See: How to plant roses – an essential guide The floribunda rose with large clusters of elegant, hybrid tea-shaped blooms in creamy apricot tones, will be launched at the 2019 Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. Introduced in 1982, the aim of Rose Of The Year is to discover by trials the best rose in any given year. A worthy winner, the rose shows outstanding disease resistance, has a strong, bushy, upright growth habit and glossy dark-green foliage. It also has a delightful fruity fragrance. And if you want to plant it in your garden, this charming bloom is perfect for mixed borders or pots on a terrace and can also form a low hedge. A limited number of the roses are on sale at the festival and bare root plants will be available nationwide through rose nurseries from autumn 2019. See: Rose garden ideas – for a colorful and sweetly scented outdoor space The Festival of Roses is one of the iconic sights to tick off your list when visiting the festival. It’s the chance to immerse yourself in a world of gorgeous colour and scent, chat to exhibitors and find your favourite new variety of rose. RHS Hampton returns from 1st - 7th July. This year the annual event has changed name from ‘Flower Show’ to ‘Garden Festival’ and will include live music, creative workshops and plenty of culinary experiences, as well as its usual garden designs and floral displays. Highlights include Kate Middleton and Davies White with a second RHS Back to Nature garden, and the highly-anticipated BBC Springwatch garden which aims to help halt the wildlife decline.