A large, dense rose with a strong scent and a powerful show of open, wine-purple flowers in midsummer set against the fresh green leaves. It makes a terrific eye-catcher at the back of the border or in its own small island bed, though it also makes a very effective summer hedge – when four or five are grown in a row – with its thorny stems. It’s disease-free, tolerates poor conditions, and is probably the best rugosa available
