European Rose Breeders swept the 2024 awards at the New Zealand Rose Society International Rose Trials in Palmerston North.
Kordes Rosen of Germany claimed the top award of the trials, the Gold Star of the South Pacific with the orange flowering ‘Phoenix’.
Kordes Rosen also won a Certificate of Merit for the red ‘Marondo’. Both varieties were entered into the trials by Matthews Nurseries Ltd of Whanganui.
Other Certificates of Merit were awarded to Rosen Tantau of Germany with the soft apricot ‘Sirius’ and Jan Spek Rozen of the Netherlands with the orange ‘Luminous M’Lady’. Both varieties were entered by Amore Roses of Hamilton.
All these varieties will be released onto the market in New Zealand in the next few years.
The New Zealand Rose Society trials are now into their 54th year and test new varieties from New Zealand and international rose breeders. This trial saw roses from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands entered.
Judged over a two year period, the trial is assessed by a panel of 20 judges in areas
such as freedom of flowering, health, plant quality, flower appeal and fragrance.
At the conclusion of each trial, those roses which have gained an average of 70% are recognised with awards and reflect the consistently high performance that they have achieved during trial.
The New Zealand Rose Society trials are one of 30 such trials located around the world, mostly in the Northern Hemisphere and reflects on Palmerston North as an internationally recognised rose growing area.
