The New Zealand Rose Society

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Rose of the Month

January – Graham Thomas

This month in tribute to David Austin who passed away aged 92 in December, we feature, without doubt, the most well-known of all the many fine roses he has bred and graced the gardens of rose lovers around the world. ‘Graham Thomas’ is well known to all rose lovers for its deep golden yellow cupped blooms which appear in clusters all season long. Bring the inside to enjoy in a vase or leave for a great garden display. The fragrance, while not … [Read more...]

December – Magic Show

With the rose show season just about over for another year, we are featuring one of the best newer roses for exhibition but also makes a good garden rose. ‘Magic Show’ is a patio rose with very well formed blooms of white with a pink edge to the petals. The blooms are borne mostly solitary and like most patio roses, have little in the way of a scent.  But for picking, it is fantastic and makes a great short standard to ‘lift’ it up off the … [Read more...]

November – Strawberry Blonde

November is the month when roses reach their spring peak across much of New Zealand and is also when we get to see the blooms on new release rose for the first time. One new release for winter 2018 was ‘Strawberry Blonde’ which we are featuring for November.  This floribunda comes to us from Rob Somerfield and has masses of golden apricot blooms that soften with age. For those who like a bit of scent, this one has a good scent. Like other … [Read more...]

October – Thomas a Becket

Red is one of the most popular colours in roses and this month we feature a recent release English rose in this colour. ‘Thomas a Becket’ is named for Canterbury Cathedral in the UK and features clusters of rosette-shaped blooms, crimson red in colour with a moderate Old Rose scent. The plant is medium growing with a shrubby habit and has excellent disease tolerance. Bred by David Austin, this is a welcome addition to the range of red … [Read more...]

September – Water Lily

After a number of years of few new introductions of patio type roses in the New Zealand market, it is pleasing to see some new varieties coming online. One such variety we’re featuring this month is ‘Waterlily’ which features delicate blooms of porcelain to creamy peach of classic form. There is a moderate perfume to the blooms which are produced in large clusters.  Reaching 45cm in height, ‘Waterlily’ is very healthy with semi-glossy, medium … [Read more...]

August – Golden Gate

Rose of the Month – Golden Gate Good yellow flowering climbing roses are few and far between so this month’s featured rose is a welcome addition to the range of climbing roses available in New Zealand. ‘Golden Gate’ features semi-double blooms of golden yellow that cover the plant with good repeat over the summer months. Even better, there is a good scent to the blooms to enjoy. Bred by Kordes of Germany who are known for creating super … [Read more...]

July – Eye in the Sky

The Persica or Hulthemia roses have recently made their mark in New Zealand with their distinct blooms, each with a darker ‘eye’ in the centre of the blooms.  To date, these have been floribunda or shrub type roses but the rose we feature this month breaks the mould. ‘Eye in the Sky as the name suggests is a climber and climb it does but it is not too vigorous and takes over everything. The blooms are single, cream – apricot in colour with a … [Read more...]

June – Everlasting Hope

Many roses are named for good causes and this month’s featured rose has been named for a worthy cause worth supporting. ‘Everlasting Hope’ has been named for Postnatal Depression Canterbury by its breeder Rob Somerfield and is being released this winter to promote the amazing work they do. A shrub rose, ‘Everlasting Hope’ bears clusters of large blooms of soft pink, strongly scented. Long stems make this rose a good one for picking while … [Read more...]

May – Wedding Celebration

May is Royal Wedding month and what better way to celebrate than with a rose with a wedding theme ‘Wedding Celebration’ features large blooms of dark red, fully double with a pleasing perfume borne mostly solitary on long stems. A good variety for picking.  Tall growing with glossy dark green foliage and has good health. Bred by Poulsens of Denmark, this variety has a name that is bound to sell it as a wedding gift and is a welcome addition … [Read more...]

April – Smart & Sassy

This month, we feature a new Bambina® rose from Canadian Rose Breeder Brad Jalbert that will attract attention in any garden. ‘Smart & Sassy’ has classic shaped blooms of velvet red with a golden reverse, which changes intensity with the weather. Blooms are mostly borne one to a stem on the bush that grows to 50cm high with glossy dark green foliage.  A moderate sweet scent adds to the appeal of this variety.  Looks good grown as a short … [Read more...]