31 RHS Chelsea Gold Medals
Countess of Wessex
Peter Beales Own Breeding — raised and introduced by our own breeding programme, 2004
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
-
Highly Fragrant
-
Repeat Flowering
-
Wildlife Friendly
-
Good for Cutting
-
Disease Tolerant
-
Suitable for Pots
More roses like this
Great companion plants for Countess of Wessex
Plants that grow well alongside Modern Shrub roses like Countess of Wessex.
-
Delphinium
Why grow this with Countess of Wessex?
A classic cottage-garden partner for roses - its tall blue spires give dramatic vertical contrast to a rose's rounded, bushy form.
-
Foxglove
Why grow this with Countess of Wessex?
Tall flower spires give height and vertical contrast behind roses, and its bell-shaped blooms are a magnet for bees.
-
Campanula
Why grow this with Countess of Wessex?
Cool blue-purple bells thread neatly between rose stems, filling gaps in the border without competing for space, light or nutrients.
-
Salvia
Why grow this with Countess of Wessex?
Its upright flower spikes contrast beautifully with rounded rose blooms, and it flowers for months, keeping colour going in the border once the first flush of roses fades.
-
Yarrow
Why grow this with Countess of Wessex?
Attracts hoverflies and ladybirds that help keep aphid numbers down on nearby roses, and its flat flowerheads add contrast to rounded rose blooms.
-
Catmint
Why grow this with Countess of Wessex?
Its billowing grey-green foliage softens bare rose stems, and its long flowering season keeps pollinators visiting long after the first flush of roses is over.
Frequently asked questions
Bare-root Countess of Wessex 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 Countess of Wessex 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 Countess of Wessex is back in stock.
Countess of Wessex's mature growth range is 120cm x 90cm (4ft x 3ft). 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.
Shrub roses are a broad, informal group bred mainly for garden performance rather than a single flower shape — most repeat-flower generously, have good disease resistance, and combine well with other plants in a mixed border. They typically grow into a rounded, bushy shape rather than climbing or trailing.
Countess of Wessex belongs to our Modern Shrubs group.
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.
