Comparatively few of the hundred or more rose species found in the wild have contributed to the make up of present-day garden roses. The principal parent species are: Rosa gallica Rosa moschata Rosa fetschenkoana Rosa canina Rosa chinensis Rosa gigantea Rosa foetida Rosa multiflora. Significant sub-groups derived from Rosa arvensis Rosa pimpinellifolia Rosa wichurana Rosa […]
The HRG AGM took place this year over the course of 22nd and 23rd of September at the Talbot Hotel in Malton, North Yorkshire. This was the first time for several years that this two-day “mini conference” style of meeting had been held, and alongside the formal business speakers developed the theme of rose conservation […]
Wine and Roses: An Evening at Mottisfont A unique opportunity to visit Mottisfont without the crowds. Mottisfont is celebrated for its internationally significant rose gardens. It is home to the National Collection of Historic Roses, and recently there has been a renewal of these roses and improvements to the companion planting. We will have Mottisfont […]
A visit to Ninfa was the enchanting finale of the HRG Italian Tour 2025. Anticipation was high as Ninfa, nestling dreamily at the foot of the Lepini mountains in Lazio (Italy), embraced by the hauntingly beautiful ruins of a medieval village, has been called the most romantic garden in the world. We arrived at Ninfa […]
In this talk Bev Bond will be aiming to show the possibilities of these marvellous and sometimes majestic plants and will introduce you to some beautiful plants that she has cared for over the years. She will explore training, supports, growing plants on buildings, (including historic buildings) and the importance of soil, aspect and establishment. […]
If you’ve ever wondered how or why an historic/heritage rose obtained its name, you may be interested in this talk. Who or what was the original inspiration for these often tantalising names? Were the roses named for celebrities of the past, for particular places or famous events, or for people who were linked personally to […]
The National Fruit Collection growing at Brogdale is the most comprehensive collection of fruit varieties in the world. It is the contribution of DEFRA (the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation’s collections of genetic diversity to secure the future of the world’s food crops. It is […]
A small group of us met for the Historic Roses Group event at Hinton Ampner (National Trust) in Hampshire on Saturday 15 October.
Adrian Pickett reports on a very interesting visit to Wisley, including a talk by the librarian and a tour of the gardens.
It’s well known that some of the most famous old roses were named in women’s honour, but women have also been trailblazers as collectors of roses and other plants.