Rose 'Vanessa Bell'

Feed blood fish and bone as the plant starts into growth in the spring and again after the first flush of flowers. Scrape back the topmost layer of earth under the bush and sprinkle on a handful of blood fish and bone. Work in to the soil being careful not to damage the roots that run close to the surface
Dead head as the season progresses, to promote new buds.
Prune when dormant. Remove dead or diseased wood, and select the best stem if two cross. Cut to an outward facing bud. Shorten the remains stems by a third two thirds or a half, depending on the desired result.

Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water moderately. Vanessa Bell is generally regarded as a hardy plant, so this plant will survive close to or on freezing temperatures.

Not normally grown from seed as the plants may not be the same as the parent plant. Roses can be rooted from hard wood cuttings taken in the autumn or in a commercial situation they are budded onto root stock

Plant out bare root stock into a hole wide enough to take all the roots without bending and deep enough to cover the union by about 3cm. Back fill adding blood fish and bone, firm in, and water
water during dry weather during the first year

Vanessa Bell is hardy, so ensure you wait until all danger of frost has passed in your area before considering planting outside.

David Austin, Albrighton , Shropshire UK

Vanessa Bell was an artist and the sister of the author Virginia Woolf and member of the’ Bloomsbury Set’. The Bloomsbury set were a group of artists, writers, philosophers who amongst other things, influenced modern feminist thought.