Shrub roses

In the last part of his series, Arthur Hellyer, MBE, VMH, finalises his choice of the finest shrub rose varieties

SHRUB roses can be grown with the minimum of attention. All are bushy plants, usually larger than bush roses, and require little pruning beyond the removal each winter of old or diseased branches.

They make excellent individual specimens, perhaps planted on a lawn so that each can be viewed from any side. They can also be used with other shrubs in borders, usually in informal arrangements, so that the whole effect is natural and unforced.

Some kinds make excellent hedges, though they should not be clipped but pruned once or twice a year just to keep them in shape.

‘Frühlingsmorgen’

This rose is a counterpart to ‘Frühlingsgold’ in pink and pale yellow, with a cluster of stamens in the centre of each single flower. ‘Frühlingsmorgen’ was raised by Wilhelm Kordes from a pedigree seedling crossed with Rosa spinosissima ‘Altaica’ [Rosa pimpinellifolia ‘Altaica’], and it flowers a week or so earlier than ‘Altaica’, in May and June. Height is 6ft (1.8m), spread 5ft (1½m), and it was introduced in 1942.

‘Golden Chersonese’

A rose in the style of ‘Canary Bird’, ‘Golden Chersonese’ was raised by Mr EF Allen from a cross between an Afghanistan species named Rosa ecae and ‘Canary Bird’. It makes a fine bushy plant 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) high with small leaves and very numerous, small, bright-yellow flowers in May and June. It was introduced in 1963.

‘Lavender Lassie’