Diorama

Where to plant. Classic showy borders in the style of the 1960s, roses for cutting; because of its weak resistance to black spot, plant it in an airy, sunny spot.

Climate. Down to −20 °C; in Ukraine with winter protection in the northern and central regions.

Care. A classic HT; needs regular preventive treatments against black spot, formative pruning in spring and removal of spent flowers.

Name. 'Diorama', from the Greek 'through + to look': the name of a nineteenth-century optical-theatre technique for creating three-dimensional, realistic scenes. It reflects the 'lavish', multi-layered flowering of the variety.

Breeding. Raised by Gerrit De Ruiter in the Netherlands, before 1965; introduced in 1968 (Australia, through Ross Roses). Parentage: Peace (Meilland, 1935) × Beauté (Mallerin, 1953). It has no modern patent code: this is an old variety, from before the system of breeding codes.

Significance. One of the apricot-yellow Hybrid Teas of the 'post-Peace' era, created as a pastel sister and successor to the famous parent rose. Valued in Australia in the 1970s for its warm colour range, which was rare at the time. Today it is a rare legacy variety, kept mainly in heritage collections.