The Ultimate Guide To: English Miss Rose

Roger Pawsey developed the rose in Colchester in 1977 and named it in honour of his daughter. Cants of Colchester founded in 1765 was the oldest surviving commercial seller of roses until its closure in 2023.

English Miss rose was named after Roger Pawsey’s young daughter, Sally-Anne. Sally-Anne also had another rose named after her in 1994 called ‘Sally’s Rose’.

During the 1980s-90s, British Airways named their aircraft fleet according to themes. The Lockheed Tristar-500 fleet were named after English Roses, with G-BFCC named ‘The English Miss’. English Miss was depicted on the aircraft with the name painted under the cockpit.

Soil

Well-drained fertile soil. Enrich with organic matter. Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Read our planting guide here.

Toxicity

None Reported

Hardiness

RHS rating of H6 indicating a minimum temperature range of -15C to -20C. A good choice for colder locations.

Diseases and Pests

Good disease resistance especially blackspot, mildew and rust. Signs of insects such as aphids and mites should be monitored.

Treat mildew by pruning affected leaves.

Treat aphids by growing plants that attract insects that prey on aphids. See companion plants below.

Treat blackspot by pruning affected leaves, destroying fallen leaves.

We do not recommend using chemical fungicides as they risk reducing soil health and negatively affecting biodiversity.

See our help guides for more details.

Position

Full sun. Ideal for pots and patios. Its short stature makes it more amenable to windy conditions. Read our planting guide here.

Cut Flowers

Reasonable vase life for arrangements. Read our ‘How to Cut a Rose For Display’ guide here.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the growing season. Water at the base of the plant to prevent fungal diseases. Read our watering guide here.

Feeding

Slow-release feed early in the season followed by foliar feed during the growing period. Read our feeding guide here.

A granular, slow release feed such as English Roses Protect & Grow Slow Release Rose Feed supports all round health, and nutrients are released steadily over the course of a few months. Combine this with a foliar feed such as English Roses Protect & Grow Rose Foliar Feed in the summer months, for a quick burst of nutrients that encourage beautiful blooms.

Pruning

Hard prune in February or March. Remove approximately one third of the oldest wood plus weak and crossing branches. Regular deadheading during the season promotes new growth. See our pruning guide here.

Propagation

By hardwood cuttings in Autumn or chip budding in summer.