Rosa Young Lycidas

The English rose 'Young Lycidas' possesses more charm than any other variety. It combines a divine fragrance that evolves with the ripeness of the flower, a range of shades in a sumptuous decadence, with an excellent ability to repeat flowers. It produces large, gently inclined flowers laden with petals blending pink, magenta, and dark red, with a silver reverse. It forms a beautiful bushy bush with vigorous stems and very healthy foliage. Its unique fragrance deserves to be planted near a passage or resting spot.

This rather bushy shrub can reach a height of 1.20m (4ft) and a width of up to 90cm (35in). Its foliage is healthy and resistant to diseases. From June to October, it is adorned with large, double, and deeply cupped flowers, solitary or in small groups, carried by vigorous stems. On the outside of the corolla, the petals tend towards mauve, with a silver reverse, and become more wine-red towards the heart of the flower. This variety is also distinguished by its elusive fragrance and colour: the flower releases a delicious scent of rose tea, which then evolves into the headier and sweeter notes of old roses with a hint of cedarwood.

The English rose 'Young Lycidas' pairs well with English Roses and Old Roses in a small hedge or a bed of roses or large perennial plants such as lavender, peonies, paniculate phlox, or the light blooms of gauras and paniculate gypsophila.

English Roses are well-known for being perfectly repeat-flowering, and their flowers are renowned for being beautiful, well-formed and highly fragrant. They are also highly versatile and adaptable plants. They result from cross-breeding between old roses (Damask, Gallica, and Bourbon) and modern roses (Hybrid Teas and Floribundas). They resemble old roses naturally and offer large, cup-shaped, romantic and bohemian flowers. The modern roses have brought brighter colours and repeat-flowering. If you have enough space, English, Old, or Shrub Roses are magnificent planted in groups of three. They will grow together to form a single, opulent bush that will bloom even more generously.

This variety was named at the request of The John Milton Society to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the poet John Milton's birth. 'Lycidas' is one of the best short poems in English literature. Interestingly, this poet introduced the word 'fragrance' into the English language.

Bred by David Austin,  2008.