As part of our ongoing commitment to horticulture, alongside our international rose trials we have planted a heritage border. This border contains a mix of species roses and heritage fruit trees.
Over many years a wide range of plants have been bred and cared for by a nation of garden lovers. Pests, diseases, fashion, and a change in climate can mean that some of these plants will disappear from our gardens. We have as a nation some very precious cultivars and to ensure they continue for generations to come they need to be present in our gardens. Roses are the nation's favourite and many come with stories and memories attached. They form part of British history in large stately homes and gardens, parks, and our own gardens.
Some of the roses planted in this border are the ancestors (species roses) of some of the modern roses you will see around the UK. Alongside these roses are Heritage fruit trees which are also in need of preservation and form an important part in plant history. These fruit cultivars have over the years become less popular due to commercial viability and tastes changing. Britain has the perfect climate for growing apples and other fruits, many of which are named after areas they are associated with. Most come with some great history and stories, like the apples Captain Cook took on his voyages (Hunthouse). To ensure they are preserved for years to come, they have been planted along with the roses in a site which sits alongside a public walkway, so that we can show, teach, and create enthusiasm for the world of horticulture through these plants.
Heritage means these plants were bred over 75 years ago, so many of the breeders are no longer with us, and to ensure their plants’ survival, we endeavour to keep these plants going.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Deciduous, climbing; thornless, vigorous, early flowering.
Colour: Pale yellow, rosette-like double flowers (late spring).
Details: Large, semi-evergreen rambler with small smooth-edged leaves and large clusters of ~2 cm flowers.
Aspect: South/East/West facing; sheltered from strong winds.
Size: H 8–12 m × W 2.5–4 m; time to max growth 10–12 years.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Semi-evergreen, very vigorous climbing rose.
Colour: Single creamy-white flowers in large trusses; mild musk fragrance; orange-red hips.
Aspect: Full sun; south/west facing.
Size: H >12 m × W 4–8 m; time to max growth 10–20 years.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Deciduous, robust, bushy; relatively thornless arching stems.
Colour: Semi-double deep lilac-pink (~4 cm) with yellow stamens in summer; spherical red hips in autumn.
Aspect: East/South/West facing.
Size: H 1.5–2.5 m × W 1–1.5 m; time to max growth 2–5 years.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Deciduous, bushy; unusual sepal-only blooms; tidy ~1 m bush.
Colour: Apple-green flowers, bronzing in cool weather; spicy/peppery scent.
Details: In cultivation since 18th–19th C; likely a chance mutation; bright, disease-free foliage.
Aspect: Full sun; sheltered.
Size: H 1 m × W 1 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Deciduous, small shrub with lax, almost thornless growth; purplish young foliage.
Colour: Single ~6 cm flowers open buff-yellow, age to pink and crimson.
Aspect: South/East/West facing.
Size: H 1–1.5 m × W 1–1.5 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Deciduous, bushy; bristly stems; ferny foliage turning purple in autumn; bright orange hips.
Colour: Tiny lilac-pink flowers in abundance (summer).
Aspect: Full sun.
Size: H 1.5 m × W 1.5 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Climbing shrub, 3–8 m; long repent branches; few curved prickles.
Colour: White, fragrant flowers in mid–late summer; brownish-red hips.
Aspect: Full sun; any aspect.
Size: Max height 3–8 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Vigorous, medium shrub with fern-like foliage; slightly fragrant, single creamy-yellow flowers (~5 cm) in late spring; red-brown hips.
Aspect: Full sun; any aspect.
Size: H 1.5–2.5 m × W 1.5–2.5 m; time to max growth 2–5 years.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Deciduous shrub; main rootstock used in UK production.
Colour: Light purplish-pink, five-petalled flowers (June–August); red hips late summer.
Aspect: Sunny to half-shady.
Size: H 1–2 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Very large shrub; arching growth; matt, highly divided leaves; flagon-shaped hips.
Colour: Single light-red flowers with showy stamens (bred 1913).
Aspect: Shade tolerant; poor soils.
Size: H 2.5 m × W 2 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Superb summer-flowering, vigorous rambler; semi-evergreen glossy foliage; light fragrance.
Colour: Creamy-white single flowers in showy trusses.
Aspect: Shade tolerant; poor soils.
Size: H 2.5 m × W 2 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Vigorous shrub with strong arching growth; single geranium-red flowers; elongated red hips. (Mulligan, 1938)
Aspect: Shade tolerant; poor soils.
Size: H 2.5 m × W 2.5 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Dwarf, suckering shrub; many slender reddish stems with fine prickles; shiny leaves colour well in autumn.
Colour: Rose-pink flowers (~5 cm) in summer; slightly bristly red hips.
Aspect: Full sun.
Size: H 1 m × W 1 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Very large shrub with arching stems; fern-like foliage; spectacular translucent plate-like red thorns; small single white flowers; red hips.
Aspect: Full sun.
Size: H 3 m × W 3 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Shrub with straight paired prickles; long sepals.
Colour: Pink flowers with golden stamens; pleasantly strong fragrance.
Aspect: Full sun.
Size: H 3 m × W 3 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Suckering species shrub; once-blooming in spring/summer; strong fragrance.
Colour: Medium, semi-double pink (9–16 petals), lilac shading, ageing lighter.
Aspect: Full sun; some shade.
Size: H 1.5 m × W 2 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Species shrub; once-blooming in spring/summer; strong fragrance.
Colour: Double white flowers.
Aspect: Full sun; some shade.
Size: H 1.5 m × W 2 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Aromatic species shrub; flowers and foliage scented.
Colour: Small single yellow flowers (late spring); reddish-brown hips.
Aspect: Full sun.
Size: H 1.5 m × W 2 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Very prickly shrub up to 5 m with twisted stems and peeling bark.
Colour: Single lightly fragrant pink flowers to 7.5 cm; round prickly yellow-orange hips.
Aspect: Full sun.
Size: H 5 m × W 5 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Hedgerow wild rose; armed with prickles; glossy dark green foliage.
Colour: Small single pink flowers (to ~1.75") dark then lightening with age.
Aspect: Full sun or part shade.
Size: H 3 m × W 3 m.
Family: Rosaceae
Characteristics: Species rose; one early flush (around May); semi-double to double bloom form.
Colour: Yellow.
Aspect: Full sun or part shade.
Size: H 1.2 m × W 2 m.