Roses used as specimens can perhaps give more pleasure in the garden than any other plants. Just one carefully selected rose majestically standing alone in a sward of closely cut grass can indeed be a superb sight. Roses can be equally effective, used in borders, to mark an approach to steps or an entrance to another part of the garden. The essential qualities required for any of these purposes are a height of at least six feet, pleasing architectural shape and striking colour-all of which roses can readily provide.
Many of the shrub roses are eminently suitable. If the space allows, it is difficult to fault the lovely hybrid Scotch rose Fruhlingsgold [Rosa spinosissima), its short flowering season is well compensated for by its delightful arching branches, laden in summer with light green leaves and changing when bare in winter to fascinating bronze coloured wands, gently swaying in the breeze. Other suitable shrub roses are numerous. There are the yellow Maigold and the reds Bonn, Kassel, Heidelberg and Hunter. As an eye-catcher there are few roses that can beat the continuously- flowering creamy-white Nevada. Those tall hybrid teas and floribundas, which are of little use for formal beds, are excellent as specimen roses. Of the former, Peace, Eden Rose, Uncle Walter, Buccaneer and Tally-ho are superb, as are the floribundas Scarlet Queen Elizabeth, Dainty Maid, Shepherd’s Delight and Iceberg.
Standard rose trees, which can be had in such wide variety, can be very valuable for planting as specimens; however, it is the weeping standards that excel in this respect. There is no more beautiful sight in the garden than a weeping rose tree set in the lawn, reaching perhaps a height of eight feet and massed with colourful blooms. Its pendulous branches are sometimes trained over an umbrella-shaped metal frame attached to a stake. The choice of weeping standards offered to gardeners covers quite a range of rose types, as is shown by the following typical examples, the rambler Sanders’ White, the kordesii climber Hamburger Phoenix, the floribunda Climbing Circus and the hybrid tea rose Mrs. Sam McGredy, all of which cannot fail to delight.
Standard Roses
Buying your rose: If you are buying a bare-rooted plant, give the root system a thorough check before purchasing. There should be a minimum of three major roots, each at least 20cm/8in long.
The stem should be about 12mm/1/2in thick just below the point where the branches start. The head of the plant should be formed of at least two buds, not more than 10cm/ 4in apart and on opposite sides of the stem. Make sure that the plant is labelled.
Standard roses can be bought in two main forms. Bare-rooted plants are sold in winter during their dormant season. Normally they are in wax-lined paper containers or wrapped in polythene to prevent the roots from drying out.
If you buy your rose when the soil in your garden is frozen or too wet for planting, leave the packing intact and stand the rose upright in a cool room or a shed. It can be left this way for up to 10 days.
Instant summer displays can be created by planting container-grown specimens which are already flowering when you purchase them. Container-grown roses should have been grown in the container for some time and should not have been recently transplanted from the open ground. Firm soil and a crusted, moss-covered surface are good signs to look out for.
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Bare-rooted plants are less expensive than those grown in containers, but have a limited planting time. Container-grown roses, though they cost more, can be planted at any time of year.
For a really spectacular dis-play, plant roses in abun-dance, harmonizing standard roses with the colours of the surrounding rose bushes. Strong colours, such as car-mine, deep pink or bright red associate beautifully with the palest of roses in whites and creams with just the faintest hint of apricot or lemon.
Colour blending
For a more dazzling effect take advantage of the bright colours which are available and choose a vibrant scheme of sunny yellow with crimsons or scarlets, vivid oranges with apricots, and brownish-reds or scarlet-crimson with pale yellow or pink. For something more subtle mix pale yellows and creams with soft pinks or blends of gold. Lavender, lilac and mauve associate wonderfully with yellow, white and cream. Salmon pink and oranges are enhanced by pale golds, yellows and pale pinks.
Roses can look as splendid with other plants as they do with other roses. Some com binations are particularly ef-fective for extra colour and visual impact.
White roses create a cool, fresh atmosphere when planted within an edging of the dwarf, green-leaved box (Buxus semperuirens ‘Suffruti- cosa’). It is an ideal duo for a formal-looking garden. The hardy arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica ’Crowborough’) completes the picture.
Perfect partners
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Pink and blush-shaded roses are superbly partnered by the low-growing, evergreen rose-mary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Severn Sea’), which has the added bonus of beautifully aromatic leaves and brilliant blue flowers in spring, then sporadically until late in the year. Lavender is another good partner plant for these roses. Its leaves are grey-green and the violet-coloured flowers open in early summer.
Highlight an apricot-yellow standard rose by underplanting it with the grey-green leaved nepeta (N. x faassenii), which has spires of lavender-blue flowers all summer or the herbaceous, silvery lamb’s ear (Stachys olympica, also known as S. lanata).
If you choose one of the unusual blue-pink roses, sur- round it with an edging mix-ture of the bluish-grey leaved rue (Ruta graveolens), sky-blue garden panies (Viola x wittrockiana) and lavender.
