Everyone loves a red rose and this month we feature one to look out for as a new release for winter 2025. ‘Aroha’ starts with the most amazing bud form, opening to cherry red blooms that are great for picking. Good repeat bloom on a healthy plant with deep glossy foliage. Grows to 1.2 metres high. Bred by Bob Matthews of Matthews Nurseries Ltd, Whanganui. Available from Matthews Nurseries www.matthewsroses.co.nz or their resellers as … [Read more...]
Frank Penn Award
Congratulations to Lyn Anisy from the Westland Rose Society who has been awarded the Frank Penn Memorial Award for 2025. This award recognises service at a local level and Lyn is a most deserving recipient. Lyn has been a member of the Westland Rose Society for 28 years, a committee member for all that time and their Secretary for the past eight years. Lyn was made a life member of Westland last year. Lyn is a tremendous fundraiser, selling … [Read more...]
Life membership
Congratulations to Rachael Chalmers who was presented with Life Membership of the New Zealand Rose Society at the South Island Rose Ranfurly in Rangiora. Rachael first joined the Southland Rose Society in 2005, holding several positions until moving to Dunedin in 2013. In 2011, Rachael was appointed as Editor of the New Zealand Rose Annual, a position she held until 2018. During that time, Rachael oversaw the change to a full colour … [Read more...]
Adorable
Purple is a colour that seems to be either liked or loathed by rose lovers but our featured roses is one that could tempt anyone to grow it in their garden. ‘Adorable’ features purple blooms which are produced on an upright bushy medium plant to 1.4 metres. There is a very strong rich perfume, perhaps the best feature of this rose which makes it appealing to anyone who loves a scented rose. Bred by Kordes of Germany who are known for … [Read more...]
Spellbound
We feature this month a welcome addition to the range of yellow flowering climbing roses. ‘Spellbound’ covers itself in medium yellow blooms. The colour is pretty stable for a yellow rose and the petals drop cleanly, essential for a good climbing rose. The blooms are set against glossy foliage on a vigourous but not rampant plant. Excellent disease resistance makes this a great rose to grow along a fence, up a pergola or over an … [Read more...]
AMORÉ® Our Anniversary
We start 2025 with a newer rose that would make the perfect gift to mark a special occasion. ‘AMORÉ® Our Anniversary’ features deep velvety burgundy blooms that cover a compact growing plant. Super healthy with shiny deep green foliage. For those who love fragrance, this one is highly fragrant. Perfect for smaller gardens or growing in containers as it reaches 50 – 80cm high. Bred by Brad Jalbert of Canada, ‘AMORÉ® Our Anniversary’ … [Read more...]