June – Kiwi

The brown or chocolate shades have always been a novel colour in roses and this month we feature one of the best to be released in this colour range in recent years. While New Zealand breeders like Nola Simpson and Sam McGredy have made significant contributions to roses in these shades, our featured rose comes from across the Pacific from breeder Tom Carruth, now retired from Weeks Roses in California.

‘Kiwi’ is well named with clusters of chocolate brown blooms which have a smoky sheen to them. Moderately fragrant, the blooms repeat well throughout the season. Exceptionally healthy, the bush grows to a medium height and has glossy green foliage.  It does have e a few more thorns than most roses. An easy care rose for any garden and something a bit different.

Known as ‘Hot Cocoa’ in the United States, it was renamed in New Zealand for the Kiwi Recovery Trust and sales of the rose has benefited their work in saving the kiwi. A good all round rose to grow and looks good in the garden.