Omar Khayyam is a distinctive Damask rose with soft pink, double flowers and a classic rose fragrance. Its curled petals form a loose bloom around a distinctive button eye. The gray-green, softly hairy foliage gives the shrub a restrained appearance.

Its greatest distinction is its history. According to the account of its origins, this rose was grown at Kew from seed collected by the British artist and traveler William Simpson at the grave of the Persian poet Omar Khayyam in Nishapur. In 1893, a rose from this stock was planted at the grave of Edward FitzGerald, who had brought Khayyam’s quatrains to prominence with his English adaptation of the Rubáiyát.

This rose thus connects Persian poetry with the British garden and literary history of the Belle Époque. For collectors of historic roses, that story alone is an important reason to give it a place in the garden.

Omar Khayyam blooms once each summer. Its flowers appear in small clusters on a relatively low, thorny shrub. It is a lovely fit for a historic rose garden or a quiet border where you can admire its flowers up close.

This rose does require some attention: its growth can be somewhat delicate, and its foliage is susceptible to disease. Give it a sunny, airy spot with humus-rich, well-drained soil. Prune lightly after flowering if needed, allowing new canes to develop for the following year