Canary Bird Shrub Roses Bushes

Rosa xanthina Canary Bird - Shrub Rose

Canary Bird is one of the earliest roses to flower, bringing a cascade of buttery yellow, musk-scented single blooms to the late spring garden when it is one of the main attractions for pollinating insects.The flowers are carried on long, arching red barked stems which are an attraction in themselves. This is both a strong grower and a graceful shrub, well clothed in dark green, fern-like leaves. It is described as not being repeat flowering, but if it is happy, Canary Bird often produces a second flush in September. It also produces dark red/maroon hips which it holds well into winter. Browse our full range of roses for sale here.

This is a big rose however, often reaching 8-9ft (3m) and as much across, so it needs a bit of elbow room. If you have the space this is definitely a candidate for any rose garden. Lovely, very early flowers, heavenly scent, disease resistant and after more than 100 years, still a holder of an RHS Award of Garden Merit. 

Great for your garden

Canary Bird does best in full sun which helps improve both its flowering and scent, but as it does much of its growing early in the year, this should be relatively easy to find. It can cope with semi-shade after it has flowered. Remember its size when planning where it will go; given 3-4 years it will be a big thing. Don't be put off by its only flowering once - it has beautiful shape and foliage and makes a great host for a smaller clematis which effectively extends its flowering season. Finally, if you have the space, Canary Bird makes a wonderful informal (and totally impenetrable) hedge or barrier.

Rosa Canary Bird facts

• Type: Shrub rose
• Colour: Yellow
• Flower shape: Small and single
• Fragrance strength: Strong, aromatic
• Final height and spread: 8ft x 8ft
• Flowering season: May
• Repeat Flowering: Sometimes in September
• Disease resistance: Excellent

Canary Bird Trivia

A native of central china, Rosa xanthina is often called the Manchu Rose.

How to plant

You can order Canary Bird at any time. Our bareroot stock can be planted between November and April, and we have containerised plants available for the rest of the year.

Choose a spot in a lawn or shrubbery with good light; at least half sun. Dig a hole deep big enough to accommodate the roots comfortably. Clean up the soil from the hole by taking out roots, weeds, large stones and other rubbish and then mix in a good measure of well rotted compost or manure. Spread Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi over the bottom of the hole so it will make contact with the roots. If planting pot grown roses gently tease a few larger roots loose before planting.

Place Canary Bird so its roots are spread out. There is no graft with species roses so try toplant at the same level as it was grown at before delivery to you. With bareroot plants there is a clear mark on the stem where the soil level was previously. Backfill the hole with the planting mix, firming it down as you go. Water in thoroughly.

Feed and mulch with well rotted manure in spring and keep well watered during dry periods for the first year.

Prune Canary Bird roses as follows:

Your objective is to build a framework progressively over 2-3 years. You do so by pruning good new growth back by about 30% in January-February each year and shortening healthy side shoots to about 3 buds. Once you have this framework, just work over the plant gently in winter. Take out damaged or overcrowded growth and remove a few old branches at ground level to promote new growth from the crown of the plant that should flower next year.

Do not deadhead as Canary Bird produces hips that look good all through autumn and well into winter.