New rose bred to mark Oxford Botanic Garden's 400th year

Called the Oxford Physic Rose, the pastel-pink flower’s name is a reminder of the university garden’s origins as a place where students were taught about the medicinal properties of plants.

Prof Simon Hiscock, director of the Oxford Botanic Garden on Rose Lane, described the new rose as a ‘beauty’.

“The colour is such a subtle, soft pink and the leaves are vibrant green and you don’t see a single black spot of fungus on the leaves,” he said.

“It is just a beautiful contrast between this glorious large open slightly double pink rose and the vibrant leaves.

“What’s good about this rose is that it may be slightly doubled but what happens is the rose opens out and you can see the stamens and the inner parts of the flower that attract the pollinators. It’s a very bee-friendly rose and good for pollinators.

Oxford Botanical Garden celebrates her 400th birthday today. 25/07/2021 Picture by Ed Nix

The new rose in all its glory at the Oxford Botanic Garden Picture: ED NIX

Oxford Botanical Garden celebrates her 400th birthday today. 25/07/2021 Picture by Ed Nix

Visitors to the gardens, which are located on Rose Lane, will be able to see the new rose Picture: ED NIX

Oxford Botanical Garden celebrates her 400th birthday today. 25/07/2021 Picture by Ed Nix

The new rose is a beautiful pastel pink and has a 'divine' scent Picture: ED NIX

“The fragrance is divine. It’s very difficult to describe but if you think of the most beautiful rose you’ve ever smelt it comes close to that.”

Creating a rose to mark the 400th anniversary of the garden was the idea of Prof Hiscock’s partner, Suzanne, and the flower was developed by Ian Limmer, nursery manager at Peter Beales Roses.

“We gave him a brief of what we would like in a rose. Subtle, pale pink, what Suzanne calls ballet slipper pink and a scent of course, it had to be scented. Repeat flowering and of course tough and hardy and as disease resistant as possible to make growing it easy,” said the botanic garden director.

The rose, which will have its official launch at the Chelsea Flower Show next year, was unveiled at a private ceremony at the botanic garden on Sunday.

Oxford Botanical Garden celebrates her 400th birthday today. 25/07/2021 Picture by Ed Nix

Lord Patten (right) plants the tree on Sunday morning Picture: ED NIX

Oxford University chancellor Lord Patten planted a handkerchief tree to mark the 400th anniversary of the garden. He followed in the footsteps of former prime minister and university chancellor Harold Macmillan, who planted a tree in 1971 to mark the garden's 350th year.

Paying tribute to the garden’s staff, Lord Patten said: “As we commemorate four centuries of botanical science here today, it is tempting to dwell on the past and all this Garden’s great achievements. However, I see this very much as a celebration of the future, and of the botanists who will help shape it. The world’s flora is under threat and it is up to botanical centres of excellence like this one to meet the challenge.”

Magdalen College’s bells rang out at 2pm to mark the garden’s anniversary.

Oxford Botanical Garden celebrates her 400th birthday today. 25/07/2021 Picture by Ed Nix

Christopher Patten, Chancellor of the University of Oxford, at the Oxford Botanic Garden Picture: ED NIX

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