With a mass of flowers from June until the first frosts, Gabriel Oak is a beautifully scented David Austin shrub rose that won't grow too tall or leggy. The flowers open from deep pink buds to spectacular ruffled creations of carmine pink, the outer petals slowly fading over time. And the scent is heavenly: rich, fruity and swooningly delicious. The leaves and stems are a coppery purple when young, adding to the overall effect of abundant colour. Take a look at the other shrub roses in our range.
It is wonderfully vigorous and sturdy, so it's a great candidate for a rose hedge; the plants will knit together to form a flowering boundary around 1.2m tall.
Because it's broad and rounded, it's also a good option for windy sites, and will grow even in a north facing spot. It's good for cutting and bringing indoors for vases and flower arrangements. It's a repeat-flowering rose, so kicks off in June and will go on and on until the first frosts.
Combine in a mixed border with hardy geraniums in blues and pale pinks for a tried-and-tested partnership that's hard to beat. Nepeta, catmint, is also a lovely partner, or Russian sage, both having pale blue flowers and pretty silver foliage that complements the rich pink of the rose's blooms.
In autumn, underplant with bulbs such as crocuses, muscari or snowdrops to bring spring interest and early colour. Prune in late autumn or early spring to an open vase shape.
Dignified, hard-working, honest, and at one with the natural world, Far from the Madding Crowd's central male character is the inspiration behind the name of this rose, a Thomas Hardy classic.
Its combination of scent, strong colour, beautifully rounded shape and vigour assured Gabriel Oak a hero's welcome when it made its debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2019.