“Observe the glory of the bloom”: The Rolls-Royce Rose

This is not a COVID-19 piece.

Over the past several weeks, OEMs have been putting out news releases about all manner of things that had little to do with vehicle manufacturing. Some were the announcements about their stalwart PPE ops. Others were sort of like that filler that you see sometimes on local TV news during dinner time.

Sina-Maria Eggl, Rolls-Royce Bespoke designer, is working with a bespoke rose. (Images: Rolls-Royce)

Rolls-Royce has announced that a rose has been specifically bred for it by British Rose breeder Philip Harkness.

Although the U.K. is still in partial lockdown, Rolls-Royce went back into operation last week. The rose announcement was going to be related to the Chelsea Flower Show that was to occur next week. COVID-19 canceled it.

The Phantom Rose now grows in the courtyard of Rolls in Goodwood, West Sussex. It is located such that workers in the Sir Nicholas Grimshaw plant can see it out the window.

According to Sina-Maria Eggl, Rolls-Royce Bespoke designer, “The rose had to embody Rolls-Royce’s poise, elegance and allure. The result was a very pure, delicate but voluminous white flower: sensual, but strong in presence, with an alluring aroma and extra winter durability.”

They are using the rose design for interior trim.

It took Harkness eight years to develop this rose.

He said, “Observe the glory of the bloom. There can be few more enjoyable experiences, thanks to the unending generosity and diversity of nature captured in one single rose.”

Which is what we need right now.