The Fairy

Where to plant. In groups of 3–5 bushes in borders; along paths as a pink edging; under windows because of its low, “umbrella” shape; under trees and shrubs — it tolerates partial shade; in municipal parks (the European standard of a “zero-care rose”).

Climate. All of Ukraine without winter protection (USDA 4b — record winter hardiness among Polyanthas); tolerates partial shade.

Care. Minimal (Earth-Kind standard): sun or light shade; prune once every 2–3 years with secateurs; feed 1× per season; no chemical treatments needed; water in hot weather.

Name. “The Fairy” = “Fairy” in English. Named after Harold Chapin's play “The Fairy” — the Bentall-family gave their roses poetic, theatrical names (typical of British rose houses of that era). Breeder: bred by Ann and John Bentall (UK). Introduced 1932. Parentage: 'Paul Crampel' × 'Lady Gay' (hybrid wichurana, Walsh 1903). Ann Bentall was the widow of J.A. Bentall, who had worked as assistant to Joseph Pemberton (creator of the Hybrid Musk class). After Pemberton's death (1926) and that of J.A. Bentall, Ann continued the breeding work — the Pemberton (1918, Thisbe) – Bentall (1932, The Fairy) line, a family breeding dynasty that kept the musk-polyantha style.

Significance. The most famous Polyantha XX century. The best-selling Polyantha of all time. The last major Polyantha before the class effectively died out (absorbed by floribundas after the 1940s). The Fairy outlived all its rivals and still holds the crown. RHS Award of Garden Merit — officially confirmed. Earth-Kind™ status (Texas A&M Programme) — organic growing without pesticides. Longwood Gardens Ten-Year Rose Trial passed. In Europe it is officially recommended for mass urban planting as a “zero-care rose” — the standard of a “rose without treatments”. The Pemberton – Bentall line links The Fairy with Thisbe (1918) — both come from the same family breeding dynasty. WFRS Old Rose HoF — a MYTH (common in secondary catalogues): The Fairy is absent from the Old Rose HoF The Fairy list.