Jesse Metcalfe is engaged to his girlfriend Cara Santana.

The 33-year-old actor popped the question to the Texan beauty after numerous years together.

A source confirmed the happy news to American publication US Weekly.

According to the insider, the couple "have been dating for four to five years and living together for at least three".

Jesse shot to fame playing handsome gardener John Rowland on ABC hit show Desperate Housewives.

He has since starred in a variety of romantic comedies including 2006 movie John Tucker Must Die and is set to portray Christopher Ewing in this year's made-for-TV Dallas remake.

The star has previously dated US model Courtney Robertson and Irish singer/songwriter Nadine Coyle, of Girls Aloud fame.

Brunette beauty Cara is a budding actress and has appeared in TV shows such as CSI Miami.

Last week, Jesse wrote on social networking site Twitter that he was taking his sweetheart along to a press junket in LA and posted a picture of the loved-up pair boarding the aircraft.

"Takin' a private jet with my honey and the dallas cast for a press weekend in LA (sic)," he wrote.