Rosa x persica Fancy Babylon Eyes - Persian Rose

The Rose 'Fancy Babylon Eyes', just like its brothers from the amazing Babylon Eyes series, is living proof that the queen of flowers still has the power to surprise us. Derived from the mysterious Persian rose, this cluster-flowered hybrid has remarkably coloured petals around a contrasting heart. The petals of this variety range from peachy yellow to apricot and salmon pink, surrounding a dark red 'eye'. Its flowering is perpetual, and, as if all these qualities weren't enough, the plant is resistant to drought and has beautiful disease-resistant foliage. With a compact habit, this rose is suitable for gardens of all sizes and can be grown in large pots.

The Rosa x persica 'Fancy Babylon Eyes' descends, among others, from a wild rose discovered in 1784 by botanist André Michaux in the Zagros Mountains, straddling Iran and Iraq. The unique feature of its bicoloured flowers has since inspired rose breeders to attempt hybridisation with other cosmopolitan species and varieties. After years of research and selection, new and very interesting cultivars have emerged all over Europe. 'Fancy Babylon Eyes', born in the 2010s, is one of these varieties with exotic charm, still relatively unknown to us. It is a shrub or bush with an upright and bushy habit, rarely exceeding 70 cm (28in) in height and 75 cm (30in) in width. Its branches are moderately thorny and adorned with small, slightly glossy, healthy green foliage. The flowering occurs quite early, in May-June, sometimes as early as April in warm climates, and regularly continues until September-October if the soil is not too dry. The single flowers, with 5 petals, have flat cup shapes and measure 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter. The complex and changing colours of the flowers make this wonderful bush a multicoloured bouquet where yellow, salmon, and pink mingle with Bordeaux red always present in the form of central spots.

Exotic and playful, 'Fancy Babylon Eyes' is a particularly robust and floriferous rose that will seduce gardeners without a garden or those who struggle with dry soil in summer and frost in winter. It can be adopted from the North to the South of our region, in a large border, flower bed, or rock garden. 'Babylon Eyes' roses can be planted together, and with many other plants such as garden irises, lavender, rockroses, rosemary, and catmints in dry soil. In cooler soil, it can be paired with pink or white foxgloves, catmints, or pretty grasses like Muhlenbergia capillaris or Stipa capillata. On the terrace or balcony, it can be surrounded by coastal cineraria, alstroemerias, agapanthus, or carnations.

Bred by Interplant before 2012 - the rose 'Fancy Babylon Eyes' was awarded at the 17th International New Roses Competition in Barcelona in 2017 as the most vigorous variety.