Plant Heritage has awarded Daniel Myhill with National Plant Collection status for his collection of Rosa persica hybrids – all kept in his back garden in Norfolk.

 Persicas are set to rise in profile when Peter’s Persica, named after the late Peter Seabrook, and bred by Chris Warner, is launched in 2023.

 Rose Society treasurer Myhill is a young collector who fell in love with Persicas jus s few years ago: “I am super thrilled to have been awarded National Collection status for my collection of 42 different rosa persica hybrids. Persica hybrids are distinct in that they exhibit a red/purple blotch at the base of the petals, which stems directly from the species Rosa persica. The collection has been established in my back garden in the village of Kenninghall, Norfolk, with a beautiful vista over-looking fields. For 2023, I am open by appointment only, with best time to view from mid-June. It would be worthwhile coupling this with a visit to Peter Beales Roses, who hold the National Collection of Old Roses and are only 10 minutes away from me.

 ”My passion for persicas first took hold when I saw the Harkness variety “Alissar, Princess of Phoenicia” (below) at RHS Chelsea Flower 2015 – I just had to have it. I then started looking around and found a couple more, including Chris Warner’s “For Your Eyes Only” which won the coveted Rose of the Year 2015 award, which really propelled these varieties back into the public’s eyes. Most of the hybrids have a single or semi-double flower form and are perfect for pollinators. Most are robust shrubs which can tolerate poor soils and need very little pruning. Whilst recent breeding developments now include climbing varieties.

“Chris Warner, recent Rose Society UK Dean Hole Medal recipient, has been at the forefront in breeding healthy persica hybrids, and you can be sure if it’s got Chris’s name on it, then its worthwhile growing.  Beyond ‘For Your Eyes Only’, other stand-out Warner varieties include “Bright as a Button”, “Angel Eyes” and “Eye of the Tiger”.  All four of these are readily available from multiple nurseries.

“Several amateur breeders have also introduced persica hybrids, with one called “The Bees Knees” (picture by Toby Skinner), introduced by Maurice Guest, worthy of mention. It is more traditional in its growing habit as a floribunda, holding  sprays of soft yellow flowers with a red eye, fading to white and pink, set against vibrant green foliage. The variety is exclusively available from Style Roses.

“Rosen Kordes and Rosen Tantau, arguably two of the largest European breeding houses, have both introduced a series of persica hybrids. Kordes have the “See you” series, whilst Tantau have the “Orienta” series, of which I have four of the “See you” range and five of the “Orienta” range. Three of the Orienta series are available exclusively from Pocock Roses.

“There are several American bred persicas too, with “Your Lovely Eyes” (main image), exclusively available from C&K Jones, really quite unusually with pink flowers which have a red eye surrounded by a yellow halo. The rose is covered in blooms, so much so that you can barely see the foliage! It makes quite an impact and another must have.

 ”In establishing the collection, I must thank the support I have received from the rose industry. In order to establish a collection you must have duplicate plants, with C&K Jones, Style Roses, Pocock Roses and Whartons Roses supplying plants to bolster the collection, for which I am very grateful.

 ”With regards to my background – I am purely amateur, with no formal horticultural training. I hope this shows that anyone with a passion for a particular plant can set their eyes on, and establish, a national collection. I was fortunate to become Treasurer of The Rose Society UK in 2019, which has opened the doors of opportunity for me, including becoming a rose trials judge at the Rochford’s International Rose Trials and a forum member for the RHS red rose AGM trial at Wisley. I am also a member of the YPHA too, which is doing a fantastic job estbalishing a network of young people in horticulture, with membership now hitting the 300 mark!”

 Details of Myhill’s collection on the Plant Heritage website: https://www.plantheritage.org.uk/national-plant-collections/search-the-national-plant-collections/collection/6029/rosa-persica-hybrids