Rosa Young Lycidas - English Rose

The English rose 'Young Lycidas' possesses the charm of ancient varieties more than any other. It combines a divine fragrance, evolving with the ripeness of the flower, a range of shades in a sumptuous decadence, with an excellent ability to bloom again. It produces large flowers gently inclined, weighed down by petals mixing pink, magenta and dark red, with a silver reverse. It forms a beautiful bush with vigorous stems and healthy foliage. Its unique fragrance deserves to be planted near a passage or resting place.

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

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 blooming of gauras and paniculate gypsophila.

English Roses are well known for being repeat flowering, and their flowers are renowned for being beautiful, regular and fragrant rosettes. They are also very versatile and adaptable plants. The result of cross-breeding between old roses (Damask, Gallica and Bourbon) and modern roses (Tea and Floribundas hybrids). They resemble old roses naturally and offer large cup-shaped, romantic, bohemian flowers. Modern roses have brought brighter shades and their perpetual flowering. If you have enough space, English, Old or Shrub Roses are magnificent planted in groups of three. They will grow together to form 'one' opulent bush that will flower even more generously.

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

Bred by David Austin, 2008.