Distant Drums Shrub Rose: Buck's Unique Tan-Pink

The Distant Drums shrub rose, part of the Buck Roses Collection from 1984 by Buck, is celebrated for its unique, chameleon-like flowers that open tan-brown and mature to a blend of pink, lavender, and tan. A true original.

Classification and Heritage

Family: Rosaceae (ro-ZAY-see-ee)
Genus: Rosa (RO-zuh)
Cultivar: 'Distant Drums'
Hybridized by: Buck
Registered/Introduced: 1984

Griffith Buck's breeding focused on hardiness and novel colors.

Growth Habit and Blooms

Rounded shrub 3–4 feet. Flowers 3–4 inches, fully double, tan-brown aging to pink-lavender-tan. Light fragrance. Repeat bloom.

Cultivation Tips

• Sunlight: Full sun.
• Soil: Well-drained, adaptable.
• Watering: Moderate.
• Pruning: Spring shaping.
• Hardiness: USDA zones 4–9.

Landscape Uses

Specimen, mixed borders, collectors' gardens. The color is unlike any other rose.