Rosa Margaret Merril

The 'Margaret Merril' clustered rose bush produces large roses that possess a delicacy rarely found in modern rose bushes, and they exude an exceptional fragrance. Elegant, perfectly formed, barely double, beautifully turbinate upon opening, they open into a light cup on a lovely bouquet of dark yellow stamens turning red. Their colour is a subtle combination of pearly white shaded with pink at the heart. The bush has vigorous growth and blooms for months, with particularly decorative dark green glossy foliage. Stunning in borders, this variety produces extraordinary cut flowers.

The 'Margaret Merril' rose was introduced in 1977 by English rose grower Harkness. It is a hybrid tea variety classified in the floribunda family. The plant produces solitary or clustered flowers in small bouquets. The bush, with an upright and well-branched habit, quickly reaches a height of 80 cm (32in) and a width of 60-70 cm (24-28in). Its roses measure 10 cm (4in) in width and open from pale pink buds. A colour that is also found on the tightly packed hearts of the opening flowers. Their shape is typical of hybrid teas, with 28 petals, and each exudes a powerful fragrance reminiscent of lily of the valley, with notes of lemon and spice. Flowering begins in June and continues in successive waves until October. The foliage is divided into large dentate leaflets, a glossy dark green. It is quite susceptible to black spot (marsonia) in humid conditions. The plant is leafless in winter.

This 'Margaret Merril' rose bush is a charming small bush, perfect for borders, planted in groups of 3. It pairs well with many perennials or annuals with light flowering, such as paniculate baby's breath, tall phlox, perennial geraniums, love-in-a-mist, or catmints. It does not mind the competition from the roots of other plants, allowing it to be associated with a border of modest-sized flowering shrubs (deutzias, abelias). Also consider pairing it with small-sized clematis with violet, blue, or white flowers.