Roses

Roses are quite rightly one of the most popular plants for the yard.

They produce quantities of large beautiful, often wonderfully scented flowers from mid spring onwards. Once established they are largely trouble-free and can survive for years without too much attention - though of course, the more you look after them the better they will be.

They can even survive quite long dry spells if they are in heavy soil as they apply the "unfair competition" rule of survival by having huge strong and deep root systems.

I love climbing roses as when you've placed the support and trained them properly, they do their thing at around head-height so you don't even need to bend over to appreciate them fully. Living in England I do of course have a door entrance surrounded with a wonderfully scented climbing rose on one side - Zephirine Drouhin - and a Clematis on the other - as I live in a small village too, I feel it's a sort of unwritten law I have to adhere to. They're currently coming out in flower (late May) and every visitor admires them and even more so when I ask them to get closer to admire the scent.

The Garden roses are largely hybrids, plenty of repeat flowers all season long, but rather more prone to disease and requiring more attention, they aren't really plant-and-forget, but well worth it if you love roses. The Shrub roses are more self-sufficient and can be used successfully in mixed borders.

Roses are must-have plants as far as I'm concerned.

Plants by Category

Annuals

Aquatic Plants

Cacti and Succulents

Herbs

Outdoor Bonsai

Perennials

Roses

Shrubs

Trees

Vegetables