Backstage Bloomers: The Roses You Need to Know

While favourites ‘Gertrude Jekyll’, ‘Desdemona’, ‘Queen of Sweden’ and ‘The Generous Gardener’ are tried and trusted stalwarts of the rose garden, there are other varieties that are just as beautiful but perhaps do not get as much airtime. In redressing this, here is our selection of quiet achievers that deserve their moment centre stage.

This shrub rose is notable for its bushy habit – described by our rose expert as ‘wider than tall’, so it makes an excellent hedge, with appealing foliage. The repeat flowering, double flower petals are pale pink, tinged with apricot, and bear a light, fruity fragrance. (It is planted in a large pot in store for you to view)

A real repeat performer, this charming shrub rose produces flush after flush of semi-double, cup-shaped blooms in a pretty, mid pink. A soft creamy eye and fine golden stamens enhance its appeal, adding depth and contrast. Named to mark the 125th anniversary of ‘The Lady’ magazine, it’s a graceful and feminine addition to the garden.

The glossy red foliage is what makes Silas stand out from the crowd, providing striking kerbside appeal even when not in bloom. Its soft pink, ruffled flowers are richly scented with a classic Old Rose fragrance, lifted by notes of fruity lemon, green banana and apricot.

Bushy and upright, this shrub rose has a gentle beauty that belies how tough and resilient it actually is. With sprays of flowers bearing delicate petals of the palest pink, it showers the garden with a touch of romance, suitably heightened by its Old Rose fragrance. AGM.

Beloved for its magenta velvety flowers, Charles de Mills is also notable for its voluminous form, creating real impact in the garden. With dramatic, sensual appeal, this shrub rose is ideal for a jewel toned border, or for surrounding a historic house, where its 1786 origins will feel very much at home. AGM.

Named after an ancient Persian city, this shrub rose offers the allure and history of an old rose, with multi-petalled, pink blooms and an intoxicating myrrh fragrance. Early to flower, it brings structure and colour to any garden.

For a shrub rose with impact, ‘Tuscany Superb' offers a wonderful framework against other plants, its structure and tactile opulence providing a bold contrast. It also can cope with poor or sandy soil. Flowers are velvety magenta, and, like many Gallica roses, bear a strong Old Rose fragrance. AGM.

An almost thornless climbing rose, Mary has red stems that look particularly fetching when set up against Cotswold stone. Repeat flowering over a long season, the flowers are held on unusually long stems, giving the rose an elegance befitting any wall, fence or archway. AGM.

While there is a dizzying array of roses to choose from today, the selection can be refined by considering colour, scent, flower shape or form. Although many popular varieties are well loved for good reason, there are others that are equally exceptional yet remain lesser known or have simply fallen out of favour. Looking for the RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit) is an excellent indicator of a rose’s proven performance and reliability, but at the end of the day, choosing a rose all comes down to personal preference.