Shrub rose

One of the most vigorous of David Austin's modern shrub roses, this was introduced in 1983 and became immediately popular. It possesses all the virtues of the English rose group strong disease-resistance, vigorous growth and handsome old-fashioned blooms. There is nothing dated about the colour, a particularly warm shade of deep yellow that glows in the evening light, joining with the rich, lingering tea-scent to make a memorable impact. Plants enjoy the best of conditions, a fertile, well-manured soil with generous annual mulches, full sun in a warm position, and regular picking or deadheading to extend flowering. A shrub rose, it is best pruned in late summer, after flowering has finished. Prune most stems lightly. To encourage young, vigorous growth, cut back a few of the oldest stems each year. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).