Rosa 'Roald Dahl' - English Rose

The English Rose 'Roald Dahl' is a lovely variety introduced in 2016 by the rose breeder David Austin, classified as a Musk Hybrid Rose. This variety stands out for its remarkably generous flowering, continuously from summer to autumn, in medium-sized double rosettes, delicately coloured in very soft orange to cream yellow. Despite their delicate appearance, they are resilient to weather conditions and emit a subtle fragrance when smelled. This bush with a rounded habit is adorned with medium green foliage that harmonizes with its flowering, a charming shade that is easy to pair with white or pink in a very Nordic style!

This sparsely thorny bush gradually forms a rounded bush, reaching a height of 1.25m (4ft) with a spread of 1m (3ft) and a moderately fast growth rate. Like China roses, its roses are produced regularly and abundantly from June to October. The pointed buds are of a lovely soft red-orange shade reminiscent of the colour of a ripe peach. They open up into double cups of medium size in a very pale yellow-orange. They are subtly fragrant, with a scent of tea rose mingling with foliage notes and black fruits. Its stems are adorned with delicate foliage of medium green colour with a somewhat matte finish, which is very elegant. It is resistant to rose diseases.

Combining old roses' beauty with modern roses' advantages, the 'Roald Dahl' rose captures light and attention, bringing a gentle touch of colour and fragrance to large borders and perennial beds. It will be beautifully showcased in front of a boxwood or yew hedge or, conversely, surrounded by a miniature hedge composed of Teucrium chamaedrys, white carnations, miniature pink roses or white yarrow. It will also reign in the centre of a skillfully arranged boxwood maze, as in Italian or French gardens. If you have enough space, English, Old, or Shrub Roses are magnificent when planted in groups of three. They will grow together to form 'one' opulent bush that will flower even more generously.

English Roses are well known for being perfectly perpetual, and their flowers are renowned for being beautiful, well-formed and highly fragrant.

This rose was introduced in 2016 at the Chelsea Flower Show to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Roald Dahl, the famous British author of children's novels. The peach colour of this variety is a tribute to the first major literary success of this novelist passionate about gardens, "James and the Giant Peach" which was published in 1961. David Austin speaks of this rose with a special emotion: "After nine years of selection, each rose we offer must be exceptional and offer a unique character, but I must admit that in this new rose, there is a bit of the special magic of Roald Dahl."

David Austin was created in 2009 and released in 2016.