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'Mary Magdalene'

Here's another David Austin rose that is hard to find and may be fading into oblivion. I got a cutting from a friend, and was able to grow it this year. Straw grows Mary Magdalene very well. It is more beautiful than I expected. Straw describes the fragrance as frankincense/myrrh, and I agree. It brings to my mind Chinese funereal incense. Some photos I have seen of this rose show it pink. But so far for me, it is white with a yellow blush in the center. I'm not sure if it will keep the button eye as the plant matures.



Comments (22)

  • 4 years ago

    Vert Cute! I love the button eye. There are some pics of it on HMF where the bushes are 4+ years old, and the blooms still have a button eye, so it looks like yours is not just because of an immature plant.

    Jackie

    noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque) thanked jacqueline9CA
  • 4 years ago


    This is my 3 yr old Mary magdalene, the fragrance is fantastic, one of the best of the Austin's, I have 4 of them.

    noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque) thanked Biff Jessop
  • 4 years ago

    Noseometer - such romantic looking blooms!!!! Truly beautiful!!


    Biff - I love yours too!!! The center of the rose bloom is exquisite!

    noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque) thanked rosecanadian
  • 4 years ago

    Oh my! This is one of my unicorn roses. It’s just gorgeous!

    noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque) thanked oursteelers 8B PNW
  • 4 years ago

    Beautiful yes! But I haven't seen it listed anywhere in a while. So, I am trying to not like it or want it. :)

    noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque) thanked rosesmi5a
  • 4 years ago

    @jacqueline9CA - thanks for the info. I looked it up on HMF also :) I wonder why mine are more yellow than apricot or pink as most photos show?

    @Biff Jessop - yours is beautiful! Where are you located? I wonder if mine will grow to look like yours. It's a unique fragrance. I don't think I've ever smelled a rose like this one, Austin or not.

    @rosecanadian - I'm surprised that I like it, since I generally don't like yellow flowers (they make my eyes hurt). But this one is soft and glowing. It looks much better than I expected.

    @oursteelers 8B PNW - I was curious about this rose, but I didn't expect it to be this beautiful. Impossible to find these days.

    @rosesmi5a - there are always more roses on my wish list than I could ever put into my garden. I couldn't take care of than many anyway. It's tough to decide since each one has its own personality that's not just the beauty of the flower and you might not know that personality until you grow it.

  • 4 years ago

    @noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque) hi, I'm on the arizona utah border,

    noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque) thanked Biff Jessop
  • 4 years ago

    Biff - thanks for the information. You probably have a similar climate to mine. My Mary Magdalene should eventually look like yours then.

  • 4 years ago

    I love Mary! She can take the heat here with no problem and produces beautiful blooms. Nice fragrance. She reminds me of Sharifa (more apricot than pink) but has a much better plant growth, disease resistance, etc.


    noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque) thanked mustbnuts zone 9 sunset 9
  • 4 years ago

    For those who might consider Mary Magdalene and live in a humid climate, I caution that she can be very suscptible to blackspot. She is one of the few roses that I am so hopelessly in love with that I am willing to spray with fungicide. WIthout it, in my climate, she will completely defoliate and has poor to rebloom because she puts the energy into replacing foliage. Mine is grafted on Dr Huey and grows in acidic loam. In addition to her beauty and fragnace, she is quite hardy.







    noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque) thanked Baboosic z5b NH
  • 4 years ago

    Ratdoghead - wow!!! I really love your Mary Magdalene!! What a fabulous color in the first picture!! I love the chair in front of the beautiful MM bush!!!


    Mustbnuts - yours has a really soft color that's very romantic. :)

  • 4 years ago

    She seems very variable in color, but they all look great. Thanks for showing yours, mustbnuts and ratdogheads! Looks like it makes a nice looking bush.

  • 4 years ago

    Flowers, yours has lovely subtle coloring. Thanks for sharing the photos and your experience!


  • 4 years ago

    Noseometer, mine has never had the soft yellow center like yours, but I sure would welcome it if it ever does.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Ooooh!!! Flowersaremusic...such beauty!!! I love your Mary M!!!! Such gorgeous pictures!!! Oh SWOON!!!

  • 4 years ago

    Carol, you're always so encouraging. With this awful rose year behind you, I hope you can look forward to fabulous, spectacular, eye popping roses next spring.

  • 4 years ago

    Thanks, Flowers!! I'm so excited about next year!! :) :)

  • 4 years ago


    I like my Mary Magdalene, too!


    noseometer...(7A, SZ10, Albuquerque) thanked vickysgarden
  • 4 years ago

    The beautiful arrangement of petals, the lovely soft colors (agree they are not always the same color!), the strong fragrance all make up for the fact the blooms shatter after about a day. It is not as healthy for me as some of the newer Austins but I enjoy it so much.


  • 4 years ago

    Man, so beautiful!!! :) :)

  • 2 years ago

    Please, would someone be willing to share a cutting of the Mary Magdalene Rose? I have been searching for this rose for several years. Many thanks and kindest regards, melissahoneybee mftemplin93@gmail.com

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