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.