Bred by David Austin in 1983 and named for Henry VIII's recovered warship, Mary Rose has become one of the defining English shrub roses of the modern era. The fully double pink flowers pack 40 to 60 petals into a loose, cupped form with a strong, classic fragrance. Blooms appear in clusters and repeat reliably through frost, on a bushy plant that grows 4 to 5 feet in both directions. Glossy green foliage clothes the thorny stems through the season, and in warmer climates the plant holds a degree of leaf through winter.

Plant in full sun in amended, well-drained soil and give it room to express its natural width. A hedge of Mary Rose in a cottage or cutting garden rewards you with months of cut flowers and a fragrance that carries on the air. Prune in late winter to early spring, cutting back to open up the center and remove any spent or damaged wood. Disease resistance is good, and the plant performs across zones 5 through 10.