Shrub Rose 'Golden Wings': Shepherd's Yellow Butterfly

Introduced in 1956 by Roy Shepherd, 'Golden Wings' stands as a landmark in shrub rose breeding—a hybrid spinosissima that combines the wild rose grace of its species ancestry with the repeat-flowering habit of modern hybrids. Its large, single flowers flutter like yellow butterflies above graceful, ferny foliage.

Botanical Profile

The blooms are 3-4 inches across—exceptionally large for a spinosissima hybrid—with five butter-yellow petals surrounding a prominent boss of golden stamens. They appear in flushes from late spring through fall on a vigorous, arching shrub that reaches 6-8 feet. The foliage is distinctive: small, fern-like leaflets with a grey-green cast, inherited from Rosa spinosissima. 'Golden Wings' is remarkably tough—drought-tolerant, disease-resistant, and cold-hardy—making it a favorite for low-maintenance landscapes, wildlife gardens, and naturalistic plantings where its species-like charm shines.