Alan Titchmarsh has shared the flower he 'adores' that will bring plenty of blooms and colour to gardens this summer. The garden expert has plenty of tips and tricks for selecting plants, and for garden borders, he said shrub roses are 'the most popular type' of roses.
Why Shrub Roses Are So Popular
There is a reason the flowers are so popular, as Alan explained: 'Shrub roses grow much larger than the patio rose.' They have been around for years, delighting gardeners. Alan noted that many shrub roses date back to the 16th and 19th centuries. However, modern shrub roses have a 'distinct advantage' over the older ones.
'The old shrub roses have one season of flowering, generally from June edging into July, but that's it,' Alan said. 'The modern shrub roses, and those that are called English shrub roses, will start flowering in late May and early June, where they'll have a big flush, but they will spotter on right the way through the year.'
Alan's Favourite: Jacques Cartier
In his Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh video, the expert had a Ballerina shrub rose that he said is 'really popular' and 'elegant'. But another shrub rose is his favourite. Alan said: 'I love shrub roses and there is one in particular that I adore. It was raised in France in 1868, it's called Jacques Cartier, and its perfume is fab. It smells like a very expensive rose talcum powder.'
In his TikTok video caption, Alan said: 'Shrub roses are the most popular choice for mixed borders, growing much larger than patio roses and bringing months of colour to the garden.' While many historic varieties date back to the 16th and 19th centuries, most old garden roses flower only once from June into July.
'Modern shrub roses and English roses offer a major advantage, producing a spectacular flush of blooms in late spring before continuing to flower right through the season,' Alan added.
RHS Guidance on Shrub Roses
The RHS has shared the differences between old and modern shrub roses. It said: 'Old-fashioned roses include those originating before the 18th century. Modern shrub roses begin in the early 20th century and have been bred, often from the old-fashioned roses, for a greater range of colour, repeat-flowering and disease resistance not always found in the old-fashioned types.'
Shrub roses are best suited to fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, with space around them to grow. Most shrub roses will struggle to flower in deep shade or permanently damp soil.
