My beloved understock roses.

Above; One of several plants of Rosa Manettii that have established themselves in the garden.

Above: Rosa Manettii

Above: Roy Rumsay's Multiflora makes a fabulous garden shrub that cascades with bloom every October-November.

Above: Roy Rumsay's Multiflora.

Above: The multiflora and Indica Major flowering together.

With the exception of the dreaded Dr. Huey, some of my favourite shrub roses in the garden are the result of happy accidents...when the graft of a rose has met its demise and I am left with the understock onto which it was budded.

There are four understock varieties growing happily at 'Eurimbla'- Dr. Huey is unfortunately the most populous and unwelcome, but his fellow understocks are delightful...Indica Major, Manettii and a white thornless Multiflora that has been identified by two rose ladies I consider experts in their field as being "Roy Rumsay's Multiflora'.

By sheer luck, Roy Rumsay is growing next to Indica Major in a bed, and both flower at the same time for an extended period in October through November. They are beautiful together, and a sight I look forward to each Spring. The Multiflora has been raided many times by a local Canowindra fellow for cuttings, often cut severely back, and it bounces back with enormous vigour every time.

I have several other Indica Majors that have appeared in different spots, including one that is sharing space with "The Reeve", but the latter starts flowering just as Indica Major is finishing, so the effect is not as stunning as the I.M/Multiflora combo.

My other favourite understock rose is the very pretty Manettii. It is a handsome garden shrub even when it is not in flower, and again it has a long flowering period that begins here in the last week of October.