All about Albas

The Albas are one of the oldest races of the rose, dating as far back as the fifteenth century. They are also exquisitely beautiful with grey green leaves and pastel shaded flowers. They are healthy, highly perfume... [Read more]

Aphids

Aphids, including the well-known greenfly will soon spoil a crop of flowers if the infestation is bad enough. They settle in large numbers and multiply rapidly on buds and young tender shoots from where they will suck the sa... [Read more]

Balling Of Flowers

In wet summer weather the outer petals on a freshly opening flower can often become fused together. The flower is then referred to as being ‘balled’. This is most often found on the many petalled varieties with na... [Read more]

Birthplace of the Bourbons

Named after their place of birth, the Ile de Bourbon, an island in the southern Indian Ocean, this is a diverse family, from shrubs of around three feet to vigorous climbers. Flowers from a varied palette are usuall... [Read more]

Black Spot

This must be the most common rose disease and there are very few cultivars totally resistant to it, although some fair better than others. I am often quoted as saying, when pressed on the subject, “what are a few b... [Read more]

Breeding Roses, Hybridising.

The petals of the female flower are stripped away and the stamens are removed using a pair of manicure scissors or a knife. (1 & 2) ... [Read more]

Business Terms: Important if you are ordering

1.Guarantee. All plants are guaranteed for one year from the date of despatch. To ensure that failures are replaced you should notify our office, in writing, no later than 31st July in the summer ... [Read more]

Caterpilliars

These little creatures will crawl up the stems of roses and with great dedication enjoy a meal of rose leaf. Often they will have been present on the plant since the mother moth laid her eggs on the underside of a ... [Read more]

Centifolias, Roses of One Hundred Petals

Roses of One Hundred Petals, also known as the Provence Roses, date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. They are the full faced, blowsy roses so often found in the works of the Old Masters, where ... [Read more]

Chinas, Not the Hardiest Bunch

As one might guess, these roses originally derived from China, where it is thought that they existed as early as the tenth century, possibly before. They were used extensively in hybridisation programmes when the... [Read more]