Rosa Glorious Babylon Eyes ('Intereybabolg') (Baby | Shrub Rose
Rose Glorious Babylon Eyes (shrub)
Changing flower colour and a bold central eye give this compact rose plenty of character throughout the summer. The open blooms of Rosa ‘Glorious Babylon Eyes’ (syn.‘Intereybabolg’) move through warm shades of tropical orange, apricot and copper as they age, while a deep burgundy-red centre provides a striking contrast.
Flowering with repeat flushes from June to September, this compact shrub rose produces large single to semi-double blooms over a long season. Their open shape exposes the centre of each flower, making it particularly accessible to bees, butterflies and other beneficial pollinators. The flowers also carry a light floral scent.
Growing to around 80cm (2ft 7in) tall, it forms a neat, manageable shrub with dark green foliage. Its compact habit makes it a useful choice for smaller borders and low-maintenance planting schemes, as well as pots and patio containers where the changing flower colours can be appreciated up close. We advise using suitably large, thick-walled and well-insulated pots with a loam-based (John Innes) compost for longevity.
The combination of repeat flowering, pollinator-friendly open blooms and unusual Persica-style colouring makes this an appealing alternative to more traditional shrub roses. It is particularly useful where you want a long-lasting splash of warm colour without needing space for a large rose.
All our roses are grown in an open field and then dug up when the weather conditions are right in October or November. Some suppliers send out their roses as 'bare root' plants (i.e. without pots or compost), but we pot ours up as it helps to keep the roots hydrated and in good condition. As they are dormant throughout the winter, they will not produce any new roots until spring, so don't be surprised if the compost falls away from the roots when you take them out of their pots.
The roses can be kept in their pots throughout the winter provided they are kept well fed and watered, however ideally they should be planted out as soon as possible. They will already have been cut back so no further pruning will be required, apart from snipping off any tips that have died back. Routine pruning can begin in late winter the year after planting.
Flowering with repeat flushes from June to September, this compact shrub rose produces large single to semi-double blooms over a long season. Their open shape exposes the centre of each flower, making it particularly accessible to bees, butterflies and other beneficial pollinators. The flowers also carry a light floral scent.
Growing to around 80cm (2ft 7in) tall, it forms a neat, manageable shrub with dark green foliage. Its compact habit makes it a useful choice for smaller borders and low-maintenance planting schemes, as well as pots and patio containers where the changing flower colours can be appreciated up close. We advise using suitably large, thick-walled and well-insulated pots with a loam-based (John Innes) compost for longevity.
The combination of repeat flowering, pollinator-friendly open blooms and unusual Persica-style colouring makes this an appealing alternative to more traditional shrub roses. It is particularly useful where you want a long-lasting splash of warm colour without needing space for a large rose.
All our roses are grown in an open field and then dug up when the weather conditions are right in October or November. Some suppliers send out their roses as 'bare root' plants (i.e. without pots or compost), but we pot ours up as it helps to keep the roots hydrated and in good condition. As they are dormant throughout the winter, they will not produce any new roots until spring, so don't be surprised if the compost falls away from the roots when you take them out of their pots.
The roses can be kept in their pots throughout the winter provided they are kept well fed and watered, however ideally they should be planted out as soon as possible. They will already have been cut back so no further pruning will be required, apart from snipping off any tips that have died back. Routine pruning can begin in late winter the year after planting.
How to care for Rosa Glorious Babylon Eyes ('Intereybabolg'):
If planting in winter, choose a frost-free spell when the soil is not frozen. Roses are quite deep-rooted plants so dig a deep hole roughly twice as wide as the plant's roots and mix in a generous amount of composted organic matter. A top-dressing of a general purpose fertiliser can be worked into the surrounding soil and we also recommend using Rose Rootgrow at this stage to encourage better root development. This is particularly important when planting into a bed where roses have previously been grown as Rose Rootgrow is said to combat rose sickness (also known as replant disease).
Remove the plants from their pots and gently spread out the roots before placing them in the centre of the hole. Try to ensure that the 'bud union' (the point where the cultivated rose has been grafted onto the rootstock, and from where the shoots emerge) is at soil level. You can judge this quite easily by laying something flat, like a spade handle or bamboo cane, across the top of the hole. When they are at the right height, back-fill the hole, firming the soil down gently before watering the plant well.
Water generously until well established, and apply a specialist rose fertiliser (following the manufacturer's instructions) each spring. They will also benefit from a generous mulch of composted farmyard manure in spring, but make sure this is kept away from the stems. Allow space between plants to encourage good air circulation, which helps prevent fungal problems such as black spot and mildew. Roses grown in containers will need more regular watering and feeding, particularly during warm, dry weather.
While wearing tough gloves, prune in late winter or early spring, removing any dead, damaged or weak-looking stems completely. Compact Persica shrub roses need relatively light pruning, so shorten the remaining stems by around one-third, cutting just above an outward-facing bud. This will encourage fresh flowering growth while maintaining the plant's naturally compact, well-branched shape. Deadhead faded blooms regularly through the summer to promote repeat flowering and keep the plant looking tidy.
Unlike hybrid tea roses, compact Persica/shrub roses do not need hard pruning or regular removal of older stems. Focus instead on maintaining a balanced, healthy framework, removing congested or crossing growth as needed and lightly shaping the plant each year.
Remove the plants from their pots and gently spread out the roots before placing them in the centre of the hole. Try to ensure that the 'bud union' (the point where the cultivated rose has been grafted onto the rootstock, and from where the shoots emerge) is at soil level. You can judge this quite easily by laying something flat, like a spade handle or bamboo cane, across the top of the hole. When they are at the right height, back-fill the hole, firming the soil down gently before watering the plant well.
Water generously until well established, and apply a specialist rose fertiliser (following the manufacturer's instructions) each spring. They will also benefit from a generous mulch of composted farmyard manure in spring, but make sure this is kept away from the stems. Allow space between plants to encourage good air circulation, which helps prevent fungal problems such as black spot and mildew. Roses grown in containers will need more regular watering and feeding, particularly during warm, dry weather.
While wearing tough gloves, prune in late winter or early spring, removing any dead, damaged or weak-looking stems completely. Compact Persica shrub roses need relatively light pruning, so shorten the remaining stems by around one-third, cutting just above an outward-facing bud. This will encourage fresh flowering growth while maintaining the plant's naturally compact, well-branched shape. Deadhead faded blooms regularly through the summer to promote repeat flowering and keep the plant looking tidy.
Unlike hybrid tea roses, compact Persica/shrub roses do not need hard pruning or regular removal of older stems. Focus instead on maintaining a balanced, healthy framework, removing congested or crossing growth as needed and lightly shaping the plant each year.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.8m
Eventual spread:
0.8m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, but well-drained soil, or general-purpose loam-based potting compost
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
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This rose is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
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Humans/Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten
