[1] It derives from Rosa chinensis, and is generally accepted as the first East Asian rose cultivar to reach Europe.

[1] 'Old Blush' has light silvery pink semi-double flowers of medium size that darken as they age.

[4] The shrub has an arching form, few prickles and mid-green leaves that have a crimson colour when young.

[5] The cultivar can be trained as a small climber, reaching up to 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) height[7] which has larger flowers.

[1][2] 'Old Blush', together with 'Slater's Crimson China' and the tea roses 'Hume's Blush Tea-scented China' and 'Parks' Yellow Tea-scented China', introduced to European gardens roses which would bloom repeatedly from spring to fall, whereas the Old European roses tend to bloom only once, on the previous year's wood.