Mrs John Laing draws attention with large, full blooms in a soft, silvery pink. The deeply cupped flowers sit on sturdy stems above gray-green foliage. Her powerful rose fragrance, with a fruity note, makes her especially appealing to lovers of fragrant garden roses.

This historic rose was introduced in 1887 by British breeder Henry Bennett, in the midst of the Belle Époque. It belongs to the Hybrid Perpetuals: an important group of nineteenth-century roses that combines large, classic blooms with repeat flowering. Mrs John Laing beautifully displays these qualities, bringing a piece of rose history to the garden.

Her flowers appear in successive flushes from June, continuing into October in favorable weather. The sturdy flower stems also make her suitable for fragrant bouquets. A few blooms in a vase showcase her refined color and full flower form beautifully.

Mrs John Laing grows upright and is well suited to a romantic border, rose bed, or scent garden. Combine her, for example, with catmint or cranesbill geraniums for a loose, naturalistic planting. Near a garden path or seating area, you can fully enjoy her perfume.

Give her a sunny, airy spot with fertile, well-drained soil. Remove spent flowers to encourage new blooms, and water at the base of the plant during dry spells.