English rose sales wilt as flower falls out of fashion

Home-grown plants drop to just five million last year as young people deem the classic bloom to be twee

DESPITE spring being upon us, it appears it is not looking so rosy in Britain’s gardens.

Sales of home-grown rose plants are estimated to have declined from 65million a year in the 1960s to just five million last year as young people consider the bloom to be “old-fashioned and twee”.

Now, in a desperate bid to revive the rose, a campaign has been launched to convince the new generation of lockdown gardeners that the flower does not require months of toil but can actually create “instant gardens”.

Experts are also eager to debunk the myth that roses need intensive pruning and constant spraying to keep pests at bay.

The campaign, which is being championed by TV’s David Domoney, will use the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show in May for a formal “call to arms” for consumers, growers and breeders to champion the beleaguered rose.

The message will be that modern hybrids are easy to grow, resistant to disease like black spot and mildew, do not require harmful fungicide sprays and can be planted in hedging, borders, beds, on patios, balconies, as climbers or in a vegetable plot.

And while bright reds and pinks have been traditional favourite colours, nowadays glorious apricots, yellows and golds are increasingly popular.

Domoney, from ITV’s Love Your Weekend, said: “I’m passionate about roses and there has been a massive love of roses in Britain throughout our history, but roses are vanishing from our public parks and gardens and people are taking roses for granted.

“Young people see them as old/fashioned and rather twee and what their grandparents grew.

“So it’s time we stood up for the rose and appreciate its versatility – its beauty, use in perfumes, health treatments and even in food.”

A social media campaign will showcase roses in all forms and spaces with Domoney offering growing tips.

Video footage will also show how he transforms a 65ft x 65ft plot at his home to create a traditional Regency style tea garden with fountain, parterre and pergola.

Some 5,000 rose plants have already been sent out to community gardens across the country as part of the campaign. The plan is to give away a further 100,000 over the next 10 years.

Among the rose varieties being featured in the campaign are Chandos Beauty, Lady Marmalade, Sweet Syrie, Easy Does It and Raspberry Royale.

David White, managing director of Harkness Roses, which is also supporting the campaign, said: “When I was a boy roses were seen in public parks and gardens everywhere, but over the years their reputation has gone down as people think they are too difficult to grow and you have to go on a three-day pruning course to look after them.

“But the new varieties are so easy to grow. Young gardeners don’t want to spend months tending their garden, they just want an instant garden that can be an outdoor room and roses are ideal and great value. A typical plant costs £15 that will give 100 flowers a year for 15 years which works out 1p a flower.

“We want to galvanise all growers and breeders to revive the rose.”

Chris Warner, of Warner’s Roses and a Rose Society spokesman, said: “For too long roses have been perceived as a problem and this campaign is just what we need to inform people that roses have changed.

“Old varieties requiring fungicide sprays gave roses a bad name. Now we need to show off our roses in railway stations, airports, everywhere so people can see the beauty, colour, drama and impact of roses.”

‘The new varieties are so easy to grow. Young gardeners want an instant garden and roses are ideal’