Georges Bugnet named this large shrub rose after his daughter, and the gesture feels right: Therese Bugnet has a character that rewards loyalty. Growing 5 to 7 feet tall and equally wide, its loosely double, slightly ruffled pink flowers reach 4 inches across and carry a deep clove fragrance that recalls the old roses of a century past. It blooms on last year's wood, so the only pruning rule worth memorizing is to wait until after flowering before removing the oldest canes, then reduce vigorous new growth by about a third in late winter.

What sets Therese Bugnet apart from flashier modern roses is its understated toughness. The stems are nearly prickle-free and turn red in winter, adding quiet interest to a cold garden. It tolerates air pollution and handles part shade without sulking. Give it full sun, slightly acidic well-drained loam, and a spring application of fertilizer and this rose will flower continuously from spring through late fall with very little fuss. A specimen planting near a path or window lets the fragrance do the work it was bred for.