One of the early Austin roses features this month and one that has stood the test of time since its release back in 1983.
Graham Thomas is well known to all rose lovers for its deep golden yellow cupped blooms which appear in clusters all season long. Bring the inside to enjoy in a vase or leave for a great garden display. The fragrance, while not the strongest of the Austin roses, is rather pleasing.
At home in England, Graham Thomas is a well contained shrub but the mild climate of New Zealand gives it a bit more vigour and is actually best grown as a climber on a fence or pergola. Generally, it is healthy but can succumb to disease as the season progresses.
Named for noted English horticulturist, author and garden designer Graham Stuart Thomas (1909 – 2003), it is the most recent inductee into the World Federation of Rose Societies Hall of Fame in 2009, the first Austin rose to do so.
Members of the New Zealand Rose Society also rate it highly; it is the most popular Austin rose and second only to Sally Holmes as the most popular shrub rose for 2009.