Blue Diamond will be launching a new and exclusive rose at RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival Show, on behalf of the National Trust. Rosa ‘Mottisfont,’ bred by Rosen Tantau, is a highly fragrant, Hybrid Tea rose. 

Nostalgic in style, this rose produces numerous layered petals of a dark magenta shade, against glossy green foliage and is highly disease resistance. It is ideal as a cut flower or for planting in groups – with a fully grown height of approximately 100cm.  

Rosa ‘Mottisfont’ is named after the National Trust property of the same name in Romsey, Hampshire, and which is home to a world-famous rose garden including the National Collection of pre 1900 old-fashioned roses. Blue Diamond hope that rosa ‘Mottisfont’ will become a fitting new addition to this already extensive and historically important collection of roses.

10% of the retail sales from every ‘Mottisfont’ rose sold will be donated to the National Trust to allow the charity to continue caring for the gardens they look after including Mottisfont. 

As part of their collaboration with the National Trust, Blue Diamond is also offering the public the chance to register their interest to bid in an exclusive online auction, for one of ten very special apple trees. These apple trees are direct descendants to the tree that inspired Newton’s theory of gravity, which can still be seen at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire, and which is cared for by the National Trust.

The auction will take place in September and those who are who are successful in their bid, will become custodians of these historically significant trees.

Blue Diamond have pledged that they will donate up to 50% of proceeds raised from this auction to the National Trust, dependent on the final sums raised.

For more information about Blue Diamond’s collaboration with the National Trust please visit stand FM 182 or bluediamond.gg/national-trust

Breeder synonym Biljana Bozanic - Tanjga

Launched by Blue Diamond Garden Centres on behalf of the charity MND Scotland, rosa Sunset Isle, bred by Biljana Bozanic - Tanjga, is a fragrant, Shrub rose, nostalgic in style, which produces numerous layered petals of a pale pink shade, against glossy green foliage and with excellent disease resistance. Planted in peat free compost and in a kerbside recyclable pot, this rose is ideal for planting in the ground or in a pot on the patio

Named in memory of Richard, brother of Gill Crawford, who bravely lost his life to Motor Neuron Disease in March 2022, and who enjoyed watching the sunsets on his beloved island of Orkney.

Gill Crawford, Sister of Richard said;

“A rose feels like a truly poignant way to remember a wonderful wee brother, and help raise awareness and much needed funding for MND, a cruel disease for which as yet there is no cure.

Richard himself was taking part in clinical research trials in the hope that one day a cure will be discovered.

 Richard was given the heartbreaking diagnosis in summer 2020 but very sadly died in March 2022. All our family were devastated, he was so loved and missed beyond measure.

 As his big sister I felt an overwhelming need to do something in his memory.

 MND Scotland is the only charity in Scotland offering support to those living with the condition, so many people doing amazing things to raise awareness and funds into research.

 Hopefully Richard’s beautiful rose will make a difference too”.

Julie Macdonald, Head of Fundraising for MND Scotland, said: "The innovative ways that our supporters choose to raise money for MND Scotland never cease to amaze me. The Sunset Isle rose is a beautiful and fitting tribute to Gill's brother Richard, and we would like to thank Gill and her family for their fundraising efforts to make time count for people living with MND in Scotland and to Blue Diamond for creating this opportunity.”

10% of the retail sales from every Sunset Isle rose sold will be donated by Blue Diamond Garden Centres to MND Scotland to enable then to continue research with the hope of eventually finding a cure for this disease.

Where to buy the roses from:

The new roses will be available to buy from Stand FM 750 in the Festival of Roses marquee at the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival, and online* at www.fryersroses.co.uk, whilst stocks last. Bare root roses can also be pre-ordered online for November onwards delivery*.