The Main Rose Border.
One of the classic, vigorous growing moss roses, 'William Lobb' produces large purple blooms held on spiky stems. Also known as 'Duchesse D'Istrie', the flowers have a rich scent its informal growth habit makes it ideal for informal borders although it may need some support. It can also be trained as a low-growing climber
Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil that does not dry out, in full sun or partial shade. Unlike modern bush roses, shrub roses generally flower on older wood and should be allowed to develop naturally, with a light but regular pruning, during late winter, and with a balance of older wood and young, vigorous growth. Maintain a balanced framework by reducing strong new growth in late winter by up to one-third. Prune back the previous season's growths by a third to a half of their length and shorten strong sideshoots to two or three buds To encourage new shoots lightly pruning mature plants each winter by cutting some of the older main stems back to the base. This encourages vigorous new shoots from the base that will flower the following summer. Regularly dead head and mulch after pruning.