Graham Thomas rose

Sun

Full sun, ideally at least 6 hours daily; light afternoon shade is helpful in very hot climates.

Water

Water deeply during dry spells, keeping the root zone moist but not waterlogged. Newly planted roses need regular watering through their first growing season.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost; tolerates clay if drainage is adequate. Slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal.

Height

5-8 ft (1.5-2.4 m) as a shrub; up to 12 ft (3.7 m) when trained as a climber in favourable conditions

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Flowers

Rich yellow, double, cupped flowers in repeated flushes from late spring or early summer into autumn; flowers fade to paler yellow as they age.

Foliage

Glossy, medium-green, compound leaves with toothed leaflets; deciduous, though leaves may persist longer in mild winters.

Growth

Fast once established

Care needed

High

• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   3 ft (0.95 m)

3. After 2 years

   5 ft (1.4 m)

4. After 3 years

   6 ft (1.8 m)

5. After 5 years

   6 ft (2 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Water at soil level rather than over the leaves, especially where black spot is common.
• Apply a rose fertiliser as growth starts and again after the first main flowering, following the label; stop nitrogen feeding by late summer in cold climates.
• Mulch annually with 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of compost or well-rotted organic matter, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Remove spent flowers regularly to encourage further flowering.
• Tie climbing stems loosely to sturdy supports and fan them out rather than allowing all growth to run vertically.
• In the coldest part of its range, protect the crown or graft union with a winter mound of soil or compost after the ground begins to freeze.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, remove dead, damaged and crossing stems; shorten remaining shrub growth by roughly one-third to one-half. If grown as a climber, retain and tie in the main framework, shortening flowered side shoots to two or three buds.

Late winter

Plant bare-root roses when the soil is workable and neither frozen nor waterlogged.

Late winter to early spring

Prune before strong new growth begins, adjusting timing to local frost conditions.

Spring

Feed as growth starts, apply mulch and check ties on supported plants.

Early summer

Deadhead the first flush, feed again if needed and inspect new shoots for aphids.

Summer

Water deeply in dry weather, continue deadheading and remove diseased fallen leaves.

Autumn

Clear fallen foliage and remove damaged growth; avoid heavy pruning before winter.

Early winter

Secure long stems against wind and protect the crown in cold regions.

• Place toward the back of a mixed border, with lower perennials hiding the often bare lower stems.
• Train against a sunny wall, fence or sturdy trellis to display its flowers at eye level.
• Use as a large specimen shrub where its arching growth has room to develop.
• Combine with blue and violet flowers for contrast, or cream flowers for a softer yellow-and-white scheme.

Garden styles it suits: English country, Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden, Traditional, Sensory garden and English manor.

Plant it with: Catmint, Hardy geranium, Lavender, Salvia, Lady's mantle and Ornamental allium.

Wildlife: Dense, thorny growth can provide shelter for small birds. The double flowers offer less accessible pollen than single roses, so this is not a strong choice if pollinator feeding is your main aim.

• Black spot: remove affected and fallen leaves, water at soil level and maintain airflow; use a locally approved rose fungicide if repeated severe infection warrants it.
• Powdery mildew: prevent drought stress, thin crowded growth and remove badly affected shoot tips.
• Aphids: wash colonies off with water or use insecticidal soap according to the label; avoid spraying open flowers.
• Winter dieback: protect the crown in cold regions and prune dead stems back to healthy wood in spring.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. Thorns can puncture skin and injure mouths or eyes; eating substantial amounts of plant material may cause stomach upset. Do not eat flowers or hips from plants treated with products not approved for edible crops.

• Golden Celebration rose (Rosa 'Golden Celebration')

  Usually has larger, more densely petalled, deeply cupped golden-yellow flowers and a stronger fruity fragrance; Graham Thomas generally has a lighter-looking cup and a clearer tea scent.

• Charlotte rose (Rosa 'Charlotte')

  Usually forms a shorter, more compact shrub, with softer yellow flowers that develop noticeably paler outer petals.

Introduced by David Austin in 1983, this rose was named for the British horticulturist and rose expert Graham Stuart Thomas.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, or hardwood cuttings during dormancy. Seed does not reproduce the cultivar reliably; suckers arising below a graft union belong to the rootstock, not Graham Thomas.

Accepted botanical name

Rosa

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.