Gardeners' World Golden 50 years Jubilee Plant Winner

Ha ha WO.
I know, roses are so popular. Gardeners and non gardeners alike seem to want a rose in their gardens but......not for me!
I have a friend who has a pretty big rose bed.......in summer it looks good and smells nice; some diseased leaves escape his attention and it must be a real pain to get in among them to pick, deadhead and maintain. He LOVES his roses.
congratulations to the rose.........reminds me of a cantankerous cat. You feed it, care for it and it responds by scratching you

 

I'm sort of a half-way house...

We have some Rosea rugosa that were here when we moved in nearly 5 years ago (3 days to go, and counting!). I've pruned them, weeded them, fed them. This year is the first time we've had anything approaching a show of flowers, and still not a hip to be seen. Sorry Woo, they will be coming out!

However, near the patio, in what we imaginatively call the "patio bed" we have our two "Winchester Cathedral" roses. Definitely not the same rose, so one of them was miss-labelled. But they are both stunning, flowering from May- December, perfume wafting around, easy to prune, good foliage too (although a little black-spot, still look lush). We also have Blessings, Ballerina, a couple of climbing whites (can't remember their names), Paul's Scarlett, and golden celebration. I wouldn't be without my roses, they sing in a mixed flowerbed.

 

Ziggy Searchfield, 2017

 

How disappointing for you! Do you chop them annually? The ones in a local attraction get chopped right down each year (and the wrong blinking time of year too ) and they always have a good show!

I wouldn't be without my Rosa Rugosa "Alba" ... in fact the one I have in *this* garden is from a piece which broke off in my old garden (I had three different colours there) and I just stuck it in a pot with some other bits of stuff.

This is coming up for my 3 years since moving in and it is only now beginning to get a wiggle on in terms of flowering.



I think of the Rosa Rugosa as "Paper Roses" ... they are so delicate and only last a day (two if you're lucky!) but they have a charm in their very "wildness" ... for me, anyway Plus, those thorns are almost lethal and very burglar deterrent

Such a shame you haven't got along with them - maybe you have been a little too diligent? Mine thrive on ... neglect

 

Well, over the 5 years, I've tried both neglect, and due diligence.... and not a single hip!

Ah well, I've tried!

 

Roses are very rewarding if you're prepared to look after them. If you haven't got the time or the inclination then they are definitely not the plants for you. I had Floribunda's in my last garden as they withstood the difficult climate I lived in.

'Lucky!' In my experience almost completely disease resistant.


And one of my favourites 'Super Trouper'