Ballerina Shrub Rose Bushes

Ballerina Shrub Rose

Ballerina is a rounded shrub rose carrying huge sprays of small, single, slightly scented pink flowers with white centres that are carried continuously through the summer. This is one of those "must have" roses. It flowers all summer long. As a shrub rose, it tends to be more disease resistant than some of the more highly bred bush roses. It can handle semi-shade and the clusters of flowers are ideal for table centre pieces. With a well deserved RHS Award of Garden Merit, Ballerina a really outstanding rose for the gardener who needs a variety that can handle a bit of shade.

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Features:

• Type: Polyantha Shrub
• Colour: Pink with white centres
• Flower shape: Simple single in clusters
• Fragrance strength: Light
• Final height and spread: 4ft x 4ft
• Flowering season: All summer
• Repeat Flowering: Yes
• Disease resistance: Good
• RHS Award of Garden Merit 

Great for your garden

As with many shrub roses, Ballerina likes good soil in a sheltered spot but it is a tough little thing and can handle a bit of cold or wet. Because it is a shrub rose, it can handle a bit of shade. No rose will grow in the dark, but Ballerina is better than most in this regard. In the right position this is a rose that will form a well rounded bush about 4ft tall and wide (1.5m x 1.5m) so it of a size to look good in the middle of a rose border. However do not hide it away, as when if full flower it can be hard to see the leaves. A great sight.

How to plant Ballerina Roses

You can order Ballerina as a bareroot rose at any time for planting from November to April, or containerised plants are available all year round.

Choose a spot in the border or shrubbery with reasonable light; semi-shade will do, but full shade will not. Dig a hole deep enough to allow the graft/union to finish just below soil level and with plenty of room for the roots. Improve the soil from the hole by removing roots, weeds, large stones and other bits and mixing in a good measure of well rotted compost or manure. Spread Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi over the bottom of the hole so it will make contact with the roots. If planting pot grown roses gently tease some of the roots loose before planting.

Place your rose so its roots are spread out and the union is at the right height. Backfill the hole with the planting mix, firming it down as you go. Water in thoroughly.

Feed and mulch with well rotted manure in spring and keep well watered during dry periods for the first year.

Shrub roses do not need the radical pruning that you give to floribundas and hybrid teas. Just a gentle shaping and removal of growths that are in the wrong place will do any time between late November and the middle of March. Ballerina should be deadheaded throughout the summer to encourage continuous flowering although in our house at least, flowerheads mysteriously disappear before dead-heading is necessary...

Did You Know?

Ballerina was bred by the Rev. Joseph Pemberton (his nursery in Romford later became Bentall's Roses) in the 1920's. He died in 1926 and Ballerina was not introduced until 1937 by Ann Bentall. It is thought to have been named by Joseph after a great-niece he saw dancing by herself in his garden.