This month as Nelson prepares to host the National Autumn Rose Show and Convention, we are featuring a rose named for the 125th celebrations of Nelson College for Girls and one that is a good all-round performer in any garden.
Nelson Girls is a Hybrid Tea with large classically shaped blooms of creamy apricot, tinged pink produced in clusters like so many of the Hybrid Teas released in recent years. There are few times where the rose is without blooms. It also has nice long stems and few thorns making it ideal for picking and enjoying in a vase.
In the garden, Nelson Girls is a great performer and is very healthy with glossy green foliage. It is a strong grower, up to 1.5 metres so it does need a little room so one to put in behind lower growing roses and other garden plants. For the fans of fragrance, there is not much but more than makes up for this in other areas.
Bred in England by Chris Warner (who is more known for breeding patio climbing roses), it was introduced into New Zealand by Tasman Bay Roses of Motueka who named the rose. It also recieved a Certificate of Merit from the New Zealand Rose Society trials in 2006. A wonderful addition to any garden and one that would not disappoint.