I tend to see a lot of roses on my garden visits, particularly in the Cotswolds. Creating a garden without them almost seems unthinkable.
Probably one of the most recognisable flowers – even among non-gardeners – they’ve long been a symbol of romance and are the basis of many perfumes.
(I was given a book in return for a fair review.)
In his new book, RHS Roses, expert Michael Marriott, charts our fascination with this flower from the earliest depictions of rose-like blooms on pottery dating back to 5,000 BCE to new roses bred to give longer flowering and better scent.
Indeed their scent is their most appealing feature: “Most people’s immediate reaction to seeing a rose is to smell it,” we’re told.
The six types of fragrance – old rose, myrrh, tea, fruity, musk, and leaves and ‘moss’ – are explained and we’re advised not to judge a rose by quickly sniffing just one bloom. To get an appreciation of its true scent, it’s far better to slowly smell several roses, preferably at different stages of opening.
Then there are the different types of roses from the species through to vigorous ramblers and tiny patio roses. There’s a brief history of each member of this diverse family, along with a description and mention of some notable varieties. Work to produce new roses is long and complex with more than 100,000 crosses made every year by the biggest breeders, while the new plants are grown for several years before selections are made.
Where to use roses is just as varied. The traditional rose garden may have fallen from favour – although the book argues it still has a place: “While mixed plantings are beautiful, a well planted and maintained rose garden can still be superb.” – but there are many other ways to incorporate them into a garden.
Advice is given on growing them over pergolas and arches, mixing them with other summer flowers, training them through trees and turning them into a hedge.
There are also suggestions for roses for those tricky spots, such as shade, poor soil or gardens with extreme temperatures.
How to plant, prune and care for them is covered along with a comprehensive guide to problems of pest or disease.
But it is the advice on which roses to choose that makes this book so good – advice from an expert who worked at David Austin Roses for 35 years, and who has designed many rose displays, including at Kew Gardens.
It’s a comprehensive list with roses for the front of a border, those for tight spaces, mixed borders, and varieties for cutting just some of the categories. Each rose mentioned is pictured along with information about its eventual size, type and that all important scent.
When every member of this vast family is beautiful, it makes choosing just a little easier.
RHS Roses by Michael Marriott is published by DK with an RRP of £24.99. You can buy it here for £16.99. (If you buy through this link, I receive a small commission. The price you pay is not affected.)
Feature picture: Rosa ‘Roald Dahl’.
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