‘Pride of Palmy’ has been announced as the name for the rose celebrating 50 years of International Rose Trials in Palmerston North in 2020.
The name was announced at the presentation of this year’s rose trial award on Sunday by the Mayor of Palmerston North, Grant Smith and was selected from names submitted in a competition held in August and September. Six people submitted the name with Ann Cryer of Pukekohe drawn as the recipient of six rose plants including ‘Pride of Palmy’. The others – Annette Nixon and Catherine Thompson (Palmerston North), Tessa Curd and Joanne Lockwood (Auckland) and Ellen Phillips-Collis (Christchurch) will receive a ‘Pride of Palmy’ rose plant.
Bred by award-winning rose breeder Rob Somerfield, the medium-growing Hybrid Tea has well-formed blooms of gold and yellow with an orange flush to the outer petals. The blooms are slightly fragrant and last well when picked.
A limited release of ‘Pride of Palmy’ plants will be made at the 2020 National Spring Rose Show being held at the Conference and Function Centre being held on November 28th and 29th 2020 with more available the following winter. A bed will also be planted in the Dugald Mackenzie Rose Gardens.
Mayor of Palmerston North, Grant Smith with ‘Pride of Palmy’ and its breeder Rob Somerfield.