Part of the English Rose Collection and bred by David Austin in 1990, Lilac Rose is among the more unusual entries in that catalog for its color. The large double flowers are pink with a distinctly lilac cast, a combination that reads as genuinely different in the garden rather than just another pink rose. Fragrance is strong, and the blooms repeat reliably in flushes from spring through fall. Bees are drawn to the open flowers as they age and loosen.

The plant reaches 2 to 4 feet in height and width, making it suitable for hedges, foundation plantings, and specimen positions in smaller gardens. Zones 5 through 9 work well. Good air circulation is important for keeping disease pressure low, so avoid crowding it against walls or other plants. Water at the base rather than overhead, prune out dead and crossing branches in late winter, and avoid the temptation to skip that pruning step, as open structure is the best preventive measure against the fungal issues that can trouble this variety.