Romantic encounter

After trials over two years in seven different locations in the UK, Rosa ‘Lovestruck’ (above), a floribunda, has been voted rose of the year for 2018 and won a gold medal at the Royal National Rose Society. It doesn’t have a strong fragrance, but its double-petalled blooms are large and lush with a rich, cherry-red hue and glossy dark-green leaves. Vigorous and long-flowering, it was bred by rose breeder Colin Dickson of Dickson Nurseries in Northern Ireland. It costs £15 plus p&p if you order in advance from dickson-roses.co.uk.