Selecting a rose

Selecting a Rose

Like bulbs, it's also good to select your roses in person if you can, especially if you're looking for a particular scent. If they look good in the garden centre, you know they'll look good when you bring them home. David Austin roses are the most sought-after, as they have been bred for health, vigour, and scent.

Roses are an Investment Piece

Roses are an investment that can outlive you, which is why it's so important to start with a healthy one with good shape to it. Look for roses with several good main stems and a few buds. Also select roses with some disease resistance against things like black spot if you've had trouble in the past. If you see an Award of Garden Merit on the label from the RHS, you can trust that it's a good option.

Walking through the rose department will help you decide which you like and what combinations work together.

Colour

Gardeners tend to gravitate towards pink roses, but I don't like too much rich Barbie pink in a space. To diversify, choose roses with more of a blush, like 'Emma Bridgewater', or an apricot tone, like 'Roald Dahl' or 'Dame Judi Dench'. Be bold with your colour choices.

It's good to see the flowers in person rather than in catalogues, as you can place different options next to each other to see whether they work well together. If you can't shop in person, cut pictures out of the catalogues to compare them together.

Finding Roses with Fewer Thorns

Roses with fewer thorns are easier to work with. If you have pets or young children, check your roses in person to choose options with fewer thorns.

Plant Directory

• Rosa 'Emma Bridgewater'
• Rosa 'Roald Dahl'
• Rosa 'Dame Judi Dench'