The plant of the month for June

The plant of the month for June is the rose, the undisputed holder of the title of Britain’s favourite flower – and no wonder.

With thousands of varieties to choose from, and over 150 types of species (wild) roses too, you’re spoilt for choice. Whether your passion is for perfume, petals or performance – there’s sure to be a rose that’s perfect for you.

Clothe your pergolas, walls and fences in climbers such as the pale cream ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’; or for a wilder look in larger gardens let massive, free-flowering ‘Rambling Rector’ scramble into a mature tree for a breathtaking sight in summer.

Fill your borders with beautiful modern roses, combining solid, disease-resistant performance and repeat flowering with gorgeous colours and rich perfumes: crimson ‘Darcey Bussell’, perhaps, or the lovely apricot ‘Lady Emma Hamilton’.

Or for a touch of old-fashioned charm, go for historic roses: romantic moss roses like ‘Madame Hardy’ in pure white, or the ancient Rosa mundi (‘Versicolor’), grown since the 16th century for its striped flowers of red and white.

With such a rich tapestry to choose from it’s no wonder we love these quintessentially English summer flowers: so bring out your inner romantic and fill your garden with roses this summer.