Plant Guide

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Cut flower

rosa-raubritter

Rosa 'Raubritter'

Rambling shrub rose with a spreading habit and light to mid green foliage. Flowers once during early summer with clusters of mildly fragrant, rounded cup-shaped, pink flowers, 5-7 cm across.

Bred by Kordes (Germany, 1936) from a cross between Rosa x macrantha 'Daisy Hill' and Rosa wichurana 'Solarium'. Also sold as Rosa macrantha 'Raubritter' and Rosa 'Macrantha Raubritter'.

Prefers a position in full sun, but copes well in partial shade. Any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Tolerates relatively poor soils. Susceptible to blackspot and mildew. Prune in winter.

Charming rose with an old-fashioned flair. Rosa 'Raubritter' makes up for the fact that it is not repeat-flowering by producing one magnificent display of pink flowers, covering the whole plant once established. Use for flower display as a single specimen or in groups, or as a sprawling shrub growing over low walls or banks. Not naturally climbing, but can be trained to behave as a climber. Also suitable for containers.

rosa-sally-holmes

Rosa 'Sally Holmes'

Vigorous, repeat flowering hybrid musk rose with relatively few thorns, glossy dark green foliage and large, single to almost single flowers in clusters. Pale apricot-coloured buds open to 8-12 cm wide, creamy white flowers, fading to white, flushed with a faint hint of pink. The flowers have 4 to 8 petals and yellow stamens. They are usually packed in very tight clusters.

Rosa 'Sally Holmes' is the result of a cross between Rosa 'Ivory Fashion' and Rosa 'Ballerina'. Bred by Robert Holmes (UK) and named after his wife.  

Prefers a sunny position in well-drained soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Tolerates more shade than most other roses. Very good disease resistance. Fertilise in early spring and again in early summer. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter. Grows on its own root system and is easy to propagate from cuttings.

The delicate colour combination of the pale apricot flower buds and white flowers is breath-taking and more than makes up for the fact that the flowers are only slightly fragrant. The flowers have a lovely 'loose' texture. Can be treated as a climber and trained to grow up a pillar or against a trellis. Suitable for cutting. Looks good on its own, in groups, or as a rose hedge-row.

rosa-scentimental

Rosa 'Scentimental'

Mildly scented floribunda rose, repeat-flowering throughout the season with striped flowers. Glossy dark green foliage. Showy double flowers with about 25 petals, 10 cm across, burgundy red with white stripes and splashes, or white splashed with burgundy red.

Registered name: Rosa 'WEKplapep'. Bred by Tom Carruth in the USA from a cross between Rosa 'Playboy' and Rosa 'Peppermint Twist'.

Plant in full sun for best flower display. Any soil-type is suitable as long as it is well-draining and contains a generous amount of organic matter. Remove spent flowers to encourage subsequent flower production. Heat and humidity tolerant. Prune as required in winter to early spring. Susceptible to blackspot, but otherwise disease resistant.

Spectacular, free-flowering rose with a lovely mild scent, a very long flowering season, and good disease resistance. Looks great in groups or just by itself in beds or borders. Could also be grown as a loose, informal hedge. Excellent in pots. Flowers last well on water. Good for potpourris.

rosa-serendipity

Rosa 'Serendipity'

Floribunda rose, flowering in flushes throughout the season with bright yellow flowers. Glossy, dark green foliage.

Registered as Rosa HARamity. Bred by Harkness (UK).  There is another rose available as Rosa 'Serendipity' and registered as Rosa 'Serendipity'. This is an orange blend, hybrid tea rose with a mild fragrance, bred by Dr Griffith J. Buck (USA).

Prefers a sunny spot in any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Fertilise in early spring, and again in early summer. Prune during winter or early spring in cold climates. Very good disease resistance.

A healthy, vigorous rose and an excellent performer throughout the season. Looks lovely in beds or by itself in a mixed border, combined with other yellow flowering plants and/or purple or lavender flowers. 

rosa-the-fairy

Rosa 'The Fairy'

Compact Polyantha rose with arching branches and glossy mid-green foliage, flowering continuously throughout the season from spring to late autumn. Shell-pink to candy-floss pink flowers, about 2.5 cm across, are produced in large clusters, usually covering most of the shrub.

Registration name: Rosa 'The Fairy'. Bred by Bentall in 1932 (UK) from a cross between Rosa 'Paul Crampel' and Rosa 'Lady Gay'. Introduced to the USA in 1941.

Flowers best in a sunny position, but can stand a considerable amount of shade. Suitable for any soil type as long as it is well-draining. Fertilise in early spring, and again in early summer. Remove clusters of spent flowers throughout the season. Prune in winter. Excellent disease resistance.

If you prefer fragrance, then Rosa 'The Fairy' is not for you. If you like an easy-care, healthy, and tough rose that reliably produces an abundance of flowers over a very long time with minimal gardener's input, then look no further! Flowers last well on water. Just watch out for the many thorns when you pick them. This is also one of the best roses for those not so sunny spots in the garden, where you would like some colour. Suitable for containers. Looks beautiful in combination with blue-flowering plants such as Ageratum houstonianum.

rosa-the-lady

Rosa 'The Lady'

Hybrid tea rose with dark green foliage, flowering in flushes throughout the season. Mildly fragrant double flowers, 7-10 cm across. Soft yellow-cream flower colour, flushed with salmon pink.

Registration name: Rosa 'FRYjingo'. Bred by Gareth Fryer (UK, 1985) from a cross between Rosa 'Pink Parfait' and Rosa 'Redgold'. Named after Britain's oldest women's weekly magazine 'The Lady' (in publication since 1885).

Prefers a position in full sun and any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Fertilise in early spring and again in early summer. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter. Good disease resistance.

Stunning rose with classically shaped flowers in lovely pastel shades. Plant as a single specimen or in groups for flower display in beds and borders. Good for cutting.

rosa-the-mccartney-rose

Rosa 'The McCartney Rose'

Repeat-flowering hybrid tea rose with large, fragrant flowers and glossy dark green foliage right down to the ground. The pink flowers are semi-double, 7-10 cm wide, dark rosy pink in bud. Hips are not particularly ornamental.

Registered name: Rosa 'MEIzeli', bred by Meilland International in France. Offered to Sir Paul McCartney as a birthday gift from his record company. Also sold as Rosa 'Sweet Lady' or Rosa 'Paul McCartney'.

Tolerates light shade, but plant in full sun for best flowering and disease resistance. Can be grown in any soil that is well-draining and contains a generous amount of organic matter. Responds well to rose fertiliser. Quite susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, including black spot, so will need excellent growing conditions, and may need spraying.  Dead-head during the flowering season, and prune in winter.

Lovely rose for flower display, fragrance and cutting. Could also be grown as an informal hedge.

rosa-tintinara

Rosa 'Tintinara'

Vigorous hybrid tea rose with glossy, mid green foliage. Repeat flowering throughout the season with bright orange to coral red, mildly scented flowers, 8-13 cm wide.

Registration name: Rosa 'DICuptight'. Bred by Colin Dickson (UK). 

Prefers a position in full sun and any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Fertilise in early spring and again in early summer. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter.

Fabulous colour and a strong grower. Looks great in flower borders, either as a single specimen or in groups. Rosa 'Tintinara' can become quite tall, so plant towards the back with lower growing plants in front. (The shrub used for the photograph carried lots of flowers and had reached a height of about 1.6 m). Imagine this in combination with blue-flowering plants such as Agapanthus and Ageratum houstonianum. Ideal for cutting.

rosa-topsy-turvy

Rosa 'Topsy Turvy'

Floribunda rose with deep green leaves down to the ground, flowering throughout the season with mildly fragrant, bi-coloured flowers. Dark red young foliage. Bright scarlet-red, semi-double flowers with a white reverse, 10 cm across. They open in an unusual pinwheel fashion. 

Registration name: Rosa 'WEKcocbeb'. Bred by Tom Carruth (USA) from a cross between Rosa 'Countess Celeste' and Rosa 'Betty Boop'.

Prefers a position in full sun and any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Fertilise in early spring, and again in early summer. Dead-head during the flowering season. Prune in winter. Good disease resistance.

Striking rose with an informal, 'happy' appearance. Can be grown as a standard or a bush, in groups or as a single specimen in beds and borders. Good for cutting.

rosa-tropical-skies

Rosa 'Tropical Skies'

Medium to tall hybrid tea rose, repeat-flowering with large, mildly fragrant blooms and glossy, mid to dark green foliage. Perfectly shaped flowers in a brilliant blend of yellow, red, and pink.

Registration name: Rosa INTerdays. Bred by G. Peter Ilsink (The Netherlands).

Prefers a sunny position in any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Fertilise in early spring, and again in early summer. Dead-head during the flowering season, and prune in winter. Good disease resistance.

Beautifully formed flowers in bright and cheery colours on a strong upright growing plant. Suitable for cutting and for  flower display in beds and borders as a single specimen or in groups. 

rosa-valencia

Rosa 'Valencia'

Hybrid tea rose with a bushy upright habit, glossy dark green foliage, and flowering in flushes throughout the season. Fragrant flowers, about 9-12 cm across, mostly solitary, in creamy apricot and old gold colours.

Registration name: Rosa 'KOReklia'. Bred by W. Kordes & Sons (Germany, 1989). Also known as Rosa 'New Valencia'.

Prefers a sunny position in any well-drained soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Fertilise in early spring and again in early summer. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter. Very disease resistant.

Exquisitely shaped flowers in an attractive blend of peach, apricot, cream and copper. Excellent choice for flower display in beds or borders, as a single specimen or in groups. Combine with blue or pale purple flowering plants. Superb cut flower with strong straight stems.

rosa-waimarie

Rosa 'Waimarie'

Hybrid tea rose, flowering in flushes throughout the season with large semi-rosette shaped flowers and mid to dark green foliage. Stems and young leaves flushed with dark red. Fragrant, mauve pink flowers. 

Registration name: Rosa 'MATtwai'. Bred by Bob Matthews (New Zealand). Named after a restored paddle steamer in Wanganui (New Zealand).

Prefers a sunny position in any well-draining soil. Fertilise in early spring and again in early summer. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter. Good disease resistance.

Lovely full blooms with a wonderful fragrance. Can be grown as a standard or shrub in beds and borders. Excellent cut flower.

rosa-wise-woman

Rosa 'Wise Woman'

Hybrid tea rose with glossy mid green foliage and double baby pink flowers emerging from darker pink flower buds. Mild fragrance.

Registration name: Rosa 'MATtwom'. Bred by Bob Matthews (New Zealand). Named to commemorate the centenary of midwifery.

Plant in full or partial sun, in any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Fertilise in early spring and again in early summer. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter. Good disease resistance.

Strong and healthy rose with pretty pink flowers for beds or borders, as a single specimen or in groups. Can be grown as a standard or a bush rose. Good for picking.

rosa-gallica-versicolor

Rosa gallica 'Versicolor'

One of the best known old garden roses (unknown breeder, 1500s or earlier). Matte green foliage. Flowering for about three weeks in late spring or early summer with fragrant, semi-double, pale pink flowers with fuchsia-pink stripes. The flowers are semi-double with a diameter of about 7 cm.

Also known as Rosa gallica var. officinalis 'Versicolor', Rosa gallica var. versicolor, Rosa gallica var. variegata, Rosa gallica 'Variegata', and Rosa mundi.

Prefers a sunny position in any well-draining soil that contains a generous amount of organic material Fertilise in early spring and again in early summer. Good disease resistance, but may get aphids. Prune after flowering.

Delightful shrub rose with striking, moderately scented flowers. Great for a sunny border, on its own, in groups, or as an informal hedge.

salvia-farinacea

Salvia farinacea

mealy sage, mealy cup sage

Herbaceous perennial, native to Mexico and parts of the USA, flowering profusely during summer and autumn. Erect, four-angled stems. Ovate to lance-shaped, mid to grey green leaves with entire or lobed margins. Two-lipped, five-lobed, blue flowers tightly packed in spikes. The common name refers to the powdery white felt on the stems and the calyx of the flowers. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Several cultivars available in shades of blue, purple, and white.

Prefers a position in full sun or part shade and any well-drained soil. Tolerates poor soils. Indoors it likes good light, but some protection from full sun during the hottest part of the day. Reasonably drought tolerant. May become leggy in wet soils. Cut back after flowering. Tolerates light frosts, and is often grown as an annual in cooler climates. Generally trouble-free, but is susceptible to downy and powdery mildew.

Salvia farinacea looks spectacular when planted in groups against a contrasting background. You can create striking colour combinations with yellow or orange flowering plants, or a more traditional look with pinks and whites. Taller cultivars are suitable for cutting and can also be dried.