Plant care
Eglantyne Rose (Eglantyne) care
Rosa 'Eglantyne'
Also called Eglantyne, Ausmak.
Watering rhythm
Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)
Deeply once or twice weekly through the growing season, more in heat
Light
Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)
Soil
Fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained loam, pH 6.0-6.5
Humidity
40-70%
Temp
15-25°C
Pet safety
Pet-safe
Mature size
Around 1-1.2 m tall and 1 m wide.
Care at a glance
Light
Eglantyne Rose needs sun on the leaves, not just bright ambient room light. Needs full sun, at least 6 hours daily, for the most generous flowering. A position with good air movement helps keep foliage dry and healthy. A south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere is the default; anywhere else, expect the plant to stretch and pale out within a season.
Watering
Water eglantyne rose deeply once or twice weekly through the growing season, more in heat. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Water at the base to keep leaves dry and limit blackspot. Deep, thorough soakings encourage a strong root system better than frequent shallow watering.
Soil and pot
Eglantyne Rose grows best in fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained loam, ph 6.0-6.5. Improve the soil generously with well-rotted manure or compost at planting. Ensure good drainage and mulch each spring to feed the plant and retain moisture. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.
Humidity and temperature
Eglantyne Rose sits happiest at around 40-70% humidity and 15-25°C (59-77°F). An outdoor rose unaffected by ambient humidity, though humid, stagnant air encourages fungal disease. Space plants and prune for an open framework so leaves dry quickly. If you keep the room above 15 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.
Fertilising
Feed eglantyne rose sparingly. Feed with a balanced rose fertiliser in early spring and again after the first flush in summer, topped with an annual mulch of well-rotted manure or compost. Stop feeding by late summer so new growth ripens before winter. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.
Common problems
Below are the issues we see most often on eglantyne rose in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.
- Blackspot — Black leaf spots and early leaf drop in damp weather; water the soil not the foliage and clear infected leaves to slow its spread.
- Aphids — Greenfly cluster on buds and tender shoots; a jet of water or natural predators usually keeps them in check without chemicals.
- Powdery mildew — White powdery film on leaves when roots dry out in humid spells; keep soil evenly moist and improve airflow around the bush.
- Petal balling in rain — The very full, soft blooms can ball and fail to open after heavy rain; deadhead spoiled flowers to encourage fresh, clean buds.
Propagation
Propagate by hardwood cuttings in autumn or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer for personal use. As a protected David Austin cultivar it is commercially produced by budding onto rootstock. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.
Toxicity to pets
Eglantyne Rose is pet-safe. The genus Rosa (true roses) is ASPCA-listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. Thorns may still cause physical injury or mouth irritation if chewed. This is unrelated to toxic plants that share the 'rose' name, such as desert rose or rose of Sharon. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).
Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.
Eglantyne Rose care — frequently asked questions
What is the common name for Rosa 'Eglantyne'?
Rosa 'Eglantyne' is most commonly called Eglantyne Rose, but it is also known as Eglantyne, Ausmak. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Eglantyne Rose apply identically to anything sold as Eglantyne.
How much light does eglantyne rose need?
Eglantyne Rose grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Needs full sun, at least 6 hours daily, for the most generous flowering. A position with good air movement helps keep foliage dry and healthy.
How often should I water eglantyne rose?
Water eglantyne rose deeply once or twice weekly through the growing season, more in heat. Water at the base to keep leaves dry and limit blackspot. Deep, thorough soakings encourage a strong root system better than frequent shallow watering. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.
Is eglantyne rose toxic to cats and dogs?
Eglantyne Rose is pet-safe. The genus Rosa (true roses) is ASPCA-listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. Thorns may still cause physical injury or mouth irritation if chewed. This is unrelated to toxic plants that share the 'rose' name, such as desert rose or rose of Sharon.
What USDA hardiness zone does eglantyne rose grow in?
Eglantyne Rose is rated for USDA zone 5-10 (outdoor garden rose) and RHS hardiness H6. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.
Eglantyne Rose deep-dive guides
Every aspect of eglantyne rose care, each with its own calibrated guide:
- Eglantyne Rose watering schedule
- Eglantyne Rose light requirements
- Best soil mix for eglantyne rose
- Eglantyne Rose fertilizing guide
- When to repot eglantyne rose
- How to propagate eglantyne rose
- Eglantyne Rose growth rate & size
- Eglantyne Rose cold hardiness
- Eglantyne Rose temperature & humidity
- Is eglantyne rose toxic to cats & dogs?
- Is eglantyne rose toxic to cats?
- Is eglantyne rose toxic to dogs?
- Getting eglantyne rose to bloom
Featured in these plant shortlists
Eglantyne Rose qualifies for 9 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:
- Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
- Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
- Best pet-safe flowering plants — Flowering houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — colour and blooms in a pet home, without the worry.
- Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
- Best pet-safe large indoor plants — Big, floor-standing houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — a statement plant that is safe around pets.
- Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
- Best fragrant houseplants — Indoor plants with scented flowers or aromatic foliage — greenery you can smell, selected from our care library.
- Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
- Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
- Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more
Related guides
Eglantyne Rose is also commonly called Eglantyne or Ausmak.