Robin Hood but no Maid Marion, Little John or Friar Tuck

Though we have the Pemberton rose, Robin Hood, we don't have his rose, Maid Marion, or any of the roses named Little John. There is no a rose named after another of Robin's Merry Men, Friar Tuck,

The Pemberton rose, Robin Hood produces tiny rich scarlet flowers and is a hybrid musk rose. It grows to about 120 by 90cm and was introduced in 1927. We bought ours from Peter Beales Roses of Attleborough.

The rose, Maid Marion is also a hybrid musk rose and was introduced by the Rev Pemberton's gardeners, Jack and Ann Bentall, in 1930. It has white flowers and is one of five roses named after Maid Marion.

The following roses share their name with Robin's Merry Men:

Will Scarlet - is a sport of Willhelm with red flowers that was discovered by Thomas Hillings

Little John - is a miniature rose that is a sport of Baby Masquerable that has flowers that are a blend of red and was discovered in New Zealand by Frank Mason

Little John - is a polythana rose that was bred by RW Procters and Sons in Chesterfield, Derbyshire and has light pink flowers

Robin Hood, who was been played in films by many famous actors including Sean Connery, Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn and Richard Todd, is a England folklore outlaw, who after returning from the Crusades rebelled against King John, who had claimed the throne from the absent Richard the Lionheart. King Richard being in the Holy Lands fighting the Crusades. Living in Sherwood Forest, Robin and his Merry Men tried to rescue Robin's lover, Maid Marion, from the Sheriff of Nottingham who had her locked up in his castle. Robin and his Merry Men, which included Friar Tuck, Little John, Alan-a-dale and Will Scarlet, are also famous for robbing the rich to pay the poor.