Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

mary rose plant

Searching for the perfect rose to bring classic charm to your New Zealand garden? The Mary Rose plant stands out as a beloved variety among gardeners and rose enthusiasts alike. Renowned for its exquisite old-world style, vigorous growth, and delightful fragrance, the Mary Rose plant offers impressive versatility, whether used as a statement shrub, a standard, or in mixed borders. If you're looking to add timeless beauty and outstanding performance to your landscape, the Mary Rose plant deserves prime consideration.

Cistus 'Brilliancy' plant with pink flowers and green foliage.

Cistus 'Brilliancy' (Rock Rose)

Cistus ‘Brilliancy’ is a vibrant evergreen shrub celebrated for its striking crimson-pink flowers, each with a yellow centre, blooming profusely in late spring and early summer. Its aromatic, grey-green foliage provides year-round interest, while its compact, rounded habit makes it ideal for low-maintenance landscapes. Hardy and drought-tolerant, this Rock Rose thrives in sunny, well-drained locations, offering gardeners an easy-care option that delivers brilliant seasonal colour in challenging conditions.

Buy Cistus 'Brilliancy' (Rock Rose)

From $24.23

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 1.20 m

Spread: 1.20 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Modern, Rock

An elegant Cistus lusitanicus white flower with red spots.

Cistus lusitanicus (Rock Rose)

Cistus lusitanicus, commonly known as the Gum Cistus, is a striking evergreen shrub valued for its large, white blooms marked with deep crimson spots at the base of each petal. Flowering from late spring into summer, it produces a vibrant display above aromatic, grey-green foliage. This hardy, drought-tolerant shrub thrives in poor soils and hot, sunny positions, making it ideal for low-maintenance, Mediterranean-style, or coastal gardens. Its showy flowers and tough nature make it a favourite with landscapers and gardeners alike.

Buy Cistus lusitanicus (Rock Rose)

From $24.23

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 60 cm

Spread: 60 cm

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Pool areas

Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Rock

Why Choose the Mary Rose Plant?

The Mary Rose plant is a celebrated English rose created by famed breeder David Austin. It delivers profuse displays of soft pink, slightly cupped blooms from late spring into autumn, accompanied by a captivating old rose scent with hints of honey and almond. The blooms appear in repeat flushes, ensuring your garden stays colourful and fragrant for months on end. With naturally bushy, upright growth, Mary Rose is equally at home as a feature specimen or paired with companions in a cottage-style design.

Ideal New Zealand Growing Conditions

One of the most appealing aspects of the Mary Rose plant is its adaptability to New Zealand's diverse climates. Planted in full sun with well-drained soil, the Mary Rose rewards with strong, healthy growth and resilience against common rose diseases. Enrich the soil with organic compost before planting and keep roots consistently moist, especially through the hotter months. Regular deadheading encourages further flowering, and a balanced feed in early spring keeps your Mary Rose thriving.

Where to Buy the Mary Rose Plant

If you’re looking to introduce this iconic variety to your garden, we offer a selection of Mary Rose plants ready to add year-round interest. For a classic shape with elevated blooms, the Rose Mary Rose Standard is a striking choice for entranceways and formal beds. Prefer the traditional bush variety? The Rosa 'Mary Rose' brings quintessential cottage-garden charm and is an ideal candidate for borders or stand-alone planting.

Perfect Companions for the Mary Rose Plant

Pairing your Mary Rose plant with other garden favourites enhances both texture and colour contrast. Consider the soft mounding foliage and vibrant blooms of the Hemerocallis Rose Cherub (Rose Daylily) for a cheerful, low-maintenance complement. For added evergreen structure and a Mediterranean flair, Cistus 'Brilliancy' (Rock Rose) and Cistus lusitanicus (Rock Rose) provide year-round interest and share similar growing preferences.

Caring for Your Mary Rose Plant

Routine care ensures long-term success with your Mary Rose plant. Prune in mid to late winter to shape and promote fresh growth, removing any weak or damaged stems. Mulch after pruning to retain moisture and suppress weeds, and apply a generous feed when new growth appears. Keep an eye out for aphids or mildew, treating early with an appropriate organic spray if needed. With a little ongoing attention, your Mary Rose can thrive for years as a garden centrepiece.

Explore our curated selection to bring home your own Mary Rose plant and discover why this rose remains a star performer in Kiwi gardens.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.