That little bit of heat has really brought out the best in our roses and while our early-planted Weeks, Star and David Austins are almost finished with their first flower flush, we still have a crop of 200 Certified roses (that were planted later) just starting to open. So, now is a great time to go rose shopping at Amsterdam Garden Centre, particularly if want to appreciate those eye-catching hues and delicate fragrances in person. With that in mind, here are a few varieties that are looking really good right now.
‘Climbing America’
A stunning climber that was bred from ‘Fragrant Cloud’ with showy clusters of deep coral double blooms all summer long. It is an AARS award winner, very disease resistant and emits a strong spicy scent reminiscent of cloves. Grows 10-12’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 6.
📸 MK Lascelle
‘Lemontini’
This is a brand-new Hybrid Tea for us and if you look carefully, you get both deep yellow hues in the centre of the flower, with pale primrose edging, so you don’t have to choose between the two. Add to that the outstanding citrus and licorice fragrance of the 4-5” wide blooms, which also make great cut flowers. Disease resistant. Grows 3-5’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
📸 MK Lascelle
‘Cathedral Bells’
Fringed petals which start as a deep cerise bud, open to a rich pink and fade to blush are just the first thing that catches the eye. But as one goes in for that closer look, then the potent anise-lavender scent becomes the main attraction. One sniff is all it will take to convince you that this Grandiflora rose deserves a place in your garden. Grows 3-4’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 6.
📸 MK Lascelle
‘Ink Spots’
I brought this dark red variety in to help assuage all those customers who are unable to secure the incredibly popular ‘Black Baccara’, which is often my first red rose variety to sell out. I was not disappointed when the velvety-red flowers began to open against the rich green foliage, and the plant vigour is also quite impressive. Grows 4-6’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 7.
📸 MK Lascelle
‘Sunbelt Crazy Love’
Perfectly formed English rose-type blooms of an usual copper, yellow and pink are borne proudly on this Grandiflora hybrid all summer long. These are perfectly contrasted by the healthy, glossy green foliage and they also make a welcome addition to floral arrangements. Grows 4’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
📸 MK Lascelle
‘Top Cream’
A hybrid tea that lives up to its name, with quartered cream-coloured blooms after the English rose style, often accented with a pale pink centre. The fruity-pear fragrance only adds to its charm, making it hard not to take a bite when you go in for a sniff. It also makes a great cut flower. Grows 4-6’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 6.
📸 MK Lascelle
‘Arborose Kiss Me Kate’
At a casual glance, this climber much resembles a David Austin rose with its quartered mid-pink flowers which are darker at the base. The peony-like blooms also emit a complex sweet perfume of old rose, myrrh and citrus that will make any garden smell wonderful. Grows 10’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
📸 MK Lascelle
‘Enchanted Peace’
Don’t get me wrong, the ‘Peace’ rose is beautiful and still quite popular, even after being on the market for over eighty years now. But ‘Enchanted Peace’ takes it up another notch with glossy disease-resistant foliage, more intense bicolour pink-yellow blooms and an enticing spicy-sweet fragrance. Grows 4-5’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
📸 MK Lascelle
‘Loves Me, Loves Me Not’
A brand new Hybrid Tea from Star Roses with quartered 5-inch-wide raspberry-pink flowers often borne in showy clusters. This variety doesn’t stop there, as the blooms emit an intoxicating fragrance of sweet lilac and pineapple, not often found in roses. Grows 5’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 6.
📸 MK Lascelle
‘Sunbelt Plum Perfect’
I see it all the time, rose enthusiasts going straight to the purple/blue section only to find that ‘Angel Face’ and ‘Heirloom’ are more magenta than purple and while both are potently fragrant, it would be nice if there were true to the colour on the tag. Enter ‘Sunbelt Plum Perfect’, a compact floribunda with abundant clusters of perfectly formed quartered blooms in a consistent plum-purple hue with velvety petals. Grows 2-3’ tall. Hardy to USDA zone 5.
📸 MK Lascelle
The photos you are looking at were taken just a few days ago, and all that colour is waiting for you at Amsterdam GardenCentre.
Copyright 2026 MK Lascelle
