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

In Friendship

Roses are often named for special occasions or to raise funds for various causes. This month’s featured rose has been named to mark the centenary of Inner Wheel, a voluntary service organisation for woman. ‘In Friendship’ has clusters of true red blooms on a bushy, healthy plant that grows to one metre.  A very free flowering variety, it will make a great display in any garden.  Bred by Bob Matthews, ‘In Friendship’ is only … [Read more...]

ROMANZA® Glitz & Glam

Our featured rose for February certainly lives up to its name as one that attracts attention with a colour blend 'ROMANZA® Glitz & Glam' has large blooms of yellow with candy pink, suffusing to red as they age. There is a light tea scent to enjoy. The plant grows to one metre high and has dark shiny green foliage. Average health so one that does require a bit of attention to have it looking its best.  Bred by Jérôme Rateau of … [Read more...]

Skyla Rose

We start 2024 by featuring the overall winner from the New Zealand Rose of the Year competition held at Rogers Rose Garden in Hamilton last November. It also won Best Floribunda and Most Fragrant Rose in the same competition in 2019.‘Skyla Rose’ has clusters of glowing medium pink blooms that open to an old-fashioned form. There is a good scent to enjoy as well. A medium compact growing bush to 1 – 1.1 metres with medium green foliage.  Bred … [Read more...]

Lilac Temptation

To end 2023, we feature one of the winners from the New Zealand Rose of the Year trials for 2023‘Lilac Temptation’ received the award for best climbing roses and is a welcome addition to the range of climbing roses in New Zealand. The nostalgic-shaped ruffled blooms are strongly scented and have a good repeat. A vigorous, healthy plant to 2.9 metres. Bred by Bob Matthews of Matthews Nurseries. Available from Matthews Nurseries and their … [Read more...]

Centurion

The colour red is one of the most popular, if not the most popular colour in roses and this month we feature one of the best new red coloured releases in recent times. ‘Centurion’ is a bush rose with large clusters of vibrant orange-red blooms that attract the bees. A good rose for picking, the flowers last well in a vase. A medium-growing compact plant with dark glossy foliage and good disease tolerance. Named for the 100th birthday in … [Read more...]

Amore® Eye Need You

One such variety is ‘Amore ® Eye Need You’ which unlike many Persica varieties is fully double with ruffled petals of blushing pink opening to reveal a raspberry red centre.  A good scent is an added bonus for this variety.  A short mounding grower to 85cm, it has dark green disease-tolerant foliage.  Also looks great as a short standard.Bred by Spek Rosen of the Netherlands and available from Amore Roses. Photo credit: Amore Roses … [Read more...]

Showpiece Blush

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 Blush’ features large soft pink blooms with an old-fashioned look; these can be enjoyed on the plant or brought inside for the vase.   A medium-growing plant to one metre high, ‘Showpiece Blush’ is easy to grow with lush mid-green foliage that is tolerant to … [Read more...]

Piece of Cake

Kordes of Germany are one of the leading rose breeders in the world with many well-known roses to their credit.One such rose is ‘Piece of Cake’ which in its native Germany, is known as ‘Kordes Jubilee’ as it named for Kordes 125th anniversary. The vanilla cream edged with pink blooms are large in size with old fashioned form. Lightly scented. A great rose for picking with long stems and great vase life.  Strong upright grower to 1.4 metres … [Read more...]

Otago University

Good yellow roses, especially those that can be picked are few and far between. For this month we feature a promising newer variety well worth growing. ‘Otago University’ has shapely warm yellow blooms produced mostly one to a stem, making it ideal for picking. A medium-growing bush with glossy mid-green foliage and good health. Slightly fragrant.  Named for the 150th anniversary of the University of Otago in 2019. Bred by Rob Somerfield … [Read more...]

STARLET ROSE® Melina®

Fragrant patio climbing roses are few and far between so this month we feature a recently released variety to New Zealand. STARLET ROSE® Melina® has clusters of quartered violet blooms fading to light blue as they age. Strongly scented, the perfume fills the air making this a good rose to plant where it can be enjoyed during summer. Free flowering, this is a healthy variety with medium green glossy foliage. A vigorous, yet compact grower to … [Read more...]