The latest in my series of galleries of English roses is Rosa ‘Darcey Bussell’. Red and crimson roses are notoriously difficult to photograph, so I’m pleased that my iPhone made such a decent attempt at colour rendition.
‘Darcey Bussell’ has a good deal going for her but that beautiful crimson colour has to be her crowning glory. She doesn’t droop, isn’t too tall, and has a nice shrubby habit. All English roses were designed to be combined with other flowers, but I’ve often seen Rosa ‘Darcey Bussell’ looking impressive all on her own in a mass planting.
Most of these pictures were taken this year at RHS Rosemoor Garden in the first week of July, during their Festival of Roses (which I heartily recommend). The fourth one was taken several years ago with my old camera at Bodnant Garden in Wales – Darcey is in the foreground.
If fragrance is especially important to you, you might prefer Rosa ‘Munstead Wood’ which has shapely, slightly deeper crimson blooms and a strong rose scent. But for sheer flower power, it’s hard to beat Rosa ‘Darcey Bussell’.
Other galleries in the series include:
English rose gallery: Rosa ‘Lady Emma Hamilton’
English rose gallery: Rosa ‘A Shropshire Lad’
Gallery of English roses
Gallery of orange English roses
Susan Rushton 
Love the color. Amazing the quality of pics you can take with a phone these days.
You’re right, it is.
The color is what makes it most luxuriant. The texture is exquisite too. I still miss the hybrid teas though.
Ah, so gorgeous! I’m tracking back on all of your rose posts that I missed in my absence – what a visual delight on a gray rainy day!
I’m glad you’ve been enjoying them.