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...

  • Home
  • About
    • NZ Rose Society
    • President’s Message
    • NZRS Life Members
    • New Zealand Rose Award
    • Frank Penn Memorial Award
    • T.A Stewart Memorial Award
    • NZRS Lifetime Service Award
    • International Awards
  • Societies
  • Join
  • Publications
    • New Zealand Rose Review
    • Book Reviews
    • Kiwi Gardener Magazine
    • Articles
  • Events
    • Rose Ranfurly Days
    • Judging schools
    • NZRS Rose Trials
    • Past New Zealand Events
    • Past International Events
  • Rose Finder
  • News
    • News
    • Rose of the Month
  • Gardens
  • Contact
    • Links
    • FAQ
You are here: Home / Rose of the Month / May – Sexy Rexy

May – Sexy Rexy

30 years ago, a rose was released that caused a bit of a stir in the world of roses because of its name.

This month we feature it as one of the best floribunda roses of all time and one that even those with a passing knowledge of roses even know about!

“How could they name a rose like that” was commonly heard at the time. We can only be talking about ‘Sexy Rexy’, one of the most popular floribunda roses and still widely grown around the world today. It’s reputation is also down to its sheer flower power with a mass of pale pink blooms being produced. It can be a bit slow to repeat but is a sight in full bloom. In the garden, it is a medium growing bushy plant that also is great grown as a standard. Generally trouble free, black spot can show up when conditions are right.

‘Sexy Rexy’ is named after an old friend of its breeder, our own SamMcGredy. The name was originally a nickname when it was being tested as a seedling and stuck. A multiple award winner around the world including the top award at the New Zealand Rose Society trials in Palmerston North in 1984. Bred from ‘Seaspray’ x ‘Dreaming’, its reputation has also been forged as a parent to many newer roses over the years and is a good rose to start breeding with, even though it can produce a lot of similar roses in the pink and white shades.

One worth growing and bound to be grown for a long time yet!

Sexy Rexy (6)

Tagged With: 2014, Dr Sam McGredy, floribunda rose, Gold Star, New Zealand Rose Society, NZRS trials, Rose of the Month

Shopping Cart




More photos on our Flickr Page...

Rose Events

  • Pacific Rose Bowl Festival
  • Judging schools
  • Rose Ranfurly Days
  • Past New Zealand Events
  • Past International Events

Rose Awards

  • NZRS Life Members
  • New Zealand Rose Award
  • Frank Penn Memorial Award
  • T.A Stewart Memorial Award
  • International Awards

Rose Publications

  • All Publications
  • Book Reviews
  • New Zealand Rose Review
  • Kiwi Gardener

Copyright © 2025 The New Zealand Rose Society · Design by Creative Web Ideas · Log in