An ancient sport of the apothecary’s rose, Rosa gallica Versicolor is known as Rosa Mundi – the Rose of the World – and is said to have been named for Fair Rosamund, the murdered mistress of Henry II. It’s a small, deciduous shrub rose with an upright, compact, bushy habit and matte, greyish-green, divided leaves. In midsummer, the shrub bears a profusion of gorgeous, highly fragrant, semi-double flowers, rose-pink irregularly splashed and streaked with white or palest pink and a boss of golden stamens; in autumn, the flowers are followed by small, oval hips. Rosa Mundi is a tough, reliable, healthy rose that holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Site: Tolerates exposure Soil: Any moisture-retentive, humus-rich, well-drained soil Position: Full sun Season of interest: Midsummer Hardiness: Very hardy Height:3’ (1m) Spread: 3’ (1m) in 2-5 years
