Rosa x polyantha Tobago - Polyantha Rose

The 'Tobago' Clustered Flower Rose, which has received numerous awards, is a vigorous, perennial bush that blooms generously with a beautiful citrus and fruit fragrance. Its small flowers, not quite double, open in generous bouquets on an elegant, glossy foliage, of a deep green that enhances the orange colour of the flowers. With good vigour and a fairly rare, thornless habit it is a versatile variety that lends itself to multiple uses in the garden.

The 'Tobago' Polyantha Rose is a creation from Delbard dating back to 1981. In a few years, it forms a dense, ramified bush with few thorns, about 1.10 m (4ft) in height and 60 cm (24in) in width. It has foliage cut into small, glossy leaflets, which is somewhat sensitive to black spot disease in humid climates. This deciduous foliage falls in autumn. The flowering is renewed from May-June until October-November, in successive waves, if care is taken to remove faded flowers and the soil does not dry out too much in summer. The 6-7 cm (2-3in) wide roses are more or less double, gathered in large bouquets at the end of the stems. The tightly closed buds open into flowers of a very bright orange that turns peach-pink. The flowering of this rose is pleasantly fragrant: its fragrance of orange, lemon, and apricot is invigorated by fresh grass.

The modern bush roses allow for the creation of beautiful small hedges, planted mixed on the edge of the terrace or in small shrub beds. Combine them with ground cover roses, abelias, nandinas, or caryopteris for example. They are good companions for foxgloves and tall baby's breath. The vigour and generosity of 'Tobago' make it an interesting variety for all gardens, even small ones. Its use is varied, according to each gardener's desires: in a rose bed, in the company of white varieties ('Marie Pavie', 'Swanny') or mauve ones ('Blue Boy', 'Rhapsody in Blue'). Like all roses, it is stunning mixed with easy-care perennials such as hardy geraniums, catmints, or asters. And its roses are lovely in small bouquets or centerpieces, with blue or white clematis flowers for example.