Good yellow roses are few and far between, let alone with a strong fragrance as well. Friesia, which features this month is one exception and has been popular with rose lovers all over the world for over 30 years.
Friesia (pronounced like the name of the flowering bulb but spelt different) is a bright yellow rose that is one of the first to flower and continues throughout the season. The blooms, which come in clusters, are double and don’t fade much from opening to when the petals drop.
Perhaps the best feature of this rose is the strong fragrance which is not common in yellow roses. Anyone who likes fragrant roses must have this one in their garden where it is a medium grower to around 1.2metres high. It is also great as a standard rose to bring the colour and scent up to eye level. Plant it with blue or purple flowering plants for a particulary stunning combination to wow people in your garden.
Bred by Reimer Kordes in 1974, it was an early winner of the Gold Star of the South Pacific at the NZRS trials in Palmerston North and still a favourite with New Zealand Rosarians everywhere.