Wildeve™ Rose Plants

Wildeve™ Rose (Ausbonny) from David Austin English® Roses

Wildeve is one of those stunning seashell pink roses whose colour and form is so baby's bottom perfect you do not need to add or take away a thing. Its delicate and charming appearance belies its vigour and hardiness. The 70 petals or so are divided into four quarters and then enfolded into a cup that may be up to 15cm across. Each petal then develops an apricot tinge as it ages. There is the odd glimpse of a yellow, central stamen and a pleasing, refreshing scent. The flowers are weatherproof and continuous the summer and autumn and will be profuse even when planted in partial shade. The leaves are smaller than a normal English rose so you get a higher flower to foliage ratio. The stems arch beautifully and eventually form a well-rounded bushy shrub.

Wild about Wildeve

The word versatile can be rather over-used with respect to roses, but in this case it is entirely applicable. Wildeve's growth habit means that it grows symmetrically and flowers from the ground so that it can be placed in plum position in a border or be used almost as ground cover on a bank or verge. Its arching stems can also be trained to ascend a modest wall. And it is equally happy arching elegantly from a pot. Concentrate on that delicate pink colour and grow bearded Iris 'Apricot Silk' and 'The Chatelaine' lupin for a spectacularly romantic flower bed. Or contrast it with the purple spires of Salvia Caradonna with Jasmine Stephanense in the background.

Features of Wildeve™ Rose

• Height: up to about 0.9 m
• Width: up to 0.9 m
• Colour: pale pink, paler outer edge of petals
• Shape of flower: quartered rosettes
• Size of flower: 10-15 cm
• Scent: pleasing, fresh
• Flowering: repeat through summer
• Group: English Shrub Roses
• Rain resistant
• Partial shade

A male role model

Thomas Hardy's novels epitomise the English countryside and this rose is named after Damon Wildeve, the dashing but ultimately doomed (and which Hardy hero isn't?) suitor to Eustacia Vye in 'Return of the Native'.

How to plant Wildeve roses

Dig a hole deep enough to allow the graft to finish at soil level when planted and with plenty of room for the roots. Improve the soil from the hole by removing large stones, weeds, roots and other rubbish and mixing in about 25% by volume of well rotted compost or manure. Wet the roots and sprinkle with Rootgrow so it stays in contact with the roots. If planting a pot grown plant gently loosen some of the roots before planting.

Position your rose so the roots are spread out and it is set at approximately the same level in the soil as it was before being transplanted. The union should be level with the soil when you have finished planting. Backfill the hole with the planting mix, firming it down as you go. Water in thoroughly. Water again a day or two later and then keep watering in dry spells.