Othello Rose

The Othello rose is a massive English bred masterpiece.  If you’re looking for big blooms and fragrance….its a dandy.

It’s a David Austin breed that was launched back in 1986.  However, they no longer actively market it, as they say there are better breeds.  Why?  Read down below for some of the issues.

The blooms on the Othello can be huge, easily past six inches.  It has fantastic ruffled petals and a great color.  Some call it crimson, but I think it can look more like a magenta.  Not only that but it has a rich, old rose fragrance that is absolutely breathtaking.

So what’s the problem with this one?  One of the big problems with this rose is that its really a one-time per  season bloomer.  You’ll get a huge show in June, and then, not much else.  If you’re looking for a nice continuous bloomer you should look elsewhere.  Not only that, but it tends to have very large thorns.   Late in the summer, what you may get is long canes without flowers that tend to fly around.  Its probably best hidden back a bit from your walkways onto a fence or arch, where it can be tamed a little bit.  It can also be susceptible to mildew and rust.   The beautiful ruffled petals don’t last long as cut flowers, and there are the thorns to deal with as well.

The Othello is certainly beautiful when in bloom but you might want to check out Austin’s other recommendations, the Prince or the Transcedent.