A lovely China rose with similarities to 'Mutabilis', and to the tea roses, raised by Laffay in France in 1825. It makes a stiff, twiggy bush to 5 feet (1.5m) tall, but often less, with red twigs, the older stems clad in strong, sharp thorns. The shapely red buds open into rich pink flowers, the outer petals remaining red, the whole flower nodding gracefully. I have found this an excellent rose, continuous flowering until the winter, hardy, and free from disease. Plant 3 or 5 plants together to form a really fine bush. A climbing form was introduced by P. Guillot in 1904, but, sadly, is not available today. The field shots were photographed at Mottisfont Garden Hampshire UK.