Rosa Eyes for You - Persian Rose

The Eyes for You rose offers flowers imbued with exoticism, resembling hibiscus or pansies, depending on the degree of blooming. This astonishing novelty, a hybrid of the Persian Rose, presents a completely unprecedented colour, with various shades of lavender surrounding a purple-violet centre that offers a striking contrast. Its delicate roses have slightly crinkled petals and long stamens for a wild touch, and are semi-double and of a good size on a very compact shrub. Their lemony fragrance is pronounced and very pleasant. It's hard to resist this unique little rose, which is also perpetual and remarkably healthy, especially considering its suitability for pot cultivation, as well as dry and hot regions.

The Rosa (x) persica Eyes for You ('Pejbigeye'), sometimes called Blue Eyes, won the Silver Medal at the Salon du Végétal in 2011, as well as the Certificate of Merit at Bagatelle in 2011. It descends from a wild rose called Hulthemia persica, discovered in 1784 by botanist André Michaux in the Zagros Mountains, between Iran and Iraq. The unique feature of its bicoloured flowers has since inspired rose breeders to attempt hybridisation with other cosmopolitan species and varieties. After years of research and selection, highly interesting new cultivars have emerged, particularly from English rose breeders Harkness and Peter James. The latter is the creator of 'Blue Eyes', born in 2009. This very recent rose is still relatively unknown here. It is a shrub or bush with an upright and bushy habit, not exceeding 60 cm (24in) in all directions. Its branches are moderately prickly, with fine prickers, and adorned with small, slightly shiny dark green foliage that is very healthy. Flowering occurs quite early, in May-June, sometimes as early as April in warm climates, and regularly continues until September-October. The semi-double, flat cup-shaped flowers measure about 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter. They have a purple-violet center on a pearly white background of varying shades of lavender, depending on the outside temperature. The changing colors of the flowers make this wonderful bush a multicoloured and fragrant bouquet that is irresistible.

Rare and precious, Rosa Eyes for You is a particularly unique rose for a garden of inquisitive individuals, a variety that brings something truly new and deserves a prime location. It is more likely to be adopted than any other in a large pot on the terrace, or in a Mediterranean garden, on a slope, in a large rockery, wherever other 'classic' roses, which are more water-demanding, would sulk. It is also sufficiently hardy to withstand our normal winters, allowing it to be adopted almost anywhere. Its refined yet wildflower will adapt to the more limited spaces of city gardens. For example, it can be associated with yellow flowers such as shrubby potentillas or coreopsis, or with pretty grasses like Muhlenbergia capillaris or Stipa tenuifolia. This rose is also beautiful in front of masses of tall asters (Aster laevis, Aster turbinellus, Kalimeris mongolica, Solidaster), in a wild garden, or surrounded by warm hues like the autumn foliage of cotinus and deciduous euonymus.