William Lobb Moss Rose

I only grow two moss roses in my garden - the muddy purple-red William Lobb and the clear red-pink Henri Martin. I've planted them both near water features, where they are encouraged to be their own natural shape. Just beautiful!

 Growing by the little water race stream.
William Lobb Moss Rose

William Lobb arches and hangs over the garden edge towards the water race. It's a joy waiting for him to flower, just the once, in early summer. Two Henris grow near Pond Cottage, in a small pond-side border edged with miniature blue Agapanthus. They are younger roses, so the shrubs are smaller, and occasionally the visiting possum will nip off some of his early green shoots. Henri Martin's flowers are also very beautiful.

Designer Stubble!

Moss roses have a very distinctive look - at a quick glance the stems and buds seem to be riddled with insect life. Aargh! Aphids! But of course this is the furry 'moss' for which they are named. Alocal rose website, Wairere Nursery, cleverly describes the moss as 'designer stubble'. I couldn't have put it better!

 Not covered in aphids!
Henri Martin Moss Rose

William Lobb is possible the best known and most loved of all the moss roses, and is a vigorous shrub who loves to arch and spread. I actually don't bother to prune him, because his thorns are rather dense and nasty. He's sometimes called 'Old Velvet Moss'. Henri Martin is another old chap, sometimes called 'Old Red Moss'. Both roses were bred back in the mid 1800s.

 With Winnie the dog.
Henri Martin Moss Rose