals fall cleanly, keeping the shrub neat with little effort.

• Healthy, Vigorous Shrub: Excellent disease resistance and dependable performance.

• Graceful Structure: Rounded, airy habit approx. 1.2–1.3m tall.

• Versatile Uses: Ideal for borders, wildlife gardens, cottage gardens, and naturalistic planting schemes.

Planting & Care Guide

Sun Requirements:

• Prefers full sun for prolific flowering.

• Will tolerate partial shade, though the number of blooms may be reduced.

Soil:

• Performs best in fertile, moist but well-drained soils.

• Enrich with compost or well-rotted manure before planting.

Watering:

• Water deeply and regularly during establishment.

• Maintain moisture during dry spells to support repeat flowering.

Feeding:

• Feed in spring with a quality rose fertiliser.

• Apply a second feed after the first main flush of flowers.

Pruning:

• Prune in late winter or early spring.

• Remove older, weak, or crossing stems.

• Lightly shape by shortening main stems by around one-third.

Perfect for Garden Centre Displays

With its open, cheerful flowers, story-rich name, and pollinator appeal, Rosa ‘Tottering-by-Gently’ is a customer favourite. Its long flowering season, easy-care nature, and ability to blend into relaxed modern or cottage-style gardens make it an excellent recommendation for gardeners of all skill levels. This rose is perfect for displays highlighting wildlife gardens, low-maintenance planting, or naturalistic design

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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You can pay your online order either by credit card or via Paypal.
If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.