Sir John BetjaminThe Alnwick Garden
Can you tell us about The Rose Garden?
The Rose Garden is one of the largest rose gardens in the world and is sponsored by David Austin. The rose is the traditional best plant for your garden – it’s always been voted the top plant for your garden.
The Alnwick RoseThe Alnwick Garden
The Rose Garden, sponsored by David Austin Roses, features over 3000 English shrub roses and climbers, and 200 different species.
Most notably, these include the exquisite Alnwick Rose, launched at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2001.
Mary RoseThe Alnwick Garden
How many roses do we have?
In the Rose Garden we have over 300 different varieties of The David Austin rose. In the Ornamental Garden we have 30 or 40 different varieties of other roses, all grown for their fragrance or flower.
The Alnwick RoseThe Alnwick Garden
What Colour roses do we have in the Rose Garden?
We have all shades of roses – white, yellow, pinks and all shades of red and some now that are classed as blue roses but they are more purple coloured.
When will we be able to see the roses?
They flower from May through until November. You need to prune – deadhead your roses and you will get more and more flower. In autumn once the rose has finished flowering you should chop down a third. In Spring you should prune, depending what variety you have
The Chandos Beauty RoseThe Alnwick Garden
What is your favourite rose?
Chandos Beauty – a highbred tea rose that is very pale pink in colour but has the most fantastic scent. It’s ideal for cutting, lasts a long time in water and will flower from end April until November
Lady Emma HamiltonThe Alnwick Garden
How long do Roses last?
They tend to last for about 20 years before they start to get a bit tired. Don’t replace them in the same soil and previous rose – you have to dig the old rose up, dig the soil up and put new soil in before you plant your new rose.
IcebergThe Alnwick Garden
When should I plant my Rose?
Most people buy roses in containers which can be planted at any time of the year. You used to be able to buy bare rooted roses which are cheaper but can only be purchased between November – March, because the nursery man will dig them up and sell you just the plant
Photography copyright Margaret Whittaker