This blog on romantic roses is less about madly spending on Valentine’s Day than being inspired to create a garden to fall in love with – for a loved one, or indeed, for yourself.
Now, whilst you may feel that there is too much commercialism surrounding this particular day in February (and I wouldn’t disagree with you) there are ways to celebrate which are not. And those are the ones I’m interested in suggesting and sharing with you.
As you’d expect, my ideas are garden related. Over the years, I’ve written blogs filled with designs and suggestions for creating a romantic garden and visits to romantically inspired gardens. (see below for links) This time, I’m returning to flowers associated with Valentine’s Day and romance. Or rather, one particular flower, the rose.
Romantic Roses for Valentine’s Day and Beyond
If you‘re creating a romantic garden, roses are bound to be one of the essential flowering shrubs you plant in it. Roses have a long history in our gardens, and while rose gardens waver in and out of fashion, the rose as a flower is always popular. Indeed, roses never totally leave the worldwide top ten favourite flowers list. They’re regularly at the #1 spot, and not just around Valentine’s Day.
If you need blooms for February 14th, you’ll need to go to a florist. The roses in this blog will currently be a framework of bare branches, not a bush filled with blooming flowers. Those blooms will appear in season. But that’s not a problem. After all, we are looking for a romantic present for your beloved, that will give them pleasure in the garden all summer long. And next year too, and the year after…
The romantic roses I’ve found for you: –
- are scented
- have relevant lovey-dovey names (obviously)
- are hardy and should be easy maintenance
- will repeat flower, ie flower more than once, but may not be constant flowering
They’re divided by type of rose. For more detail on these types, check out the rose blog links at the end. Where they would be suitable for a container as well as in a border, I’ve said so. And they are not all red, in fact I only found one red rose specifically called Valentine! Most roses bloom best in the sun, but they don’t all need full sun, many are happy with partial shade. So when you’ve found say, three roses, from the lists below, do a little bit of research to check which one will be best for the situation you want to grow it in.
And remember that to get full benefit of the rose’s perfume, it will need to be in a sheltered spot. There are some ideas for where to grow and care for your rose in your garden in the blogs at the end.
Climbing roses
To cover a romantic arbour perhaps. Some climbers can get large, so check your available space and their eventual height.
Sweetheart Rose, also known as Cecile Brunner, is almost thornless which a makes it a good choice for an arbour or pergola where you might get caught on thorns. Soft pink clusters of blooms with a sweet scent. Grows to 25 foot
Perpetually Yours, also known as Canterbury Rose, is smaller at 12 foot. Creamy yellow flowers with a lemony perfume, and glossy dark green foliage.
Cheek to Cheek – a patio rose to set you dancing! Unlike most patio roses, this one is scented. Good for a container on a balcony as it only grows to 5 – 7 foot, with pink – white blooms.
Rambler Roses
Ramblers are different in habit from climbing roses. Rambler roses are vigorous climbing plants and most are large. The other thing to remember is that the majority only bloom once.
Open Arms is a miniature rambler reaching 10 foot. Soft pink semi- double flowers with a musk rose fragrance.
Romantic Roses – Hybrid Tea
Not all hybrid tea roses are scented, but some are. Generally 3 – 4 foot high when mature.
My Valentine – had to include this one! Also known as Grande Amore, it’s a crimson rose with a pleasant fragrance.
My Wonderful Husband – large purple blooms
My Wonderful Wife – mid pink blooms with frilly wedges to the petals
Although I’m not sure if the above two are a bit, um, sexist, in the flower colour…
With All My Love – orange-red lightly fragrant flowers. A bit smaller at 2 -3 foot
Sweet Love, also known as Chandos Beauty. Another 2- 3 footer. Apricot blooms with a fruity perfume
Thinking of you Rose – in case you have to be apart from your beloved on Valentine’s Day. A fruity scented rose with deep crimson velvety blooms
Floribunda Roses
Floribunda Roses have multiple blooms on a single stem and repeat flower.
Valentine Heart – rather pretty with lilac pink frilly petals and a hint of scarlet at the base and a good, sweet fragrance. Height 3 foot
One Love, clusters of smoky mauve flowers with a superb fragrance; rather nice.
Crazy for You is an unusual rose with an exceptional perfume. The flowers are semi double, with a random mixture of scarlet red with cream and pink shades, and even hints of a pale yellow scattered across the petals. 3 – 4 foot
Truly Loved – a small bright pink flowered rose with a light perfume.
Let there be Love – the name is good for our romantic roses and the soft pink blooms have a delicate perfume.
Eyes for You, also known as Blue Eyes reaches 2 foot in height so good in a pot. The flowers are lilac with a large bluish/purple blotch in the centre and a citrus scent.
Love Always, also known as You’re Beautiful. Another rose with striking pink flowers and a pleasant perfume. 2 – 3 foot
Heart’s Delight – deep purple-red blooms with a slight perfume.
Shrub Roses
Now you may think that that is a long enough list of romantic roses, even if red is not the predominant colour.
But we’ve missed out one of my favourite roses. An English shrub rose, with a warm myrrh fragrance typical of musk roses (one of its parents) but the repeat flowering performance of modern roses.
Cariad, which is Welsh for ‘darling’ or ‘beloved’ – a soft rose pink, semi double flower, opening to camellia-like blooms. 4 foot high
How to care for your Romantic Roses
You may buy the roses as bare root plants or as container grown. Bare root roses should come with planting instructions, or check out our Bare root plants blog for what to do.
Pruning your new rose correctly will encourage plenty of blooms. Just be careful not to prune so hard that you cut below the graft. This is where the rose you want has been grafted onto a rootstock, which will be a different rose chosen for other qualities. Not all roses have been grafted.
In its first year, your rose will need extra care, especially watering in dry weather. If you added mycorrhizal fungi to the hole when you planted the roses, they shouldn’t need feeding in year one. However, your rose will benefit from a feed if it’s in a pot.
When you’re picking flowers to take into the house, take a little extra time and remove old leaves and spent blooms. This helps the rose to thrive and encourages more blooms on repeat flowering types.
Once established, the romantic roses above are easy maintenance. On top of the summer care as above, they’ll just require annual pruning and feeding and an autumnal mulch.
Garden Teacher Tip
Companion planting can improve the health of your roses and reduce watering needs.
Lavender, Nepeta and Chives are all beneficial. Choose one of the smaller Lavender types to prettily edge the roses all year round. Nepeta also makes a good ground cover. Chives are good at deterring aphids, allow them to flower for added interest.
and finally
But most of all, enjoy your romantic roses on Valentine’s Day and for years to come. And if you’d like help in designing a romantic garden or a rose garden, do please get in touch. Or do you have issues with your current roses? Our Garden Consultancy & Advice Visits may help.
Perhaps you have a birthday coming up? Plews bespoke Gardening Lessons, where your classroom is actually your own garden make a wonderful and practical gift. We help you with both gardening basics and more ‘expert tasks’. Have a read through this pdf download for info.
And for further gardening advice and inspiration, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below. You could come and find us on Instagram Pinterest and Facebook too.
Feeling nosey? You can have a peek at the progress of my garden renovation, Spitfires and Slow Worms, on Instagram and Facebook
You’ll get to see it in person if you come to the Plews Gardening Workshops Current ones on Eventbrite for you to book into. Follow for updates on topics and dates on Plews website, Instagram, Eventbrite, Facebook
Plus why not get your local garden club, allotment, WI, U3A or other group to ask me along to give a talk(and bring plants 😉)
Related Gardening articles you may enjoy from our Award Winning Blog
More Romance, Planting Designs & Ideas
Elements of a Romantic Garden for Valentine’s Day
Wedding Anniversary Roses for Your Garden
Rose Practicalities
Garden Visits
Roseto Comunale, Rose Garden, Rome
Morden Hall Park Rose Garden Visit
Rose gardens – the scent of paradise
