Shrub Rose Recommendation Request - dark pink

Katnippy

Newbie here, looking for your recommendations for a dark pink shrub rose to go next to my west facing front door. Ideally with the following in order of importance:

Long flowering season

Excellent repeat flowering

STRONG scent

Preferably cupped flowers rather than rosettes but I’ll take reflowering and scent over flower style

Looks good even after rain

I have a few contenders...but I keep changing my mind so feedback is very much appreciated.

Daniel Rutherford

For me the obvious choice out of what I have is Gabriel oak!!

Katnippy

Thanks for your quick reply. I predicted Gabriel Oak would be up there but I read today somewhere on here that some people haven’t had reliable scent - does it take a while to get established?

edhelka

There are mixed reviews about GO scent. I am happy with it.
For cupped flowers, 'Empereur Charles IV.', available from Beales. Also mixed reviews about the fragrance. For me, it is good, although weather/temperature dependant, and it is quite unique scent (myrrh based).
Other dark pink roses worth mentioning are 'James L. Austin' and 'Ivor's Rose' but they are not fragrant.

Katnippy

Thank you edhelka for your suggestions (couldn’t find out how to reply to your post specifically...), I found Empereur Charles IV just before I posted but I’m not sure I’d like myrrh scent. I think it’s safer to go with tea, old rose or fruity. 

You don’t happen to have seen Young Lycidas in the flesh? It ticks lots of boxes but I’ve read it grows like an octopus and doesn’t hold a nice shape.

edhelka

Katnippy said:

You don’t happen to have seen Young Lycidas in the flesh? It ticks lots of boxes but I’ve read it grows like an octopus and doesn’t hold a nice shape.

I almost bought it after smelling it in our garden centre. Beautiful rose and a really good fragrance. But I left it there because most probably, it wouldn't be disease resistant enough for me.
The growth habit as far as I know is best for a raised bed or a pot or maybe some support would work too, the canes are thin and don't stay upright.

Mr. Vine Eye

Royal Jubilee

D0rdogne_Damsel

That is a lovely rose @Mr. Vine Eye What a deep shade of pink. 

Jemula

I grew Young Lycidus in my previous garden. Lovely big fragrant flowers, good repeat and disease resistance, but its downfall was a very untidy twiggy, floppy growth as you have heard.  I grew it well tied against a picket fence but it never was a nice looking plant as a whole.  I found it best for cut flowers.

debs64

Gertrude Jekyll is a rich pink and the scent is divine. It’s a big rose but worth it if you have the space 

Katnippy

Thank you everyone for ALL the suggestions. I do love the flower of Young Lycidas as do so many and I had hoped someone would pipe up, ‘Hang in there, the shrub will get stronger’ but it sounds like I would be approaching my front door disappointed...not exactly the wow factor if her blooms are drooping down.

My head tells me Gabriel Oak, and Empereur Charles IV and Royal Jubilee definitely meet the brief but something is holding me back. Beautiful colour btw @Mr. Vine Eye and once upon a time Royal Jubilee was my first favourite so I will reconsider. 

On reflection, I think I should have left out the colour requirement. I thought a dark pink would pop well against the variegated Dogwood I plan to plant between the bay window and the front door but ultimately I just want reliable blooms for the longest possible time and strong scent to welcome people. Oh and I also have a Choisya Sundance already planted under the bay window so not everything would look good unless I break it up with a purple salvia or something. Still time to mull things over thankfully.