Rosa helenae

Rosa helenae

On my recent Swedish visit I was bowled over by this wonderful species rambling rose – in Sweden it is known as the honey-rose for the very good reason that it has an intense honey scent.  Clusters of the semi-double flowers with a yellow eye smother the plant and later in the year it bears orange hips.  I’ve prowled the garden looking for somewhere I might be able to squeeze it in – so far without success – but if you have space for a once-flowering and deliciously fragrant rose, this is definitely the one.