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2nd July 09
We are delighted to reveal that David Austin’s ‘Graham Thomas’ received the highest accolade in the rose world when it became the latest of a select number of roses to enter the ‘Rose Hall of Fame’.
It was voted the World’s Favourite Rose by the World Federation of Rose Societies which represents over 100,000 rose lovers in 41 member countries, including Great Britain, the United States and Japan. The award was accepted by David JC Austin at the World Rose Convention in Vancouver in June 2009.
The award is made every three years. Each of the national rose societies is asked to submit their top three modern roses in the first round of votes. The top five roses are then re-circulated as a shortlist so that countries can vote for their favourite rose.
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David CH Austin with 'Graham Thomas' (Ausmas)
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This rose was one of the first roses to embody all of David Austin's aims. The cup-shaped blooms have a strong, fresh tea rose fragrance with a cool violet character. Their color is an unusually rich, pure yellow which is not found in the Old Roses and is rare, even among modern roses.
It repeat flowers well and performs very well in hot climates, yet is also one of the hardiest roses, able to endure cold winters. ‘Graham Thomas’ forms a bushy shrub of
5 x 4ft.
It has a rather upright habit, so is well-suited to planting in tight groups of three in the garden, which can then be pruned to form a single shrub shape.
On the right, David CH Austin is shown with 'Graham Thomas', which is planted as a hedge against a post and rail fence.
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It can also be trained as a spectacular climbing rose, reaching up to 12ft and is ideal for a wall, rose pillar, pergola or obelisk. It enjoys full sun but will also perform surprisingly well in partial shade, provided it is not planted directly underneath the canopy of trees.
Other awards ‘Graham Thomas’ has received include the Henry Edland Medal for fragrance and the Royal Horticultural Society's Award Of Garden Merit (AGM).
The rose was named for one of the leading horticulturalists of the 20th century. The late Graham Thomas, born in 1909, was an enthusiastic collector of Old Roses and a frequent visitor to our nursery in Albrighton.
The award reflects its position as one of the most widely grown and best-loved roses available.
The BBC recently showed footage of ‘Graham Thomas’ being admired on its release in 1983 by a youthful Alan Titchmarsh, during his first year as a presenter of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Please click on the pictures for more information about this rose.
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