Starting with some oddly coloured roses, one of my favourites is Honey Dijon (‘Weksproulses’ – 2004) a cluster-flowered rose of a very unusual golden mustard colour. The guard petals are tinted with red and sometimes this shows in the open flowers, not to the added beauty of the flowers, in my opinion. The plant grows about 90cm high and the flowers are fragrant. It looks good in the garden but I think it excels as a cut flower because of the unique colouring – brighter yellow will show up better in the garden.

Oranges & Lemons (Macoranlem 1997) is a popular little rose and has a lot going for it. The vibrant, striped flowers are freely produced in large clusters on upright plants that can reach 1.2m. The burgundy new foliage is a showy feature and is perfect to offset the showy flowers. It is very thorny and it is not as resistant to disease as I would like. The flowers are fragrant and I can see why it is very popular but I am not totally sold on it, partly because of the very upright habit – but that could be an advantage if you are short of space.

This selection of roses is very random and not necessarily of the very best, just roses I have grown or have at least experienced. Striped roses always attract attention and The Painter (‘Mactemaik’ 2001) is well named for its bright, splashed petals. Another rose with burgundy new foliage, the small clusters of large flowers are shown off well and it will reach 1m in height.

Hanky Panky (Wektorcent 2001) is rather similar  but the flowers are a brighter scarlet and the plant is neater in habit, suitable for a large pot if necessary. The flowers are carried in small clusters and are lightly fragrant.

I have written enough about Vidal Sassoon in the past and I love it but there are similar and possibly improved alternatives available now such as Magic Moment and Something Special.

Tenacious (Macblackpo 2004) is another stripey rose in red and yellow shades but this one has noticeably good fragrance and it is a low grower, reaching about 75cm.

I have no commercial links to any nurseries but I will mention suppliers for UK readers. These suppliers stock some of the roses mentioned above and are growers that I have either had experience of or have met and would do business with.*

I have included the international names in brackets and these will help buyers in other countries find suppliers because roses have different selling names in different countries.

Style roses – styleroses.co.uk

C&K Jones  – jonestherose.co.uk

*Please note, I take no liability for any experience you may have and I get no benefit at all from mentioning them.

rose hanky panky, rose honey dijon, rose tenacious, rose the painter, rose vidal sassoon