Blooming this year in many community gardens, double-flowered rose John Ystumllyn Rose pays tribute to minority groups that have contributed to UK history.
5,000 bushes named after famed minority ethnic gardener John Ystumllyn are being gifted, according to The RHS.
Community gardens across the UK are being planted with the new yellow-flowering Rosa John Ystumllyn Rose (‘Harwelsh’) as a symbol of unity and diversity in gardening.
Named after a locally famous 18th-century Black gardener from Gwynedd, the double-flowered hybrid tea has been bred by Harkness Roses, Hertfordshire and is thought to be the first rose to recognise a minority ethnic Briton. The grower has around 5,000 John Ystumllyn Rose plants to give away to community groups that can illustrate why inclusivity in gardening matters. It has also set up a community initiative offering 25 plants of any rose along with planting and cultural advice. ‘All we ask is that they send us a photo of them planting the roses for us to share on the community wall on our website’, said David White, Director, Harkness Roses.
Harkness Roses joined forces with the We Too Built Britain campaign to create what we believe might be the first ever rose to be launched that is named after an ethnic minority Briton.
To apply for roses for your community garden email: enquiries@roses.co.uk