If anything in my collection deserves a “love it/hate it” designation, it is Wollerton Old Hall. I hate its propensity for black spot — all the more disappointing in that I planted it alongside the steps to our back deck, where it enjoys what should be the best air circulation of anything in the yard. Then, just as I begin to think about tearing it out, it blooms again… and I forget my every complaint.
David Austin lists this among the varieties having myrrh-based scents, and it does — at least sort of. But let’s not dither here. These blooms scream ripe cantaloupe. With myrrh and lemon in the background. This is another of the varieties best used to startle the unsuspecting. You can approach people with a single rose and then, as they switch from using their eyes to using their nose, watch their reaction inevitably switch from “Wow, that’s nice” to “Oh, my God!”
Pros:
- Cantaloupe with lemon and myrrh!
- Strong, even and upright growth
Cons:
- Among the worst for blackspot; requires constant anti-fungal measures, and may still look gruesome by mid-August
My Source: David Austin Roses
