JEAN DE LA FONTAINE

Jean de la Fontaine was bred by Meilland, the French breeder renowned for the iconic rose Peace in celebration of the end of the Second World War. Named after the famous 17th Century French poet and fabulist, Jean de la Fontaine has recently been introduced into America and has been renamed Martha Stewart in recognition of Martha’s lifelong devotion to gardening. It is a beautifully heavy petalled salmon apricot rose with an incredibly rich fruity scent. This hybrid tea is compact in growth, reaching 50-60cm in height. Flowers throughout the summer.

MARGARET MERRIL

Bred by Harkness Roses in 1970, Margaret Merril was the inspiration behind the founding of The Real Flower Company in 1995. Rosebie grew up with this rose in her parents’ garden and its fragrance has never left her. This is the flagship rose of TRFCo. A quintessential English rose, ivory blush in colour with beautiful scalloped petals and golden red stamens. It has an incredibly powerful uplifting citrus scent. It grows to about 80cm in height, as a sturdy compact plant with lush green foliage. Ideal in a container. Like all roses it thrives with good compost and feed. Repeat flowering throughout the summer.

ROMANTIC ANTIKE

Bred by the German breeder Kordes in 2005, this is one of the few roses that The Real Flower Company grows that has little fragrance. They grow it for its sheer beauty and classic vintage feel. Each bloom opens to a huge salmon tinged quartered shape and then holds for several days. It goes well with so many other flowers that it is a serious asset in a vase.

YVES PIAGET

Bred by Meilland in 1983, the French breeder renowned for creating some of the world's most celebrated roses. Rosebie grows it because it is simply one of the most beautiful and fragrant roses she knows. The flowers are a rich cerise pink and open to reveal masses of heavily ruffled petals in a wonderfully romantic old rose shape. Its fragrance is exceptionally strong, filling a room with notes of rose, citrus and spice from just a few stems. As a cut flower it has real presence in an arrangement and always attracts attention. A true classic which never fails to steal the show.

CHANDOS BEAUTY

Bred by Harkness Roses in 2004, Chandos Beauty is the daughter of Margaret Merril. Rosebie refers to her as ‘the perfect child’ because she is an incredibly undemanding and healthy rose producing beautiful tulip shaped hybrid tea flowers in an apricot peach colour with a spicy fruity fragrance which can perfume a whole room. The foliage is lush and shiny and rarely has any issues. She flowers continuously throughout the summer. A real asset to any garden.

RACHEL LOUISE MORAN

Bred by the American breeders Jackson & Perkins and originally called Peppermint Splash, it was introduced to the UK by Harkness Roses in 2008 and is now called Rachel Louise Moran. Rosebie grows this as part of TRFCo collection because of its incredible red and white stripes. No two blooms are ever the same and it looks as though someone has got the paints out and randomly decorated the flowers with different stripes. It has a moderate fragrance.

EVELYN

Bred by David Austin in 1991, this was one of the first roses that Rosebie grew when she started The Real Flower Company. She loves its soft apricot pink colour and delicious fruity fragrance. The fragrance company Crabtree and Evelyn chose it as their signature rose. Its flowers open to a beautiful rosetted shape and then hold for several days, always stealing the show in a display.

PRINCE JARDINIER

Another rose bred by Meilland (see Jean de la Fontaine), Prince Jardinier is a very large pale pink garden rose with a strong citrus and fruity old rose fragrance. She exudes a romantic air and demands appreciation. We love it as a cut flower because it opens fully and then holds in an arrangement for days.