Peter Beales Roses

31 RHS Chelsea Gold Medals

Great Western

Root Type
Price: £25.00
Key Information
Please use this as a guide, these are live plants and can be different due to your soil, sunlight, watering routine and feed.
Rose Type
Bare Root
Rose Family
Bourbons
Date of Introduction
1838
Rose Colour
Red
Suitable For
Hedging
Height Range
150cm x 120cm (5ft x 4ft)
Fragrance
Fragrant
Bloom
Double
Thorn
A varied thorn count

Potted roses are supplied in a 5.5 litre pot.

(Bourbons) Richly sumptuous in the garden, Great Western bears large, fully quartered blooms of deep maroon-purple, their densely packed petals unfurling with an almost architectural elegance. Flowering in midsummer with impressive generosity, each bloom carries a heady, intoxicating fragrance that drifts on the warm air. Named after the celebrated Great Western Railway, this historic Bourbon captures something of the bold ambition of that Victorian era.

Key Information
Height Range: 150cm x 120cm (5ft x 4ft)
Rose Type: Bare Root Rose
Rose Family: Bourbons
Colour: Red
Flowering Period: June | July
Fragrance: Very Fragrant

Similar Roses
Mrs Yamada | Adam Messerich | Boule De Neige | La Reine Victoria

Important product information

Bare-root roses ship November–March only. Orders placed April–October will be held as a pre-order and dispatched November–December, weather permitting.

Tracking details will be sent by email.

Potted roses ship year-round.

Price: £25.00
Great Western
£25.00

Plant Calendar

  • Planting Time
  • Flowering Time

Potted roses can be planted at any time of year; the planting window shown here is for bare-root roses.

Rose Features

  • Fragrance icon Fragrant

Great companion plants for Great Western

Plants that grow well alongside Bourbon roses like Great Western.

  • Peony

    Peony

    Why grow this with Great Western?

    Flowers just before or alongside early roses, sharing the same love of sun and rich, well-drained soil, for a classic double-flowered pairing.

  • Delphinium

    Delphinium

    Why grow this with Great Western?

    A classic cottage-garden partner for roses - its tall blue spires give dramatic vertical contrast to a rose's rounded, bushy form.

  • Lady's Mantle

    Lady's Mantle

    Why grow this with Great Western?

    Soft, scalloped leaves and frothy lime-green flowers make an easy edging that catches morning dew and softens the front of a rose border.

  • Campanula

    Campanula

    Why grow this with Great Western?

    Cool blue-purple bells thread neatly between rose stems, filling gaps in the border without competing for space, light or nutrients.

  • Aquilegia

    Aquilegia

    Why grow this with Great Western?

    Delicate, nodding flowers in late spring that bridge the gap in the border before roses come into their first flush.

Frequently asked questions

Bare-root Great Western roses are best planted during their dormant season, from November to March, which is also when we dispatch them. Potted roses are grown in containers and can be planted at any time of year — just avoid periods of hard frost or drought, and water thoroughly after planting.

Every rose we sell is covered by our 1-year Rose Guarantee, so you can plant Great Western with confidence. See our Rose Guarantee page for the full details.

Often, yes — we grow our roses ourselves and stock varies through the season, so a variety that's sold out can come back. Use the "Notify me" button above to be emailed the moment Great Western is back in stock.

Great Western's mature growth range is 150cm x 120cm (5ft x 4ft). Growing conditions such as soil, sunlight, feeding and pruning can affect the final size, so treat this as a guide rather than an exact figure.

Icon key

What the icons on our roses mean.

  • Fragrant Has a noticeable scent. The product page tells you how strong it is.
  • Repeat flowering Flowers more than once through the season, rather than a single show.
  • Disease tolerant Naturally tolerant of common rose diseases such as blackspot and mildew.
  • Wildlife friendly Flowers that provide pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinators.
  • Good for cutting Long-lasting blooms on stems that suit cutting for the vase.
  • Ornamental hips Produces decorative hips in autumn, which also feed the birds.
  • Award winning Has won awards. They are listed under Key Information on the product page.
  • Suitable for pots Happy growing in a container on a patio or balcony.
  • Grow up an arch Can be trained over an arch, pergola or doorway.
  • Grow up a wall Can be trained up a wall or fence.
  • Partial shade tolerant Copes with a position that only gets sun for part of the day.

Icons only appear on roses that have the feature. Please use them as a guide: roses are living plants and can vary with your soil, sunlight and care.