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...

Honey Bun

The romantic or English type bloom form has become popular with rose breeders over many years as they look to make roses healthier by crossing shrub roses with Hybrid Tea and Floribunda roses. New Zealand breeders have jumped on this trend and this month we feature a new variety from Rob Somerfield featuring this type of flower form. ‘Honey Bun’ has large old fashioned style blooms in an attractive soft creamy peach hue which are produced … [Read more...]

Mulberry Wine

Rose trials, such as the New Zealand Rose Society International Trials in Palmerston North, are a great place to see the latest trends in roses. This month we feature the overall winner from the most recently concluded trial presented last November. ‘Mulberry Wine’ was a standout winner for breeder Rob Somerfield.  Masses of fragrant purple cerise blooms cover the medium growing, slightly spreading plant. Very healthy with rich glossy … [Read more...]

Allison Scott

Every now and again, a rose variety will produce a sport which is a naturally occurring change in a characteristic of that variety. This month’s featured rose is a sport from the very popular rose ‘My Mum’. ‘Allison Scott’ is named after a well-known Hutt Valley Rosarian who discovered this sport in her garden. With all the characteristics of ‘My Mum’ other than bloom colour, a glowing warm coral orange. Grows to 1.4 metres high with strong … [Read more...]

Skyla Rose

We start 2024 by featuring the overall winner from the New Zealand Rose of the Year competition held at Rogers Rose Garden in Hamilton last November. It also won Best Floribunda and Most Fragrant Rose in the same competition in 2019.‘Skyla Rose’ has clusters of glowing medium pink blooms that open to an old-fashioned form. There is a good scent to enjoy as well. A medium compact growing bush to 1 – 1.1 metres with medium green foliage.  Bred … [Read more...]

Lilac Temptation

To end 2023, we feature one of the winners from the New Zealand Rose of the Year trials for 2023‘Lilac Temptation’ received the award for best climbing roses and is a welcome addition to the range of climbing roses in New Zealand. The nostalgic-shaped ruffled blooms are strongly scented and have a good repeat. A vigorous, healthy plant to 2.9 metres. Bred by Bob Matthews of Matthews Nurseries. Available from Matthews Nurseries and their … [Read more...]

Centurion

The colour red is one of the most popular, if not the most popular colour in roses and this month we feature one of the best new red coloured releases in recent times. ‘Centurion’ is a bush rose with large clusters of vibrant orange-red blooms that attract the bees. A good rose for picking, the flowers last well in a vase. A medium-growing compact plant with dark glossy foliage and good disease tolerance. Named for the 100th birthday in … [Read more...]

Amore® Eye Need You

One such variety is ‘Amore ® Eye Need You’ which unlike many Persica varieties is fully double with ruffled petals of blushing pink opening to reveal a raspberry red centre.  A good scent is an added bonus for this variety.  A short mounding grower to 85cm, it has dark green disease-tolerant foliage.  Also looks great as a short standard.Bred by Spek Rosen of the Netherlands and available from Amore Roses. Photo credit: Amore Roses … [Read more...]

Snow Bunny

Kordes of Germany are among the most well-known and successful rose breeders in the world with many fabulous creations to their credit. Our featured rose this month is one of their new releases onto the New Zealand market.‘Snow Bunny’ smothers itself with clusters of petite snow-white blooms. The compact growing bushy plant is very health with mid green foliage. Growing to 90cm, it is ideal for smaller gardens, pots or grown as a small … [Read more...]

ROMANZA® Ascot

Hybrid Tea roses have traditionally been about perfectly formed blooms, often borne one to a stem.  In recent times, Hybrid Teas have developed more of a nostalgic shaped bloom, mainly as a result of using shrubs in their breeding to improve health. ‘ROMANZA® Ascot’ is one such Hybrid Tea that has been recently released in New Zealand. The ball shaped blooms are red shaded violet and purple and are produced in small clusters. Sweetly … [Read more...]

A Gardeners Dream

To kick off 2023, we feature a welcome addition to the apricot coloured roses available. ‘A Gardeners Dream’ produces clusters of ruffled apricot blooms with the added bonus of a scent to enjoy. A low to medium growing plant, it is an easy care variety and looks especially stunning growing in groups. One of the ‘My Rose’ series bred by Bob Matthews, this rose was named for Wanganui Garden Centre who celebrated 75 years in business in 2022 … [Read more...]