A flurry of fine new roses

New cultivars at Midsummer's Rose Festival

By Graham Rice

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is the place for the launch of a flurry of fine new roses at the sumptuous Midsummer’s Rose Festival. With exhibits from all the top British rose nurseries, the selection of new introductions reveals two noticeable themes: dwarf habit and tolerance of disease.

Disease resistance a key theme

Star of the show is 'Joie de Vivre' (‘Korfloci01’) the 2011 Rose of the Year launched by Mattocks Roses. Bred in Germany by Kordes, which has an international reputation for healthy roses, the short (50cm/20in) floribunda features lightly scented, pale creamy pink flowers.

Another unusually healthy newcomer this year is 'Princess Anne' (‘Auskitchen’) from David Austin Roses. The first of a whole new line, this is not only disease resistant but a single stem may open as many as 50 or 60 flowers continuously over many months. They open reddish pink then mature to rich pink with silvery undersides. This too has a neat habit.

The gorgeous ‘Francis Copple’ from Peter Beales opens in a slightly coppery yellow then gently fades almost to primrose, all stages of the fragrant flowers combining harmoniously together. This is a taller shrub, ideal as a garden hedge or towards the back of the border, and in autumn the flowers are followed by orange hips.

Also from Peter Beales, with the support of the RHS, is the healthiest of his three introductions this year, Team England (‘Befinal’). The team may have wilted but this prolific shrub rose will surely flourish, its scented deep red flowers opening over a long period.

‘Togmeister’, named for Terry Wogan by Peter Beales, is a neat, long flowering, healthy floribunda with bright yellow, fragrant flowers with lush glossy foliage on plants no taller than 60cm(2ft).

Raised by Gareth Fryer of Fryers Roses, who has raised three Roses of the Year, ‘Anne Birnhak’ is a pink, repeat flowering floribunda and, with Fryers never spraying their potential introductions against disease, only the best pass the test. Its shapely buds open to coral hearted rose pink flowers.

Harkness Roses have not sprayed their trials since 1998 so 'Claire Marshall' (‘Harunite’) is another healthy introduction. Named for the daughter of Jim Marshall, who exhibits his heritage Malmaison Carnations in the Floral Marquee, this is another very well-branched rose with a long season of plummy pink flowers.

Compact growth habits

'Alexander’s Issie' (‘Dicland’) was named by fashion designer the late Alexander McQueen in memory of his great friend the international style icon Isabella Blow. Introduced by C & K Jones, this is a bushy and healthy floribunda reaching just 80cm (32in) with peachy coral pink flowers.

Also from C & K Jones is 'Precious Love' (‘Kirlowo’), whose young flowers are an impressive vibrant coral salmon orange, fading to a blowsy rose pink. The foliage is an unusually dark green, reddish when young, and the leaf stems and midribs are also a striking red colour.

As well as raising the 2001 Rose of the Year, Mattocks Roses, introduced 'County of Staffordshire' (‘Korsoalgu’). The latest in their County® Series of ground cover roses, reaching just 60cm (2ft) but spreading more widely, the flowers open coppery yellow and become creamier as they age.

Finally this year, 'Golden Moment' (‘Smi99-2-4’) is a new hybrid tea from Style Roses. It features large, sweetly scented, soft yellow flowers which retain their colour without fading until the petals fall and which are carried singly or in small clusters all through the season.