Probably the most unique rose to be introduced into New Zealand in the last decade, Starry Eyed is like no other rose around and is a welcome break from the usual pink or white shrub and groundcover type roses.
While the single blooms of Starry Eyed don’t look like much on their own, on masse they are a spectacular sight that catches the eye so easily with hundreds, if not thousands of blooms that are produced all the way along the arching canes.
For the best effect, don’t prune Starry Eyed hard during winter – just remove any dead and diseased wood and you will be rewarded the following summer.
Starry Eyed would look good grown en masse so if you have the room, consider a group of three or a low growing mounding hedge. It would also be excellent grown over a wall or bank. If you don’t have the room, one plant will still give a stunning show – it grows to about 75cm high by at least 1.5m wide.
Bred by the late Colin Horner in the United Kingdom, Starry Eyed is one of his best. Awarded a Certificate of Merit and the Novelty prize at the NZRS trials in Palmerston North and at the 2005 Rose of the Year trials in Hamilton, it picked up best floribunda/shrub rose, best overseas rose and the overall New Zealand Rose of the Year.