MACBETH™ – deep crimson English rose - Austin
Imagine a sheltered coastal veranda where you unwind after a windswept walk, the air carrying a hint of sea spray while MACBETH™ surrounds you with crimson rosettes and a luxurious old-rose scent. This English shrub rose fits effortlessly into family gardens, coping well with brisk breezes and salt-tinged air thanks to its reliable root system and firm anchoring in the soil, ideal where good drainage and thoughtful water management keep heavy ground in balance. Its upright, space-saving habit and repeat flowering make it a natural choice for compact borders or a large container on a sunny veranda. As an own-root shrub, it offers reassuring longevity, stable character and easy regrowth after pruning or coastal weather. Over time, you will see it settle in as roots establish in year one, shoots and structure build in year two, and full impact and abundance arrive by year three, giving you a deeply coloured, fragrant backdrop to relaxed seaside afternoons.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Coastal family flower bed near a seating area |
MACBETH™ offers very strong, traditional old-rose fragrance, perfect beside a patio chair where you enjoy tea after a breezy walk. Plant in a sunny, sheltered spot with free-draining soil that still holds moisture for beginners. |
| Romantic specimen rose in a small front garden |
The upright shrub habit and 135–225 cm height give vertical presence without overwhelming a typical front garden, while dense foliage and rich crimson blooms create an immediate focal point for busy homeowners. |
| Hedging or informal screen for a coastal veranda |
Planted at about 1 m intervals, MACBETH™ forms a leafy, rose-scented screen that softens wind, adds privacy and anchors well in exposed sites where sensible drainage and careful watering keep heavier soils from waterlogging for coastal gardeners. |
| Large container on a sunny balcony or terrace |
In a 40–50 litre pot with quality compost, this own-root shrub gives deep-coloured, repeat-flowering display while remaining straightforward to prune and refresh, ideal when ground space is limited for urban gardeners. |
| Low-maintenance mixed border with perennials |
Good resistance to black spot and powdery mildew means less spraying and simpler care, while the poor self-cleaning is easily handled by occasional deadheading during a quick garden round for time-poor owners. |
| Cutting corner for fragrant home arrangements |
Long, strong stems and large, very double rosettes make MACBETH™ well suited to cutting, bringing its velvety crimson tones and powerful perfume indoors for home florists. |
| Long-lived structural rose in a family garden plan |
Supplied on its own roots, this rose keeps its character even after hard pruning or storm damage and ages into a sturdy shrub over many seasons, reducing the need for replacement for long-term planners. |
| Feature plant in a Shakespeare or themed border |
Named for Shakespeare’s tragic hero and bred by David Austin, MACBETH™ gives literary charm and historical atmosphere, its deep crimson rosettes suiting period-inspired schemes for garden connoisseurs. |
Styling ideas
- Sea-breeze nook – Combine MACBETH™ with sea kale and blue Festuca around a small bench to enjoy its perfume on blustery days – ideal for coastal veranda owners.
- Romantic entrance – Flank a front gate with two MACBETH™ specimens underplanted with lavender for scent and structure – perfect for homeowners seeking instant kerb appeal.
- Sunset border – Set MACBETH™ among silver Artemisia and pale Scabiosa to highlight its velvety crimson flowers – suited to gardeners who like soft, feminine colour palettes.
- Patio centrepiece – Grow one shrub in a 50 litre terracotta pot with trailing thyme to frame a sitting area – convenient for balcony and terrace gardeners with limited ground space.
- Storybook corner – Create a Shakespeare-inspired bed with MACBETH™ backed by Verbena ‘White Spires’ for airy contrast – appealing to literary-minded rose collectors.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
MACBETH™ English Rose AUSlo, an English shrub rose from the Romantic rose group; registered as AUSlo and exhibited under the name Othello in some show contexts. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by David C. H. Austin in the United Kingdom from ‘Lilian Austin’ × ‘The Squire’, introduced and first distributed by David Austin Roses Ltd. in 1986. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright shrub reaching about 135–225 cm high and 90–150 cm wide, densely thorned with dark green, slightly glossy foliage that forms a solid, leafy framework over time. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double, rosette-shaped blooms with more than 40 petals, mostly solitary on stems; remontant with a generous second flush given adequate water and feeding. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, velvety crimson-red (RHS 60A outer, 60B inner) that may take on purplish or mauve tones and lighten slightly in strong sun, while remaining richly shaded within the petal folds. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, garden-filling perfume with classic old-rose character, best appreciated near paths, seating areas or open windows where the scent can drift indoors on warm days. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is usually modest due to very double blooms; where formed, hips are small, ovoid, around 9–15 mm in diameter and mature to an attractive orange-red autumn colour. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b), with good resistance to black spot and powdery mildew and moderate susceptibility to rust under prolonged damp conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with reliable moisture and drainage; space 100–110 cm in hedges or beds, allow up to 180 cm for specimens, and deadhead to tidy and encourage ongoing flowering. |
MACBETH™ English Rose AUSlo offers rich crimson blooms, powerful fragrance and long-lived, resilient own-root growth; consider it if you would like a characterful, easy-going rose for years of coastal or urban garden enjoyment.
