Graham Thomas Roses

Graham Thomas Rose

Graham Thomas was voted the World's Favourite Rose by the 41 worldwide rose societies. This, plus the fact David Austin highly recommends it and the RHS have given it an AGM should be enough for any buyer. Graham Thomas has glorious, buttercup yellow cupped roses of 35 petals or more that bring light and sunshine into gardens in an incomparable way. The flowers are not huge but are plentiful and the petals have a particularly satisfactory way of being slightly uneven and with just enough space between the layers to see the miraculous pattern that they form. The plant itself is bushy and will spread as wide as it will grow tall so it creates enormous impact when covered with roses, as it is all summer through to the frosts. The foliage is a uniform, smooth green. And of course it is scented; a bewitching, partly traditional tea-rose, partly delicate violet fragrance that contributes hugely to Graham Thomas's charm. Simply an outstanding member of our range of David Austin Roses.

A sunny disposition

The rich, buttery colouring of Graham Thomas holds its own and flatters blues and purples - from cornflowers to delphiniums to campanulas. We also like the idea of growing Graham Thomas with that upmarket cow parsley - Ammi Majus - or frankly any white flowers - think Marguerites, Philadelphus or other white roses like the ever popular Iceberg, whose pollen is said to have been a factor in Graham Thomas's genesis, Pascali or Austin's own Susan Williams-Ellis. Graham Thomas will literally bring that proverbial ray of sunshine into the garden.

Features

• Height: up 1.2 m
• Width: up to 1.2 m
• Colour: rich, buttercup yellow
• Flower shape: double
• Size of flower: 8 cm
• Scent: tea rose with violet
• Flowering: Repeat
• Group: English Shrub Rose
• Disease resistance: outstanding
• RHS AGM

A gardening hero

Unusually, Graham Thomas, the respected horticulturalist actually chose this rose for himself as a frequent visitor and admirer of David Austin and his work. One of Graham Thomas's great achievements was to be the prime mover behind the National Collection of Old Roses at Mottisfont Abbey in Hampshire. Real fans might also want to buy the lovely honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum Graham Thomas which would look fetching with this rose.