Silvery-tinged, soft mid-pink; becomes paler as it fades. - historic, perpetual hybrid rose - very strongly scented, noticeable from a distance rose - deeply sweet, tea-like, rose-like
– XL, very double, ball-shaped blooms
– Silky mid-pink flowers with silvery tones
– Strong, sweet tea-rose fragrance
– Historic, award-winning Hybrid Perpetual
– Hardy to USDA zone 4a, medium disease resistance Special feature: Barely thorny canes for easier handling.
Real photographs – Refined garden style
pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2-litre own-root potted rose
19,40 €
3(3413)
MRS. JOHN LAING – pink historical perpetual hybrid rose – Bennett
Romantic yet reassuringly reliable, ‘Mrs. John Laing’ brings classic Victorian charm to your Irish garden without demanding expert skills. This historic hybrid perpetual rose produces generous flushes of very full, soft pink blooms with a fragrance so rich and sweet you notice it as you pass by. Its upright, bushy growth and barely thorny stems make it easy to live with in a family setting, while medium care needs suit ordinary gardens that face moist air and frequent rain as well as humidity-driven fungal pressure. In partial shade or gentle sun, the large, ball-shaped flowers open in waves for cutting and for show, helping you create an elegant cottage look at the front of the house. As an own-root, 2‑litre plant it settles steadily, offering a long-lived, regenerating structure that matures from strong roots in year one, fuller shoots in year two and complete ornamental impact by year three.
Mrs. John Laing at full bloom, showing its very double pink flowers.
Use cases
Target area
Reason
Front garden focal shrub near the entrance
Large, very double pastel-pink flowers and a strong classic scent create a welcoming focal point by the front door, giving you showpiece impact from a single shrub that suits busy homeowners and beginners
Mixed border with perennials and grasses
Its upright, bushy habit and medium height integrate easily with perennials like Japanese sedge or creeping phlox, adding refined historic charm while own-root growth builds a stable, long-term framework for hobby gardeners and beginners
Cutting bed for scented bouquets
Extra-large, ball-shaped blooms on long, almost thornless stems are ideal for cutting, filling vases indoors with rich, sweet, rose-like perfume that rewards anyone who loves home-grown flowers yet prefers simple care and beginners
Small group planting (1–3 shrubs) in front lawn island beds
Planting two or three together at the recommended spacing forms a balanced, rounded feature that repeats bloom through the season, giving an elegant look with few plants and straightforward upkeep for compact family gardens and beginners
Historic or cottage-style garden corner
A genuine 19th‑century hybrid perpetual with award-winning heritage, it fits perfectly beside old stone walls or cottage-style planting, letting you evoke a period feel while relying on moderate, manageable care suited to romantically minded beginners
Low-maintenance hedge or backdrop row
Regular growth, dense foliage and repeat flowering allow you to form a gently formal low hedge or backdrop; spaced at about 90 cm it knits together into a soft, flowering line that works for family gardens and time-pressed beginners
Large patio container or terrace planter
In a minimum 40–50 litre container with good drainage it gives you a mobile, upright rose bush, ideal for renters or balcony owners who want strong fragrance and period looks from a single pot and appreciate solutions suited to beginners
Family garden bed in wetter, maritime sites
Performs reliably in typical Irish garden conditions when given reasonable drainage and simple seasonal care, coping well with cool summers and frequent showers in our climate influenced by damp Atlantic winds, fitting the needs of coastal-garden beginners
Decorating ideas
Cottage Front Step Duo – Plant one ‘Mrs. John Laing’ each side of your path, underplant with Vinca minor and creeping phlox for a soft, flowering carpet – ideal for small front gardens seeking romantic charm for beginners
Elegant Lawn Island – Create a circular island with three shrubs at equal spacing, edged by Japanese sedge to highlight the pastel-pink blooms – perfect for family lawns needing a single, easy-kept focal point
Scented Patio Corner – Grow one plant in a 50 litre terracotta pot with lavender and rosemary nearby so fragrance layers together on summer evenings – suited to urban patios and balconies with limited space
Heritage Hedge Line – Form a loose, low hedge along a drive with roses at 90 cm intervals, interplanting soft grasses for movement – good for driveways and boundaries where you want structure without harsh formality
Mixed Border Highlight – Place a specimen mid-border, framed by hydrangeas and airy perennials, letting the upright rose provide height and scent – ideal for hobby gardeners building a relaxed yet refined planting
Technical cultivar profile
Parameter
Data
Name and registration
Mrs. John Laing – historic hybrid perpetual rose, trade name used in commerce; unregistered cultivar, ARS exhibition name identical; collection: Historic rose, exhibition remontant hybrid for garden and show use.
Origin and breeding
Bred by Henry Bennett in the United Kingdom around 1885 from ‘François Michelon’ × unknown seedling; introduced 1887 via Chas. F. Evans (USA) and later C. F. Newman & Sons (Australia), now widely grown as a classic Victorian rose.
Awards and recognitions
RNRS Gold Medal 1885 underlines its historic quality; later honoured with American Rose Society Victorian Certificates in 1999 (Buckeye District) and 2000 (Las Vegas Valley), confirming enduring appeal for heritage rose enthusiasts.
Growth and structure
Upright shrub, about 110–160 cm tall and 120–180 cm wide, with dense, light green, matt foliage; stems are relatively smooth and barely thorny, making maintenance and cutting more comfortable in everyday family gardens.
Flower morphology
Very double, ball to pompon-form blooms with more than 40 petals, usually solitary on stems; extra-large flower size suited for exhibition and cutting, with remontant behaviour giving abundant second flushes when well watered and deadheaded.
Colour and phenology
Buds open from deep carmine-pink to silky mid-pink, then fade through pastel to pale porcelain with silvery edges; colour retention is moderate, lending a soft, pearlescent effect that suits romantic and cottage-style planting schemes.
Fragrance and aroma
Very strongly scented rose with a deep, sweet, tea-like perfume noticeable from a distance; classic old-rose character enhances seating areas and paths, though very full flowers offer little value for pollinators due to hidden stamens.
Rose hip characteristics
Forms moderately abundant, small ovoid hips about 10–14 mm, red RHS 44A; decorative in late season if spent flowers are left on, though most gardeners will deadhead to encourage repeat flowering instead of hip development.
Resistance and hardiness
Hardy to around −34 to −32 °C (USDA 4a, RHS H7, Swedish Zone 5); disease resistance is medium to black spot, powdery mildew and rust, so simple preventive care and good air flow are recommended, especially in humid seasons.
Horticultural recommendations
Best in fertile, well-drained soil with regular watering; avoid prolonged drought and heat stress. Tolerates partial shade, benefits from deadheading and seasonal feeding. For mass planting allow about 0.9–1.0 plants per m² depending on layout.
Mrs. John Laing rewards you with richly scented, pastel-pink historic blooms on a long-lived, own-root shrub that matures into a reliable, easy-care feature for everyday Irish gardens, so you can choose and plant it with confidence.
Detailed product attributes
Product Identification Data
Product Name:
MRS. JOHN LAING – pink historical perpetual hybrid rose - Bennett
Product Type:
pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL - 2-litre own-root potted rose
Competition and Show Awards:
RNRS Gold Medal (1885); American Rose Society "Victorian Certificate" (1999, Buckeye District); American Rose Society "Victorian Certificate" (2000, Las Vegas Valley)
Full Bloom:
Uniform pastel pink with a pearlescent inner shade.
Pre-Fading Flower:
Pale porcelain-pink with a silvery-white fading at the edges.
Colour Fading Description:
Noticeably fades: the deep carmine-pink bud shifts to mid-pink, then to pastel and finally to a pale porcelain pink, with a silvery‑whitish fading at the edges.
Pollinator Attraction:
Double (very full) blooms do not attract pollinators because the dense petal form hides the stamens and makes nectar and pollen inaccessible.
Heat and Drought Tolerance Description:
Performance may decline in hot conditions; it does not tolerate prolonged drought and requires regular watering.
Our product is a rose grown with unique pharmaROSA® cultivation technology!
2 litre, own-root, potted rose.
With shoots appropriate to the season.
With roots thoroughly interwoven through the growing medium.
Quality in line with the requirements of the E.N.A. (European Nurserystock Association).
In unique packaging that prevents damage.
Can be planted during frost-free periods.
True-to-type rose plant with an individual identifier.
The pharmaROSA® own-root potted rose is a well-rooted plant that supports reliable establishment when planted and cared for properly, so it can be planted whenever the soil is not frozen.
Stock: several varieties and several stages of development in a short stock section.Shoot system: intensive growth of fresh basal shoots on a young plant.Root system: presentation of the strong root system interwoven through the growing medium with the pot removed.Balance: mature plant where the development of the root system and the shoots is in harmony.
Information about the videos
The video series is not a “seasonal showcase”, but makes the essence of pharmaROSA® own-root production tangible: how the plant is built, what the root system is like and how the shoots renew themselves. The footage was therefore taken at different times, showing plants at different stages of development, so mixed leaf coverage or differing growth stages may appear in the videos. This is not a “sample” of the batch delivered, but an illustration of how the technology works. The current condition of the rose available to order — typical of the given period and similar to what you can expect to receive in the parcel — is shown at the top of the product page.
Pages for private customers Garden roses for the family garden, with minimal care → ORIGINAL® Premium garden roses – instant impact, a truly showpiece garden → EXTRA® Pages for professionals and private customers Roses for public spaces – large areas, sustainable maintenance → NATURAL® Roses for projects – hedge and row planting, fast implementation → RAPID® For professional partners only Production – propagation material for garden roses, wholesale → NEONATAL®
Company details
PharmaRosa Ltd. Company registration number: 01-09-717479 VAT number: 13075314-2-43 Plant health registration no.: HU130721 Bank account (IBAN): HU85117631891388688400000000 BIC (SWIFT): OTPVHUHB Bank name: OTP Bank Nyrt.
