Ah, the rose! Voted Britain’s favourite flower; not surprising really with several thousand different varieties to choose from.

We’re all familiar with the romance of the red rose but what about the wonders of the white one?

Contrary to popular belief some roses grow well in part shade (as long as they get at least 4 hours light during the course of the day) and white brings a shady space alight. White flowers also make a great backdrop for other coloured flowers as well as creating a restful, soothing atmosphere on hot sunny days, especially when combined with a green leaf backdrop.

To inspire you, here are a selection of my top 14 white must haves…