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"Read ebook [PDF] The Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing Roses: The Art and Science to Grow with Confidence (Volume 8) (Kew Experts, 8)
USING ROSES IN A MIXED BORDER OR BED Rosa Harlow Carr and Salvia nemorosa ‘Amethyst’ bring a feeling of calm with their pastel petals. The different shades and shapes of foliage on the delphinium and artemisia beautifully set off the bright blooms of the roses. The flowers in this border including roses, lavender and pinks (Dianthus) have been chosen to bloom at the same time, providing summer drama. Tall flower spikes, such as of delphiniums in this mixed border, contrast well with the mounded forms of shrub roses. TRAINING AS A STANDARD FORM There are two types of standard rose: a full standard, which is around 1.8m/6ft tall and a half-standard, at around 75cm/2½ft. Both are ideal for growing in containers. The standard stems are in many cases grown commercially from dog roses (R. canina), and then different types of bush roses are topgrafted on to them. Generally two or three roses (sometimes of more than one type) are used to make them bushy. It might take a little longer, but it is possible to grow your own standard rose without grafting. The best way is to train one of your rose cuttings (see Propagating roses in water, page 64), using a cultivar that is repeat-flowering. Before you start to train one of the rooted cuttings as a standard, you should allow it to grow for two or three years in a pot with sufficient space for the cutting to establish unrestricted. Then, to produce a tall single stem, remove all but the top two or three buds and all side shoots as they develop. This will encourage your rose to put all its energy into growing the tall stem needed. Tie the stem to a cane as it gets taller, because it will not be able to support itself. Once the stem has grown to the desired height, pinch out or trim off the top, back to a pair of leaves. This will stop the stem getting any taller. Leave around five of the highest buds to develop into side branches, and remove any that form below these. RAMBLER | KEW RAMBLER Small, single, pink flowers with white centres are borne in huge clusters, and last for a long period, on this rambler with flower power. Their white centres beautifully show off the golden yellow stamens. The flowers, which are very attractive to wildlife, contrast well with the grey-green, glossy foliage. Orange hips are produced in large quantities in autumn. CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE ‘Kew Rambler’ was raised at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, in 1913, from a cross between a wild rose, Rosa soulieana, and another rambler ‘Hiawatha’ HYBRID TEA | PEACE Pastel shades of yellow and pink on large flowers, which can be up to 15cm/6in across, ensure they are attractive at every stage, from bud through to mature bloom, when the primrose-yellow petals are edged with soft pink. Peace is a vigorous upright shrub with glossy, dark green foliage and good disease resistance. GLOBAL BESTSELLER This is almost certainly the best-known and most widely grown rose cultivar ever, selling well over 100 million plants worldwide. MINIATURE | STARS ’N’ STRIPES Amazingly showy, little, crimson-red and white flowers, only around 2cm/¾in across, adorn this very pretty rose. They tend to have more white stripes in each flower than crimson-red ones, but each flower is unique. Small clusters of 3–5 flowers are held on relatively long stems, which are almost thornless. OUT OF CHARACTER ‘Stars ‘n’ Stripes’ has a very upright growing habit, and in optimum hot conditions it can sometimes forget that it is a miniature and grow up to 1m/3ft tall.
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