We end 2015 by featuring a rose that was one of the first of the hand painted roses bred by Sam McGredy in the 1970’s. A novelty at the time, the blooms gave the look that one colour was splashed with another. Today, they are still grown and a wider selection of varieties are available.
One of the earliest varieties and one still grown today is ‘Old Master’ which attracts attention in the garden or on the show bench with its crimson red blooms that feature a silvery white centre and reverse to the petals. Unlike some other hand painted roses, the colours are fairly stable throughout the season and the clusters of blooms will form a very colourful display.
A very healthy rose, ‘Old Master’ grows to a medium height in the garden and has attractive dark green foliage. The one downside to this rose is the profuse thorns. Bred from a complex parentage by Sam McGredy, it is a rose that is easily recognised by its display of unique blooms and one of the better hand painted roses to grow in any garden.