Britain’s own Peter Beales Roses has an unrivalled breadth of experience and archive of wisdom about growing and tending the ‘Queen of Flowers’. Whilst roses – like most flowers – prefer to bask in beautiful warm sunlight, some varieties are markedly more tolerant of partial shade than others and can be safely planted against walls or other parts of the garden that might not get full sun. Here, we take a look at the best roses for planting in those shadier spots.
Oxford Physic Rose
Bred by Peter Beales to celebrate the Oxford Botanic Garden’s 400th anniversary the exquisite ‘Oxford Physic Rose’ fits beautifully within the Peter Beales ‘Modern Classic’ collection, holding all the charm and characteristics that gardeners over the years have come to love from an old-fashioned shrub rose, but at the same time it carries all the health and robustness of a modern day rose. The silky, shell pink blooms are open cup in shape and lend themselves perfectly to pollinating insects, such as bees and butterflies. The scent is particularly reminiscent of a classic rose; sweet and long lasting.
Growing to approximately 120cm (4ft) in height, the rose alone will make the perfect specimen plant within your garden or equally the rose is outstanding placed in the middle of a border surrounded by herbaceous plants, such as Campanulas, Salvias, Lavenders, Asters and Hardy Geraniums. Being so versatile, if you planted the rose next to a wall or fence the young stems can also be trained to form a small climber.
Blanc Double de Coubert
‘Blanc Double de Coubert’ produces beautiful, pure white, semi-double, papery blooms with a very strong scent and crisp, healthy foliage. Tolerant of poorer soils and shade, it is ideal for woodland planting or growing as a hedge. Sets hips intermittently. Bred by Cochet-Cochet.
Mme. Isaac Pereire
The Bourbon lady, ‘Mme. Isaac Pereire’ produces huge shaggy blooms of mauvy crimson that exude an intense perfume, carried on a large free bush which can effectively be trained up a pillar or obelisk. Tolerant of poorer soils and shade, the blooms are suitable to be used as cut flowers. Bred by Garçon.
Stanwell Perpetual
‘Stanwell Perpetual’ is a prickly, arching shrub which blooms all summer with an array of medium-sized, blush pink to white, double, fragrant flowers. Blue-green ferny foliage. Tolerant of poorer soils and shade. Suitable for growing in a container, as a hedge or for group planting in woodland. Bred by Lee.
Prosperity
‘Prosperity’ is a Hybrid Musk with trusses of very double creamy-white, strongly scented flowers which look well against its dark glossy leaves. Tolerant of poor soils and shade, ‘Prosperity’ creates a stunning hedge and can also be grown as a small climber. Bred by Pemberton.
Penelope
Lovely ‘Penelope’ is a Hybrid Musk rose with semi-double, creamy pink/paling-to-white flowers with a good fragrance. Suitable to be grown in a container, as a hedge and even as a small climber, this rose will tolerate some shade. One of the best of the group. Bred by Pemberton.
Festive Jewel
‘Festive Jewel’ is a large shrub rose or small climber with beautiful high centred deep salmon pink, highly perfumed flowers that grow in clusters. Growth is upright, the plant well-clothed in fresh green foliage, a more vigorous form of ‘Aloha’. A versatile rose, ‘Festive Jewel’ can be used as a hedge, trained into a small climber and can tolerate shade. Bred by Beales. Was named by St Edmund’s Lodge of the Norfolk Freemasons in 2004.
Beryl Felicia Manthorp
‘Beryl Felicia Manthorp’ is a delightful Floribunda rose, unique to Peter Beales in the UK. Elegant, semi-double, apricot blooms emerge from a multitude of tight buds. With age, the blooms will fade to a peachy-pink blend of petals which are held together by a rich golden coronet of stamens. Produces an abundance of flowers during the summer, repeating well into the autumn months. Foliage is a glossy, mid-green and healthy.
This rose is named for a beloved Norwich dance teacher, who, in 1939, at the age of 18 founded the Guildhall School of Dancing. An active member of the Royal Academy of Dance, she received The President’s Award for her services. Growing to approximately 3’, her namesake rose is ideal for adding colour and impact to a mixed border when complemented with colour contrasting perennials or, alternatively grown in a pot to add colour to paved or terraced areas. Bred by Beales.
Find out more
Peter Beales Roses can be found on London Road, Attleborough, Norfolk, where you can view its two-acre rose garden, historic rose collection, garden centre, and an unrivalled programme of workshops and rose events. See more at www.classicroses.co.uk or call 01953 454707.