New roses on show
Three new roses are being launched at this week’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, including the UK Rose of the Year 2019 ‘Starlight Symphony’. The repeat-flowering climber, which grows up to 2.7m (9ft), produces clusters of white flowers with a subtle spicy perfume. Bred by Harkness New Roses, this highly disease-resistant, compact variety is ideal for fences, walls and containers. Price: £14.99 l Available from www.crocus.co.uk; tel: 01344 578111.
Floribunda shrub rose ‘Eirene’ commemorates the centenary of the end of WW1 and is named after the Greek goddess of peace. Creamy-apricot buds open to full, lightly scented blooms of brilliant white, which have good rain resistance. The German-bred variety, launched by UK breeder Fryer’s Roses, makes a 1.2m (4ft) bush with good disease resistance, and £1 from each sale will be donated to charity The Action Reconciliation Service for Peace. Price: £17.99 potted and £12 bare-root (from November).
‘Sarah Elizabeth’, also sold by Fryers, is another floribunda type producing very fragrant, soft pink blooms on a 90cm (3ft) bush. It’s named after Sarah Groves who lost her life in tragic circumstances in Kashmir in 2013. A £1 donation from each sale will go to the Sarah Groves Foundation to help underprivileged children. Limited stocks will be on sale at Hampton Court or order bare-root online (from November). Freshly potted available from early 2019. l Visit www.grosvenorgardencentre. co.uk/fryer; tel: 01244 625200.