Scepter’d Isle is an English shrub rose bred by David Austin and introduced in 1996. It’s named for John of Gaunt’s speech about his love for England in Shakespeare’s Richard II. It bears plenty of cupped, medium-sized blooms of about 45 petals, light pink fading paler on the outer petals, with yellow stamens at the centre that attract bees. The fragrance is strong and distinctive, a classic myrrh scent. The blooms are held gracefully above the foliage on an elegant, upright shrub, about 150 cm tall and 120 cm wide. It repeats in flushes from late spring into fall and is good for cutting. It’s adaptable: it grows in full sun or partial shade, in any aspect and in all soil types, and it’s rated hardy to zone 5.

An upright David Austin rose in soft pink with a strong myrrh scent that attracts bees.