Michael was the leading rose expert at David Austin Roses for 35 years, and is the most knowledgeable rosarian in the country, if not in the world.
You may also like
- 15 great roses from Sissinghurst
- Choosing and growing single-flowered roses
- Key roses from Libby Russell's garden
- Myth busting rose growing tips from Michael Marriott
Here he picks nine beautiful roses from his garden in Shropshire that he works on alongside his partner, TV producer Rosie Irving.
For more on their garden and how they split it, head to our feature.
Michael Marriott's top roses for the garden
Rosa Olivia Rose Austin (= ‘Ausmixture’)
A particularly healthy cultivar with large, very double, soft pink flowers. It repeat flowers very quickly and has a light fruity scent. Height and spread: 1.25m x 1m. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b†.
Rosa Lady of Shalott (= ‘Ausnys’)
Buy from Burford Garden Co. (£33.00)
One of the best English shrub roses with large apricot-orange blooms that are produced very freely. 1.5m x 1.5m (can also grow as a climber to more like 3m). AGM*. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.
Here's Michael Marriott on why species roses are great
Rosa Kew Gardens (= ‘Ausfence’)
Buy from Burford Garden Co. (£33.00)
A particularly tough rose that grows and flowers well even in the shade. It is completely thornless. Excellent in a border or as a hedge. 1.25m x 1.25m. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.
Rosa ‘Adélaïde d’Orléans’
Buy from Burford Garden Co. (£33.00)
One of the most beautiful ramblers. Pink buds open up into semi-double, pure-white blooms. Very lax growth makes it easy to train. 6m x 4m. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.
Rosa Mary Delany (= ‘Ausorts’)
Buy from Burford Garden Co. (£33.00)
A repeat-flowering English climbing rose with fragrant, soft-pink, semi-double flowers. Ideal for walls or large, robust obelisks. Very few thorns. 3.5m x 2m. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.
Rosa Buttercup (= ‘Ausband’)
Buy from Burford Garden Co. (£33.00)
One of the most deliciously fragrant of all roses. The flowers are a rich yellow and loosely cupped. It epeat flowers well. 1.5m x 1.5m. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.
Rosa Queen of Sweden (= ‘Austiger’)
Buy from Burford Garden Co. (£33.00)
A particularly upright English shrub rose with very neat, light pink, cup-shaped blooms. Good as a cut flower. Light myrrh fragrance. 1.25m x 75cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.
Rosa ‘Rambling Rector’
A vigorous rambler with large heads of white, semi double, strongly fragrant flowers followed by small orange hips. 7m x 7m. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.
Rosa Princess Anne (= ‘Auskitchen’)
Buy from Burford Garden Co. (£33.00)
A fragrant English shrub rose, with deep-pink flowers that fade to a rich pink. 1.2m x 1m. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.
*Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
†Hardiness ratings given where available.
Here's how to prune roses.
