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A great shrub with waving arms that call down cerise stars from the summer sky. I really love this. Every winter the bugger spikes me as I work around it. Rosa moyesii makes a tall shrub with long arching canes that are covered in small pale pink to red flowers in June coming from Sichuan in southwestern China. In cultivation it is known for the red flowers of the first introductions but they are not typical of the species in the wild. 'Geranium' is a particularly bright form selected by Brian Mulligan before 1937 at Wisley when he was assistant to the director. It is said to be a compact selection of the species but I have never been especially struck by its diminutive stature. Award of Merit in 1950 when exhibited in fruit. It grew well at the bottom of the garden but sadly it had to go when the greenhouse was extended. I mean to replace it but haven't got around to it yet. G. S. Thomas says: "1938. This excellent form, raised at Wisley and selected by Mr. B. O. Mulligan, is of more compact growth than the type, with more copious, larger, fresh green leaves. The flowers are a magnificent blazing red, and the heps are larger and smoother than the average of R. moyesii. and of equally good colour. Undoubtedly the best type for the average garden, or at least for those gardeners who prefer a reasonably compact erect bush up to 10 feet by about 7 feet, rather than a gawky tree-like shrub creating overhead shade, It has few thorns." It has few thorns and most of them have been stuck in me at one time or another. |
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| 22nd June 2007 | ||
