Four new roses created by David Austin make their first appearance in the 2012 RHS Plantfinder, but Wollerton Old Hall (‘Ausblanket’) just pips the other three in being available from more nurseries.
It first saw the light of day at last summer’s Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and in what has become a great tradition of English Roses from David Austin, Wollerton Old Hall combines the elegant flowers and heady perfume of so many old roses, with the long flowering season that so many old roses lack.
There are sparks of red in the unopened buds, but as each flower develops into a fully rounded bloom the butter yellow colour emerges then softens to cream as the flower matures while developing slightly peachy tones. All the way, the flowers retain their attractive rounded shape.
This is one of the mostly strongly scented of all the English Roses. The myrrh fragrance is exceptionally powerful and is also relatively uncommon. Seeing it at Hampton Court last summer the BBC’s Rachel de Thame said: “I loved the pale creamy yellow flowers, which have an attractive spherical shape and intense myrrh-like perfume”.
More upright in growth than many English Roses, reaching about 5ft/1.5m high and 3ft/90cm across, and mostly thorn-free, Wollerton Old Hall makes an ideal specimen in a mixed border. It was named for the garden at the 16th century house of the same name, one of the finest recently made gardens in the country.
You can buy Rosa Wollerton Old Hall (‘Ausblanket’) from these RHS Plantfinder nurseries.
Source: RHS – Rose Wollerton Old Hall: New in the RHS Plantfinder
