Rose 'The Mill on the Floss'

A beauty with old world appeal. This wonderfully healthy rose bush produces an abundance of 5cm lilac pink blooms, with a defining carmine edge in large clusters. The colour is exceptional and rare for this type of rose and it changes as the blooms mature, softening with a graceful air on the arching canes. There is a high petal count with upwards of 40 on each.

They have a fruity, sweet perfume that rates 3/5 on our scale.

Bred by David Austin Roses, this English Shrub Rose can tolerate part shade. It repeats throughout the season and the mid green foliage is lovely and glossy.

Rose bushes are upright, elegant shrubs that are adorned twice a year with spectacular, showy blooms.

The basics of rose care are simply ...

1. Keep the plants moist at all times, but never allow the roots to sit in water.

2. Feed generously, and frequently, two or three times over the flowering season.

3. Keep pests to a minimum (this is usually not a problem if you start with a strong variety, and keep it well watered and well fed).

4. Prune back once a year.

5. Keep the area around the roots weed free, and ensure 4-6 hours of sun per day.

Loamy soils are ideal, though Roses will grow in heavy top soils (if well drained) and sandy soils (if kept watered and fed more frequently). For Roses to thrive, good drainage is critical.

When providing your roses with a supporting show and companion planting try and leave a bit of space around their root zone clear.