For the last 60 years, David Austin Roses has named new varieties after historical British figures every year – from Queen Elizabeth II to Emily Brontë. This year, a rose named after Emma Bridgewater – a designer whose iconic mugs and teapots have become a hallmark of the modern country kitchen – has been announced as the latest in the breeder's nursery.
Unveiled at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show's Great Pavilion today, the seedling went through 12 years of auditions to be crowned David Austin rose of 2024.As you'd expect, it's a classic rose but with an unusual twist – the blooms change colour as they age, from bright coral to intense pink to mauve.
This news has also inspired Emma to create a corresponding pottery collection, all handmade in the Emma Bridgewater factory in Stoke-on-TrentThe designer is the latest in a long line of household names to be immortalised as a rose. "A rose does – without question – have a character and a personality," David tells Country Living.
"And I just know that a name will go with a certain rose; I can't explain why. This is one of the best we've introduced so far. It's got more complexity to it colourwise and I think that artistic element links well with Emma and her work."
Source:www.countryliving.com