Bred by David Austin in 1987 from Mary Rose crossed with Prospero®, The Dark Lady draws its name from the unnamed woman of Shakespeare's later sonnets. The flowers are deeply doubled, globular, and dark red, holding 40 to 140 petals that curl slightly at the outer edges. At 3 to 5 inches wide, they are among the largest in the English rose collection, and they rebloom from summer through fall. Cut flowers hold for 5 to 7 days. In warmer climates the color softens toward dark pink.

At 4 feet tall with a spread up to 6 feet, this is a broadly arching shrub that requires some space. Good air circulation is not optional: it helps ward off black spot, powdery mildew, and rust, to which The Dark Lady is somewhat susceptible. Plant in full sun with fertile, moist, well-drained soil, fertilize in early spring and summer, and deadhead consistently to sustain the bloom cycle. In a border, cottage garden, or cutting garden, it makes a commanding presence through zones 5 to 10.