New Roses

It has become a tradition to introduce the forthcoming Rose of the Year at the Festival of Roses, and this year is no exception.

'Sweet Haze' (Tan97274) bred by Rosen Tantau and introduced by Pococks Roses & Eurosa, can add the 'Rose of the Year 2008' accolade to its growing list of international trial awards. It produces large clusters of sweet scented lilac-pink flowers with brown stigma and dark yellow anthers. The glossy mid-green foliage has good disease resistance. Growing to a final height and spread of approx 70cm x 70cm, this rose is suitable for container planting or would sit well at the front of a mixed border. Hybridised roses with their complex petal arrangements are not generally a first stop for Bumblebees seeking nectar or pollen; so the single flower form of 'Sweet Haze' is rather more 'bee friendly' than most. Recent reports about the dwindling UK Bumblebee population has prompted Roses UK to promote the Bumblebee Conservation Trust in all its marketing activities for 'Sweet Haze'.

‘Aphrodite’ (Tan00847) This feminine rose is appropriately named after the mythological goddess of love and beauty. Bred by Rosen Tantau and introduced by Apuldram Roses. It is a new variety in the ‘Nostalgic Roses®’ range. ‘Aphrodite’ produces large, full, cup shaped flowers from initial spiral shaped buds, carried singly or in small clusters. Its pink flowers have a spicy fragrance and an excellent vase life. Foliage is leathery, mid green and large, with a good resistance to diseases.

‘Munstead Wood’ (Ausbernard) introduced by David Austin Roses The blooms of this ravishing dark red rose have the strong classic fragrance associated with red roses. Plant growth is bushy reaching a height and spread of approx 90cms. With its classically shaped blooms this rose would make a very good choice for the front of a border or for a more formal bed. Munstead Wood was Gertrude Jekyll’s own garden in Surrey.

'Port Sunlight' (Auslofty). Bred and introduced by David Austin Roses, who say that this rose will prove a very useful variety for the garden - it can be grown as a shrub or climber and is also extremely healthy. The apricot peach blooms are produced freely and have a strong pure tea fragrance. Port Sunlight is a model historical village which was originally built by Lord Lever for the workers at his soap factory in the Wirral. The plant has a height and spread of 1m x 90cms.

‘Indianna Mae’ introduced by Peter Beales Roses This rose is named for Indianna Perry, who died of a brain tumour aged only 5. It is her family’s wish that this rose should benefit research into this tragic disease. 10% of the income from this rose will be donated to the charity ‘Ali’s Dream’, which funds research into childhood brain tumours; Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen will speak on behalf of the charity. The rose itself has flowers of bright to lilac pink which have a delightful camellia like appearance to them with bright anthers at their centres. Leaves are mid to dark glossy green and the plant grows to a height and spread of approx 90cms.

‘Hope and Glory’™ (Tan01360) Bred by Rosen Tantau and introduced by The Cornish Rose Company and Eurosa. Named for England’s Rugby Union team – this dark red rose is both healthy and free flowering, The opulent buds open to large, full, cup-shaped and quartered flowers reminiscent of old roses. With a delicate scent this variety makes an excellent cut flower. The flowers are complemented by the dark green, leathery foliage.

‘Alderley Park’ (Frygladia) Bred and introduced by Fryers Roses, this medium growing bushy floribunda produces a bountiful supply of large porcelain-pink flowers that are full petalled and formed in the old rose style. They are long lasting and fragrant. The plant is vigorous and easy to grow. It is named for Astra Zeneca to mark the 50th anniversary of their major facility Alderley Park. Covering 400 acres, three-quarters of which remains woodland, water and farmland, Alderley Park is where several of the world's most important medicines have been discovered and developed.

‘You are my Sunshine’. (Frykwango) Bred and introduced by Fryers Roses, this bright goldenyellow Hybrid Tea rose is linked to the North West Air Ambulance, who will benefit from sales. The large beautifully formed flowers are scented and carried in profusion on a neat bushy plant - just the sort of rose to brighten a dull border or to give and bring a cheery smile to someone special.

‘Wild Rover’ (Dichirap) Bred by Dickson Nurseries and introduced by C & K Jones. Dickson’s say that this was the most ‘commented-on’ rose in their fields over the last few years and described by one international rose-grower as a ‘wizard’ of a rose! With a sturdy, upright to bushy habit and growing to around 120-130cms it produces evenly spaced and sweetly scented semidouble blooms. The buds start out as a deep claret, open to purple with beautiful yellow stamens and an ivory eye, and fade to mauve. Foliage is dense, large, semi-glossy and light to mid-green in colour. A healthy and vigorous rose, awarded a Silver Medal in Chile 2004.

‘Chris Beardshaw’ (Wekmeredoc) Named for the award winning garden designer and tv presenter, by C & K Jones, this soft pink hybrid tea has a sweet sherbet-like perfume. Blooms are usually produced singly but occasionally in clusters of 5 or more. Flowering from June through to November the bush will grow to a height of approx 90cms and about 60cms width. New growth, which is a lovely dark red, stands out against the dark green of the mature semi-glossy medium-sized leaves. Chris has particularly requested that the rose be linked to the RNLI charity.

‘Garland’s Gold’ introduced by Bill LeGrice Roses. Named for the the Centenary of the Benenden Hospital in Kent, this floribunda rose has cupped, semi-double fragrant blooms. A vibrant orange when in bud, the flowers mellow to a strong apricot with a golden yellow centre highlighted by darker stamens. The rose, selected by head gardener Carol Head, is named after the founder of the Benenden Healthcare Society, Charles Garland. The hospital was originally built by the society for the National Association for the Establishment and Maintenance of Sanitoria for workers suffering from tuberculosis.

'New Beginnings' (Korprofko) Another fine rose bred by Kordes and introduced by Mattocks Roses. This floribunda produces an abundance of lightly fragrant blooms of peach pink suffused with shades of pale peach. Glossy green foliage and a compact free flowering habit makes this rose an excellent choice for planting in a mixed border or large container.

'George Best' (Dichimanher) Bred by Dickson Nurseries and introduced by Pococks Roses. Named for the popular late footballer, a royalty from each rose sold will benefit the Foundation set up in his name. This variety is low growing and bushy and produces masses of charming cup-shaped blooms of dark red that fade to rosy pink. Foliage is dense, dark green and glossy.

‘Moonshine’ (Tan97123) Bred by Rosen Tantau and introduced by Style Roses. This rose produces large eye-catching paeony style blooms of glowing white, like a full moon, with pink blush and strong pink edges on attractive healthy red bronzed growth which matures to dark green. It flowers early and continues until late autumn, its short compact habit make this a great container, front bedding or Standard Rose.