Royal links for top grower

Five new varieties of English roses have just been released by David Austin, the internationally-famous rose grower from the Shropshire border.

They include a glorious pink bloom named after Princess Alexandra, a gardening enthusiast and cousin of the Queen. Based at Albrighton, David Austin Roses sells more than 900 varieties of rose, with customers all over the world.

Founder David Austin, 80, has achieved international accolades for his English roses.

They are the most fragrant of all roses and, unlike their old rose ancestors, come in many different shades.

Susan Rushton, company spokesman, said: "English roses include Gertrude Jekyll, which was recently voted the nation's favourite rose by BBC viewers.

"In recent years, it has become increasingly clear some of the English rose varieties can be trained as excellent climbers, ideal for trellis, fences, obelisks, arches and pillars."

In its fact sheet outlining the five new varieties, David Austin Roses says: "We are particularly pleased to be naming a new English rose for Princess Alexandra of Kent, who is very enthusiastic about gardens and loves roses.

"The flowers are much like one of the Bourbon roses, being pure pink and deeply cupped.

"The fragrance is strong and changes markedly with age from tea through lemon to blackcurrant."

The variety, Claire Austin, is named after David Austin's daughter, who also has a nursery of her own at Edgebolton, near Shrewsbury.

It is pale yellow, fading to a creamy white, has "a strong fragrance of myrrh with dashes of meadow sweet, vanilla and heliotrope" and is said to be extremely healthy.

Munstead Wood is a dark red variety with a classic fragrance with "hints of blackberry, blueberry and damson" and blooms three inches across.

Port Sunlight can be grown either as a shrub or a climber and is also said to be very healthy. Its outer petals gradually fade with age from soft yellow to cream while the inner petals fade from apricot-peach to rich yellow and peach.

Skylark has semi-double pink flowers and a "light, musky fruity fragrance not unlike cooked Bramley apple and cloves".

By Peter Johnson