Rosa 'Penelope'

This rose was fabulous for a number of years and grew up and over my swing seat. However, in the early days of this garden and my learning period, I didn't know about making them curve and wind round things to keep shoots and flowers low down, so everything happened on the top of the swing seat where she eventually got suffocated by the enormous Clematis montana. She was taken out (RIP) and has been replaced by R. 'High Hopes' which I am now winding ferociously around the swing seat.

Incidentally, if you use 'magic dust', more properly known as micorrhizal fungi (from Rootgrow etc), you can now plant roses safely where old roses used to be - no more cardboard boxes or different plants required.

I now never plant a major plant (shrub, tree, perennial) without it. It makes the roots grow really quickly, the plants settles in and flourishes faster and, importantly, the fox can't smell it unlike bonemeal or blood,fish&bone so they no longer dig up my plants the moment they have been planted. Hence my nomica 'Magic dust' for it. You must make sure the dust is in direct contact with the roots when you plant the plant, so only put it in once you have dug your hole, added fertiliser, mixed it, checked the height for the final planting etc. or you'll waste it - and it's not cheap.

Additional Info

  • Name: Rosa
  • Type: climbing
  • Variety: 'Penelope' AGM
  • Colour: Salmon pink
  • Bed: Pink
  • Failed: Yes
  • Year: 2004 - 2011