In praise of Constance Spry
If our CEO Peter had to pick just one rose as his very favourite this summer, then it would have to be ‘Constance Spry’ he says.
It’s loved by celebrity gardeners and florists for its exquisite myrrh scented flowers and the way it covers an arch, arbour or trellis.
The rose was named after Constance Spry the famous florist, author and educator, who was born in 1886 and died in 1960.
She caused a sensation when she created arrangements from hedgerow flowers in the 1920s and used unusual objects as vases, drawing inspiration from the 17th and 18th century Dutch flower painters.
Constance was responsible for popularising the use of unusual plant materials such as pussy willow, weeds, grasses and ornamental kale as a backdrop to more traditional flowers.
The rose named after her has lots to recommend it too.
Why choose Rose Constance Spry?
- It’s a vigorous climber.
- It flowers all summer long.
- It has beautiful large, double rose-pink flowers.
- Its blooms are deliciously myrrh scented.
- It has unusual hardy, grey-green foliage that acts as a wonderful foil to its pink flowers.
What should I team it with?
Go for another climber with darker coloured blooms like a purple clematis that flowers at the same time as it such as Clematis ‘Honora’.
What other roses are similar?
- For a shrub rose try ‘Queen of Denmark ‘it has paler pink flowers and a scent with ‘old rose’ notes.
- For rich red flowers, Peter would also recommend the fragrant climber ‘Tess of the d’Ubervilles’.
What is its favourite spot and how do I care for it?
- Ideal for covering a post, obelisk, trellis, wall or fence.
- It needs an annual prune in March as it is quite vigorous, so you just need to keep it in check.
- It prefers a spot in full sun in a well-drained soil.
- When planting, dig a hole twice as wide as the plant’s roots. Dig in organic matter, fertiliser and mycorrhizal fungi such as Rootgrow.