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...

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Rose Buying Guide

Most roses are bagged in black plastic bags by the garden centre for sale to the public.

When choosing a bush look at:

  1. Sturdy canes Choose a rose with sturdy canes, three or four that are fresh looking, either green or red in colour. Avoid rips and slashes if possible.
  2. Be Picky Don’t be tempted to buy the last one of a variety. Often it will be a poor specimen.
  3. Sight the rose Buy a rose if you can that you have seen. Some retailers have the whole lot wrapped in plastic, so you don’t know what it is like until it is removed. It may be badly damaged.
  4. Standards Miniature standards are ideal for growing in pots and they flower for a long time. Great for a feature rose that can be shifted when not in flower. Ideal for Barbecue areas, patios, as a feature or by a pool. If you are looking at large flowering roses on a standard, be careful in your selection. Some such as Solitaire, Sheer Bliss, Aotearoa or Loving Memory grow naturally tall and vigorous. They can look ridiculously tall and you won’t see the blooms on a standard.
  5. English or David Austin Roses These roses have an old fashioned look and are usually heavily scented. There are gorgeous ones like Sally Holmes or Mary Rose but they need plenty of space.

Where to Plant

  • Climbers can be trained along a fence.
  • A standard rose looks great as a feature in a lawn.
  • A number of standard roses will screen a drive.
  • Low-growing bush roses could line a path or the front foot path.
  • Scented roses are great by an entrance or under a window.
  • A pillar rose could be planted by a verandah post.
  • Patio roses and ground covers grow well on a bank.

Be adventurous and use your imagination in your mix of colours, shapes, perfume and beauty.

Tagged With: choosingroses

Comments

  1. Carol Hampton says

    October 30, 2009 at 11:32 am

    I am trying to find a place where I can buy a Sea Foam Weeping Rose. Can you tell me where to enquire for a purchase please. Thanks. Carol Hampton

    Reply
    • Hayden Foulds says

      November 1, 2009 at 3:33 am

      I suggest you check out http://www.rosesnz.co.nz and look under stockists for a place near you where you may be able to get a Seafoam standard, as I’m not aware of any other grower producing it as a standard.

      Reply
  2. Gina Nicholson says

    November 6, 2009 at 2:22 am

    I want to plant a row of red or white standard roses. I would prefer a scented rose, not old-fashioned roses if possible. Could you recommend some varieties? Thank you

    Reply
    • Hayden Foulds says

      November 7, 2009 at 4:01 am

      Some red or white varieties I reccomend as standards are:
      Red – Crimson Bouquet, Ingrid Bergman, Lasting Love (f), Warrior
      White – Auckland Metro (f), Margaret Merril (f),Scentasia (f),St Paul’s Cathedral (f), White Romance.
      f denotes fragrant.

      Reply
  3. suzanne says

    December 2, 2009 at 7:38 am

    Hi people, I missed the boat. I wanted the climbing rose birthday present(yes it is my birthday today too).
    Does anyone know where i could get the deep red rose for growing up my pillar.
    suzanne (taupo)

    Reply
    • Hayden Foulds says

      December 2, 2009 at 12:27 pm

      I suggest you try Wairere Nursery near Hamilton http://www.wairere.co.nz and see if they have one in stock.

      Reply
  4. Kelly Vercoe says

    March 27, 2013 at 7:04 pm

    Hi
    I too am thinking birthday presents but know nothing about roses! I love the look of the white rose bushes that look like the topiary balls – any idea on names or where to find them? Tried googling but haven’t found anything so far. Also – can they be grown in pots as we are in a rental at the moment?
    Thanks
    Kelly
    AUCKLAND

    Reply
  5. Mandy says

    September 15, 2014 at 10:13 am

    Hi, I’m trying to locate a rose by the name of “Carol”. It’s a modern pink blend hybrid tea. I can’t seem to find one on the internet…
    Thank you.

    Reply
  6. Janet Gay says

    June 15, 2016 at 3:20 pm

    I am looking for a couple of little tiny miniature standard roses (on 300mm stalks as opposed to the normal sized miniature standards) I would prefer a red one and a yellow one but any colour would do. We bought some a few years ago, but now nobody seems to have them. Any help much appreciated.
    Thank You
    Janet
    Taranaki

    Reply
    • Hayden Foulds says

      June 15, 2016 at 11:34 pm

      Sorry, we don’t know of anyone selling 300mm standard roses but we’ll pop something up on our Facebook page.

      Reply
      • Hayden Foulds says

        June 16, 2016 at 10:59 pm

        Sorry, there doesn’t seem to be anyone doing 300mm standards anymore although apparently 400mm ones are around.

        Reply
  7. Phil Christophersen says

    January 16, 2018 at 9:29 am

    Is there a “best time” to plant roses?

    Reply

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Rose Events

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Rose Awards

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  • Frank Penn Memorial Award
  • T.A Stewart Memorial Award
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  • Book Reviews
  • New Zealand Rose Review
  • Kiwi Gardener

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