12 favourite roses
Some of Katherine’s favourites from among her historic wild rose collection
1 Rosa ‘Janet’s Pride’ Its sweetly pretty, semi-double flowers are white with a distinctive edging of bright pink. Very prickly. 1.5m.
2 R. x richardii Ravishingly beautiful, large, single flowers with the texture of crumpled silk. These open with a hint of a blush but quickly pale to white and are very freely borne on a lax shrub. 1m. USDA 5a-6a†.
3 R. moyesii Deep-crimson flowers on a vigorous bush, followed by spectacular, flagon-shaped, orange hips. A variable species, with a number of slightly differently coloured named forms. 3m. USDA 5a-9b.
4 R. nutkana ‘Plena’ Its rose-pink, semi-double flowers and elegant tapering buds are beautifully set off by ferny, blue-green leaves and dark-red new shoots. Early flowering and with a heavenly scent. 2.5m. AGM*. RHS H7, USDA 6a-9b.
5 R. villosa Known as the apple rose for its round, red hips, borne early in the season. The foliage is strikingly grey, contrasting nicely with the clear pink, single flowers. 2m. USDA 4a-8b.