- English Roses Fit for a KingHonouring Trooping the Colour and His Majesty, King Charles III’s Birthday
Each June, as the nation gathers to mark Trooping the Colour, a ceremony full of history and pageantry, there is another way to celebrate. Not on the parade ground but in the garden, where beauty grows with care and purpose.
These English roses, grown with pride in Shropshire, carry stories of heritage and a deep respect for nature. Each bloom connects us to the past and looks ahead, reflecting the values His Majesty, King Charles III has long stood for, honouring tradition while caring for the world around us.
Elegant in every detail, Queen of Sweden® begins as exquisite little buds that open into soft-apricot pink cups, gradually fading to a gentle, pure pink. The blooms are perfectly formed and upward facing, bringing a sense of grace and calm to the border. There is a lovely myrrh fragrance, not overwhelming but quietly present. With its upright habit and tidy growth, this rose feels both composed and welcoming. Named to mark the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between Great Britain and Sweden, it speaks of harmony and dignified charm.
Soft shades of apricot and blush pink unfold like the evening light at summer’s end. There is something reassuring in Elizabeth® with the scent of lemon sherbet mingled with the comfort of an old rose. It is a generous and easy companion, thriving in a wide range of soils and conditions. Whether at the front of a border, along a hedge or tucked into a container, it brings a quietly joyful presence.
This rose brings depth and brightness in equal measure. Its large, deeply cupped blooms arrive in a vivid pink and carry a distinctive Tea fragrance with whispers of lemon and blackcurrant. It stands out without ever being showy, full of life yet always elegant. It is well suited to most parts of the garden and flourishes in both sun and partial shade.
From deep red buds emerge beautifully shaped rosettes of coral pink, with small petals mingling in varied tones for a richly textured effect. The fragrance is a complex myrrh with notes of hawthorn, elderflower, pear and almond. Boscobel forms a balanced, upright shrub ideal for borders or containers. Its name recalls Boscobel House, where Charles II famously sought refuge in an oak tree during the English Civil War, a moment of resilience commemorated in bloom.
With a deeper pink that slowly matures to rich rose, Princess Anne offers something a little bolder. Its clusters of narrow, neatly folded petals carry a strong fragrance and sit atop dark, glossy foliage. Reliable and robust, this rose handles varied growing conditions and brings structure and colour to any part of the garden.
These roses are more than decorative. They carry a sense of history and thoughtful cultivation, a tribute to care, character and quiet resilience. Planted with purpose, they offer lasting beauty long after the ceremonial drums have fallen silent, reminding us that elegance, in the end, is something we grow ourselves.
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The benefits of planting English roses in threes and fivesWhen it comes to creating an interesting garden, the way you arrange your plants can make all the difference. English roses are a perfect example of this with their beautiful blooms and fragrance. For truly captivating displays, consider planting them in clusters of three or five, especially if you select the same variety.Read more267 days ago -
Gertrude Jekyll® (Ausbord): The World’s Favourite RoseIn May 2025, Rosa Gertrude Jekyll® (Ausbord) was named the “World’s Favourite Rose” by the World Federation of Rose Societies, a distinction awarded through a global vote involving rose lovers from 40 countries. This accolade celebrates a rose that has quietly yet firmly held a place in the hearts of gardeners for almost forty years.Read moreYesterday -
A Garden Seen Through the Kitchen WindowFrom the kitchen window of Bowling Green House, the view is quiet but alive. Beyond the old glass panes, a narrow canal runs still beneath the branches of the weeping ash, its surface shifting with light and the soft wake of ducks. Native reeds and waterlilies fringe the banks, creating a scene that feels more discovered than designed. David C. H. Austin had it dug after admiring something similar in a friend’s garden. Here, it became the garden’s steady centre, a reflective ribbon running through the planting, anchoring moments of calm.Read more4 days ago -
Roses Perfect for Balcony Gardens: Charming Varieties for Compact SpacesEven the smallest of spaces can be transformed into places of beauty. A balcony may offer only a few square metres, yet with thoughtful planting, it can become a sanctuary of colour, fragrance and joy. English Roses, known for their charm and reliability, are particularly well suited to growing in containers, making them a natural choice for balcony gardens.Read more7 days ago -
Colour Between the Flushes: Planting Companions for Continuous Summer InterestRoses offer their beauty in graceful waves. Most repeat-flowering varieties bloom in two or sometimes three distinct flushes throughout the growing season. The first flush typically emerges in early summer, producing the garden’s most abundant and dramatic display. After this, the rose takes a quiet pause to replenish energy, during which flower production slows or nearly stops.Read more11 days ago -
What to Do with Rose Petals After DeadheadingDeadheading roses can feel a bit like clearing up after something quietly wonderful. One flower fades, its colours softening and edges curling, while another is just beginning to open, full of promise. Suddenly your hands are full of petals - soft, warm from the sun, and still carrying that unmistakable, subtle scent of the garden. It’s easy to let them drop back to the soil, returning to where they came from. But sometimes they feel too lovely to leave behind, as though they’ve still got more to offer.Read more14 days ago -
Scents of Midsummer: The Best Times to Enjoy Rose Fragrance in Your GardenWalking through a rose garden and suddenly catching a beautiful scent can feel like a quiet moment of magic. Some roses seem to fill the air with perfume, while others remain nearly scentless. This difference is part of what makes rose fragrance so fascinating.Read more18 days ago
