Breeders are working hard to bring us healthier varieties, preferably with a good fragrance
Renowned rose breeders Jack Harkness and Alec Cocker dreamed of producing repeat-flowering Persica hybrids. From the once-flowering, scrawny desert plant, we now have vigorous, repeat-flowering, healthy floribundas and shrubs, such as ‘For Your Eyes Only’. The first climbers are now on the market – look out for ‘Peter’s Persica’. Soon we’ll see patio Persica hybrids too, such as the ‘See You’ collection from Kordes Roses.
In the 1970s, Sam McGredy introduced his hand-painted varieties. Over time, they went out of fashion, but now we have two new varieties: ‘Lady Adrianna’ and ‘Airbrush’.
Both are bright, free-flowering and healthy.
They grow easily and can be grown as single specimens or in beds of several plants.
Let’s hope we have a good summer for roses this year Dave is editor of the Amateur Rose Breeders Association. He has been breeding roses for nearly 40 years. ‘Newsflash’, ‘Showmee Sunshine’ and ‘Lullaby’ are some of his best-known. His roses have been awarded the Gold Star of the South Pacific Award, two President’s International Trophies, two Gold Standards and medals in ARBA Trials.
Chris Warner introduced his first mini/ patio climbers in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After a hiatus, some new varieties are appearing, and one of the best is ‘Onward and Upward’, and there are more to come. The old ramblers were once-flowering, but today, we have several which are repeat-flowering.
Roses in pots
With a little care, roses grow well in pots. I grow mine in containers ranging in size from 10-40 litres, depending on the variety. There are several good composts to use. I use a potting compost mixed with bonemeal, and a slow-release fertiliser, such as Osmocote.
During summer, it’s important to water pots
