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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Rosy success at International Rose Trials

A rose named for the breeder’s mother topped the list of awards presented at the New Zealand Rose Society International Rose Trial Grounds in Palmerston North in early December. Tauranga Rose Breeder Rob Somerfield from Glenavon Roses topped the trials with his variety ‘Grandma’s Rose’ which won the Gold Star of the South Pacific. “The name is a tribute to my mother from her grandchildren, they felt it was her colour” said Rob Somerfield  … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2019, Bob Matthews, Brad Jalbert, Certificate of Merit, floribunda rose, Gold Star, Hybrid Tea rose, Manawatu, NZRS trials, Rob Somerfield

September – Christophe

After the dullness of winter, we’re featuring a rose that brightens things up as we head into spring. ‘Christophe’ is a floribunda rose with clusters of bright tangerine orange blooms - a real stand out colour in the garden. There is only a light scent to enjoy but the real stand out is the colour. A taller grower with mid-green foliage, this is one for the back of the border. Bred by Colin Dickson of Northern Ireland, it received a … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2019, Certificate of Merit, Colin Dickson, floribunda rose, NZRS trials, Rose of the Month

March – Feeling Better

Over the coming months, we’ll be profiling some of the newer roses coming onto the market in winter 2019 and this month’s rose is one named for a good cause. ‘Feeling Better’ has been bred by Rob Somerfield and is a follow up to his successful ‘Looking Good’, both of which have been named for the Look Good, Feel Better Foundation to highlight their fantastic work done with post-cancer treatment. The blooms are soft cream with a thin … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2019, Certificate of Merit, disease tolerance, floribunda rose, NZRS trials, Rob Somerfield, Rose of the Month

February – Kiss the Bride

February is, of course, the month of Valentine’s Day (14th in case anyone has forgotten) and although our Rose of the Month is not red, it does have a romantic name. ‘Kiss the Bride’ is a newer variety with clusters of cream to pale pink blooms, lightly scented and opening to reveal golden yellow stamens.  A tall grower with very healthy mid-green foliage, this variety is a great addition to any garden. A Certificate of Merit winner at the … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2018, Bob Matthews, Certificate of Merit, disease tolerance, floribunda rose, fragrance, NZRS trials

Rose Trial Winners 2017

The awards for Trial 47 (2015 - 17) at the New Zealand Rose Society International Trials were presented on November 26th at the Dugald Mackenzie Rose Gardens in Palmerston North. It was a clean sweep for rose breeder Rob Somerfield of Glenavon Roses in Tauranga with all four awards presented on the day by the Mayor of Palmerston North, Grant Smith. A panel of 20 judges have assessed around 40 entries from New Zealand and overseas rose breeders … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2017, Certificate of Merit, disease tolerance, Gold Star, NZRS trials, Palmerston North, Rob Somerfield

June – Platinum

70 years in business is a milestone worth celebrating and in 2017, Matthews Nurseries near Wanganui does just that. This month’s featured rose is a new release Hybrid Tea rose bred by Bob Matthews to mark this occasion. ‘Platinum’ has large cupped shaped blooms of soft pink, sweetly scented on long, strong stems ideal for picking.  The glossy dark green foliage compliments the blooms well and the plant grows to around 1.1 metres. A winner … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2017, 70 years, Bob Matthews, Certificate of Merit, Hybrid Tea rose, Matthews Nurseries, NZRS trials, Rose of the Month

Rose Trial winners 2016

The awards for Trial 46 (2014 - 16) at the New Zealand Rose Society International Trials were presented on December 4th at the Dugald Mackenzie Rose Gardens in Palmerston North. A panel of 20 judges have  assessed around 40 entries from New Zealand and overseas rose breeders (via their New Zealand agents) over a range of categories including freedom of flowering, health, plant quality, flower quality and fragrance. Certificates of Merit are … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2016, Bob Matthews, Certificate of Merit, Chris Warner, disease tolerance, floribunda rose, Gold Star, New Zealand Rose Society, NZRS trials, palmerston north gardens, Rob Somerfield

August – Picotee

The ‘hand painted’ roses first appeared with much excitement in the 1970’s, a result of breeding work by Sam McGredy. In recent years, there has been a renaissance in the hand painted area with several newer hand painted roses appearing on the market and we feature one of the best this month. ‘Picotee’ is a patio rose with blooms of pink edged white blooms with a white reverse. It is very free flowering with blooms produced in clusters … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2016, Certificate of Merit, floribunda rose, Hand painted rose, handpainted rose, NZRS trials, patio rose, Rob Somerfield, Rose of the Month

Free flowering, healthy roses feature among winning roses

New rose varieties that produce lots of flowers and get less disease topped the New Zealand Rose Society International Trial Awards in Palmerston North in early December with an orange rose ‘Fireball’ coming out on top. Bred by Rob Somerfield of Glenavon Roses in Tauranga, ‘Fireball’ received the top award of the trials, the Gold Star of the South Pacific. “It’s a great variety with lots of flowers and a very healthy plant” said Mr Somerfield … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2015, Bob Matthews, Certificate of Merit, Colin Dickson, Gold Star, New Zealand Rose Society, NZRS trials, Palmerston North, Rob Somerfield

October – Eyeopener

Groundcover/Shrub roses are nothing new in the world of roses but getting a good one that is in the re shades is not easy. So when one does come along, expect it to be well used in breeding programs around the world. One such rose is ‘Eyeopener’ which has been used in breeding programs the world over since its release in the mid 1980’s. The growth habit is spreading and mounded, reaching up to 1m high and 1.2m wide and covers itself in masses … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2015, Certificate of Merit, groundcover rose, NZRS trials, Peter Ilsink, Rose of the Month, shrub rose

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