Set off by the lush coppery-mahogany coloured foliage and stems, the deep apricot-yellow flowers of this gorgeous climbing Tea rose are, in bud, elegantly arranged like a scroll; they have a rich fragrance and a long flowering season. There is no doubt that Lady Hillingdon favours the more temperate parts of the UK and best of all likes to be grown against a fence or wall.
There are bush roses and there are climbing roses, and some varieties are sold as both. This occurs when a natural mutation (called a ‘sport’) is spotted: a bush (or shrub) rose will randomly throw out a vigorous shoot that can be grown as a climber. ‘Iceberg’ is probably one of the better known roses that is sold as both, as is Lady Hillingdon. The bush version of Lady H. doesn’t have a huge fanbase but the climber wins all the accolades and this is because it best shows off the beautiful blooms as they hang down from the rather ‘weak necks’ which is common to Tea roses. They are simply unable to support the flowers that they produce!
I shouldn’t get sidetracked but I’m always wondering who these various plants were named for, and AI told me: She (Lady Hillingdon) is best known for the popular apricot-yellow tea rose named in her honour and as the alleged author of the famous Victorian-era phrase “lie back and think of England”.
NB Louise has published a beautifully produced book of her plant profiles – A Plant for Each Week of the Year. It costs £9.99 and is for sale in our online shop here.
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One reply on “Rosa ‘Climbing Lady Hillingdon’ AGM”
Thankyou for sharing your accounts of Chelsie flower show, I love hearing different opinions on the exhibits.