Discovered by Malcomb Lowe in 1986 as a sport of the well-regarded Westerland, Autumn Sunset was released to American gardeners the following year and went on to win Great Plants Picks in 2007. The double blooms are two to three inches across, opening in an apricot-orange-yellow blend with a pronounced fruity fragrance. Repeat-blooming throughout the season in flushes, the plant flowers on both old and new wood, which means a hard prune in late winter will not sacrifice the first flush. Glossy dark green leaves and prickle-armed stems are characteristic of the variety.

Left to climb, Autumn Sunset can reach twelve feet and spread four to five feet wide, making it effective on fences, trellises, arbors, and any vertical structure that benefits from soft, warm color. Cutting it back as a shrub keeps it in the five-to-eight-foot range and suits mixed borders or cottage garden settings equally well. It is hardy from zones 4 through 9 and shows good disease resistance. Flowers left unpruned at the end of the season will set rose hips, extending ornamental interest and providing food for birds.