Midsummer

Where to plant. Flower beds, the front and middle of a border, containers, places to sit, and along paths — a bright sunny accent. The compact bush holds its shape well.

Climate. Moderately hardy (zones 6–9). In most of Ukraine it needs winter protection — earthing up the base of the bush and a covering material; it overwinters more easily in the south.

Care. Moderate. Removing spent flower heads encourages new flushes of bloom; in wet summers — prevention of black spot. The flowers stand beautifully in a vase.

Name. 'Midsummer' — 'the middle of summer', the summer solstice. The name reflects the warm sunny colour of the flower — orange-red with gold, which glows at the height of summer.

Breeding. Bred by Hans Jürgen Evers at the German nursery Rosen Tantau, patent code TAN02280; introduced around 2008. Belongs to the signature Nostalgic® series — modern roses with an old-fashioned, fully double quartered flower form.

Significance. Midsummer won the Golden Rose and the silver medal of Baden-Baden (Germany, 2008), awards in Barcelona (2008) and Dublin (2010), and 'Best Hybrid Tea' at the Hamilton festival (New Zealand, 2015). It combines a striking nostalgic bloom with abundant repeat flowering and long vase life.