The Rose of the Year Competition is a prestigious annual rose competition that sees new roses trialled for two years prior to their release. The roses competing for the coveted title of the Rose of the Year are grown alongside each other in a diverse range of locations, from Aberdeen, Hampshire, Northern Ireland, and East Anglia; each location offers differing soil, climate, growing conditions and challenges.
Rosa ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ (Ausernie) is an English Shrub Rose that was bred by David Austin Roses. This rose was launched at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show 2022. Rosa ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ was named in honour of the famous Morecambe and Wise song, Bring Me Sunshine. I adore the scent of this pretty rose’s flowers. Bring Me Sunshine produces large-sized, fully double flowers in a delightfully soft yellow colour.
Rosa ‘Elizabeth’ (Ausmajesty) is an English Shrub Rose that was bred by David Austin Roses. This rose was launched at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show 2022. Named in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; David Austin’s ‘Elizabeth’ rose was released in May 2022 – to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Rosa ‘Elizabeth’ grows up to around 1.4m (4.5ft) tall; forming a shrub that extends to around 1.4m (4.5ft) wide.
Rosa rugosa ‘Alba’ is the white flowered form of Rosa rugosa.
I adore roses. I grow Rosa rugosa ‘Alba’ in my own garden. My garden is very small, which limits the number of plants I can grow; accordingly, every plant in my garden really does have to earn their place and is constantly under review! I’ve included Rosa rugosa ‘Alba in my personal little oasis because this is a tough and resilient, naturally healthy rose that produces gorgeous flowers with pollen that’s accessible to bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and other insects.
Rosa ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (Dictwix) is an award-winning rose that was launched in 2021. This superb new rose was bred by Colin Dickson, from Dickson Roses, in Newtownards, Northern Ireland.
Roses UK unveiled ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ as the winner of the prestigious Rose of the Year 2022 Competition in celebrations at Stockton Bury Gardens, in Herefordshire.
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is a floribunda rose.
Here’s another superb rose that was bred by David Austin Roses. Rosa ‘Wild Edric’ is an English Shrub Rose. This is a beautiful rose to grow as a hedge – if I was planting a rose hedge, ‘Wild Edric’ would be the rose I’d choose. Having said that, Rosa ‘Wild Edric’ also makes a fantastic plant to grow in garden beds and borders.
Rosa Rhapsody in Blue = ‘Frantasia’ PBR is an award-winning rose that was bred by Frank Cowlishaw and released in 2003. This tall shrub rose produces clusters of these rather glamorous, semi-double mauve flowers; as each bloom ages, the ashy grey tones of the flowers’ petals become more prominent.
Insects can be forgotten by plant breeders, who tend to focus on double frilly flowers without any pollen; we need more roses with blooms that offer an abundance of pollen to reward our pollinators!
Rosa ‘Silas Marner’ (Ausraveloe) is an English Shrub Rose that was bred by David Austin Roses and launched in 2020. David Austin traditionally unveil their new rose introductions at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show in May, but the show was cancelled due to COVID-19, so a virtual rose launch took place instead.
This is a repeat flowering rose with pastel pink coloured flowers.
Rosa ‘The Country Parson’ (Ausclergy) is an English Shrub Rose that was bred by David Austin Roses and launched in 2020. David Austin traditionally launch their new rose introductions in May, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, but this show was cancelled due to COVID-19, so a virtual rose launch took place instead.
This rose produces pretty flowers in a lovely golden pastel shade of yellow; as the blooms age they fade in colour and gently pass through every shade of pale yellow, until the blooms have turned a pure snow white.
Rosa ‘Champagne Moment’ = ‘Korvanaber’ (PBR) is an award winning rose that was bred by the renowned german rose breeders, Kordes. In 2006, Rosa ‘Champagne Moment’ won the coveted title of the winner of the Rose of the Year Competition! This floribunda rose produces clusters of apricot cream coloured flowers that pale to white, as they age; the flowers are perfectly complemented by gorgeous dark green, glossy foliage.
Rosa ‘Queen Anne’ (Austruck) is an English Shrub Rose that was bred by David Austin. This rose was introduced in 2011, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show; it was named in celebration of the anniversary of Ascot Race Course, which was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne. Rosa ‘Queen Anne’ produces beautiful flowers, in a very pretty shade of rose pink.
Rosa ‘Sunny Sky’ (Rosa Sunny Sky = ‘Koraruli’ PBR) is an award winning rose that was bred by the acclaimed breeders, W. Kordes’ Söhne, in Germany. A repeat flowering rose, Rosa ‘Sunny Sky’ plants produce golden yellow, double flowers, which are formed in the classic hybrid tea rose flower shape. It’s quite a nice yellow colour, being neither too bright, nor too pale.
Rosa ‘Rosemoor’ (Austough) is an English Shrub Rose that was bred by David Austin. ‘Rosemoor’ was first introduced in May 2004, at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show. This rose was introduced at the same time as three other roses, with each rose being named after one of the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens. Rosemoor is named in honour of the RHS’ garden in Devon, which is open to the public.
Rosa ‘Oxana’ (Dicovadatop) is a Floribunda Rose, which was bred by Colin Dickson of Dickson Roses, in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. Plants produce medium pink flowers, which soften in colour as the blooms age; leaving the flowers with a gentle blush of colour over their petals. The petals are darker on one side, which gives this rose’s flowers a subtle, but attractive, two tone effect.
Rosa ‘The Alnwick Rose’ is an English Shrub Rose that was bred by David Austin. ‘The Alnwick Rose’ was first introduced in 2001, at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show.
This rose was named for Alnwick Castle, in Northumberland. Around the time that this rose was launched, a television series was broadcast that followed the Duchess of Northumberland, as she commissioned and orchestrated the beginnings of a rather grand, new garden at Alnwick Castle.
Rosa ‘Lady of Shallot’ (Ausnyson) is an English Shrub Rose that was bred by David Austin and introduced in 2009, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This rose produces warm orange coloured, double blooms that almost seem to glow in the sunlight. The ‘Lady of Shallot’ is a fragrant rose, with flowers that are accessible to bees, hoverflies, and other insects.
Rosa ‘Mary Rose’ (Ausmary) is an English Shrub Rose that was bred by David Austin and first introduced back in 1983, at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show.
This is a very pretty rose. Plants produce pinky red coloured buds, which open up to reveal gorgeous, shell pink coloured, double blooms, which are held on upright flowering stems. ‘Mary Rose’ produces double flowers, but each bloom features fewer petals than many other double flowered roses of this type.
Rosa ‘The Garland’ is a gorgeous rambling rose that was bred by Wells. This is an old rose, which was first introduced back in 1835. ‘The Garland’ is a cross between a Musk Rose and a Multiflora Rose (Rosa moschata and Rosa multiflora).
I planted ‘The Garland’ in my old garden. This fantabulous rose was planted in light, sandy, free-draining soil against a tall North-facing wall that was topped with a wooden fence.
Rosa ‘I am Macmillan’ (Harteller) is a Modern Floribunda Rose that was bred by Harkness Roses and introduced at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2015. This rose produces vivid, glowing orange-salmon-pink coloured, double blooms, which really stand out across the garden. You cannot miss this rose, it’s bright and rather garish! Rosa ‘I am Macmillan’ is a repeat flowering rose that will bloom in cycles, all through summer and autumn, until the really cold weather arrives.
Rosa ‘Benjamin Britten’ (Ausencart) is an English Shrub Rose that was bred by David Austin and named after Benjamin Britten – an English composer, conductor, and pianist. This rose produces vibrantly coloured blooms, which at times appear a little more red than pink, but for the most part appear as a pretty cherry colour. The blooms form beautifully rounded cups; these flowers stand out across the garden and also look lovely in a vase.
