The New Zealand Rose Society

Join the New Zealand Rose Society to attend local rose meetings, rose shows, pruning demonstrations, rose trials, publications, rose of the month and more...

Rose of the Month

ROMANZA® Ascot

Hybrid Tea roses have traditionally been about perfectly formed blooms, often borne one to a stem.  In recent times, Hybrid Teas have developed more of a nostalgic shaped bloom, mainly as a result of using shrubs in their breeding to improve health. ‘ROMANZA® Ascot’ is one such Hybrid Tea that has been recently released in New Zealand. The ball shaped blooms are red shaded violet and purple and are produced in small clusters. Sweetly … [Read more...]

Showpiece Champagne

This month we feature another of the Showpiece series of roses, which have been developed by Reinhardt Noack, the same breeder as the Flower Carpet® series of roses.Showpiece Champagne features large blooms of soft creamy orange- peach with a strong scent; these can be enjoyed on the plant or brought inside for the vase.   A medium-growing plant to one metre high, Showpiece Champagne is easy to grow with lush mid-green foliage that is tolerant to … [Read more...]

A Gardeners Dream

To kick off 2023, we feature a welcome addition to the apricot coloured roses available. ‘A Gardeners Dream’ produces clusters of ruffled apricot blooms with the added bonus of a scent to enjoy. A low to medium growing plant, it is an easy care variety and looks especially stunning growing in groups. One of the ‘My Rose’ series bred by Bob Matthews, this rose was named for Wanganui Garden Centre who celebrated 75 years in business in 2022 … [Read more...]

Smart Choice

To finish off 2022, we feature another new release that will catch the eye in any garden. ‘Smart Choice’ has large fuchsia pink blooms with a lighter reverse to the petals, there is a moderate scent to enjoy.  It is a good rose for picking with long stems and a good vase life. A medium, compact grower with good health. A Certificate of Merit winner in the NZRS Trials in Palmerston North in 2020, it is yet another stunning rose from New … [Read more...]

FLORANZA® La Fillette

People either love or loath striped roses but no one can deny they are different. This month's featured rose is a recent release to the range of striped roses that shows much promise. ‘FLORANZA® La Fillette’ (French for Little Girl) covers itself in candy pink and white striped blooms that have a white reverse. Moderately scented with a tea scent. Medium growing to 1.1 metres, the foliage is light green and semi-glossy.  Bred by Australian … [Read more...]

Moppet

Shrub type roses are often the underrated stars of the rose world. Not only are they generally easy care, they also have a great display of bloom over the flowering season ‘Moppet’ is a great new rose from New Zealand breeder Carl Dibley. The small pink blooms are borne in large panicles creating a great display of colour in the garden. A great rose for landscaping with excellent repeat flowering and very few thorns. Grows to … [Read more...]

Grandma’s Rose

This month we feature a brand new release for spring 2022, numbers will be limited but will be more widely available in 2023. ‘Grandma’s Rose’ is bred by Rob Somerfield of Glenavon Roses and named by his children for their grandmother (Rob’s mother) as the bloom colour “is her colour”. The colour is a unique rich purple-red, quite unique and even better, the blooms are highly scented. Medium growing with dark green healthy glossy foliage. … [Read more...]

DECORANZA® Lotsa Love

Our feature rose for this month is a new release for 2022 that’s name just says it all. DECORANZA® Lotsa Love has well-formed blooms of warm cream to soft yellow with pink, peach and yellow highlights.The moderately scented blooms either come one to a stem or in small clusters and have potential for exhibition.  A very healthy variety, the bush grows to 1.5 metres high and is covered in dark green foliage. Bred in Ireland by David … [Read more...]

Wish Come True

This month we feature one of the new releases for winter 2022 that has been named to celebrate 75 years of Matthews Nurseries Ltd in 2022. It is also part of the My Rose Collection. ‘Wish Come True’ features cupped blooms of soft lemon to cream. An added bonus is there is a refreshing scent.  A medium-growing plant with excellent health, there are plenty of blooms to enjoy throughout the summer months. Bred by Bob Matthews who has bred … [Read more...]

Inkspots

The Persica or Hulthemia roses have generated much interest in the rose world over recent years and this months featured rose is one developed right here in New Zealand. Bred by Rob Somerfield,  ‘Inkspots’ covers itself in masses of white blooms with a burgundy centre. In full bloom, you can hardly see the foliage. The compact growing plant is very healthy with glossy dark green leaves. It looks great in any garden or pot and looks great … [Read more...]