Rose - Lorraine Lee

Common Name:
Lorraine Lee Rose

Description:
The Lorraine Lee Rose is a classic Australian-bred rose, celebrated for its vigorous growth, winter flowering habit, and soft salmon-pink blooms. Bred in 1924 by Alister Clark, this rose was specially developed to thrive in Australian conditions and has remained a garden favourite for decades. Its large, high-centred flowers are lightly fragrant and appear most prolifically from late autumn through to early spring—an unusual trait among roses, making it highly prized for winter colour. The foliage is dark green with a glossy finish, and the stems are long and slightly arching, often producing flowers even in the coldest months in Melbourne. Lorraine Lee is a strong performer in both garden beds and as a climber if supported, requiring at least six hours of sun daily for best results. Prune after the main winter flowering to encourage dense regrowth. This rose prefers well-drained soil enriched with compost and appreciates regular feeding.

Form:
Shrub - Large
Climber

Mature Size:
Height: 1.8–3 m as a shrub, up to 4 m if trained as a climber
Width: 1.5–2 m

Aspect:
Full Sun

Flowering:
Flowers in Autumn
Flowers in Winter
Flowers in Spring

Flower Colour:
Salmon Pink
Soft Pink

Key Attributes:
Suitable for Pots (if pruned and maintained as a bush)
Scented flowers
Bee Attracting
Perennial
Suitable for Hedging
Suitable for Espalier
Suitable for Cut Flowers
Historic Australian cultivar

Toxicity:
Non-toxic to humans and pets.

Companion Plants:
Lavender
Salvia
Catmint (Nepeta)
Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Geranium (Cranesbill)