vintage bonbon: English Roses

"William Morris"

One of the great joys of my life is the timeless beauty of English Roses. They were created by rose breeder David Austin to have the look and fragrance of Old Roses, while giving them the repeat-blooming quality of modern hybrid roses.

"Tea Clipper"

"Wisley"

If you have ever dealt with antique or species roses as I have, you know they are tough, brambly, thorny things that tend to run wild and take over. Combine that with the fact that they only bloom for a short time, and you can see why people would rather have a tidy rose bush that flowers for many months instead.


"Harlow Carr"

"Falstaff"

Modern roses, however, lack the heady romantic perfume of the antique varieties, and their charming form as well. Old Roses are often cup-shaped and many-petaled, giving them that distinctive country garden look. Thanks to David Austin, you can now grow dozens of different antique-looking roses on modern, compact plants or as climbers. Some can be grown as hedge roses.

"Glamis Castle"

"Tamora"

The perfumes vary, from true rose, to musk, spice, lemony, and beyond. They come in a gorgeous array of colors - whites, creams, pinks, peachy-buff, cerise, deep crimson, fuchsia, and shades of wine. They are often used by high-end floral designers in wedding bouquets for their beautiful form and fragrance.


"Juliet"

I have grown several varieties of English Roses, both in Southern California and in Washington State. The plants performed well in both climates, and I always loved them so much. My favorite is Heritage, though it seems less popular than other varieties. I love the delicate pink - my favorite color - and the sweet fruity-myrrh fragrance. A darling little gem of a rose.