An Important Reminder

The very first roses to burst into bloom at the National Rose Garden at Woolmers are the Species or Botanical roses. These are the wild ancestors of all modern roses and they only bloom once, so a visit to the garden in early November to catch this richly perfumed show is a must.

Species roses, true children of the wild, need very little attention and can be left to care for themselves. They are tough and disease resistant, forming elegant mounds and climbers often ramble their way into nearby trees. The blooms are often dainty and produce richly coloured hips.

All cultivated garden roses are descendents of wild or briar roses and this is really the beginning of the rose story.

There are about 150 known Species roses in existence, though only a small selection has been inlcuded in the garden at Woolmers - just sufficient to give us a lovely spring show and maybe stimulate us to grow some of this interesting group of roses in our own gardens!