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...

Wish Come True

This month we feature one of the new releases for winter 2022 that has been named to celebrate 75 years of Matthews Nurseries Ltd in 2022. It is also part of the My Rose Collection. ‘Wish Come True’ features cupped blooms of soft lemon to cream. An added bonus is there is a refreshing scent.  A medium-growing plant with excellent health, there are plenty of blooms to enjoy throughout the summer months. Bred by Bob Matthews who has bred … [Read more...]

Inkspots

The Persica or Hulthemia roses have generated much interest in the rose world over recent years and this months featured rose is one developed right here in New Zealand. Bred by Rob Somerfield,  ‘Inkspots’ covers itself in masses of white blooms with a burgundy centre. In full bloom, you can hardly see the foliage. The compact growing plant is very healthy with glossy dark green leaves. It looks great in any garden or pot and looks great … [Read more...]

FLORANZA ® Bright & Breezy

This month we feature an award winning rose from the New Zealand Rose Society International Rose Trials in Palmerston North last year. FLORANZA ® Bright & Breezy gained a Certificate of Merit which indicates a consistent performance over the two years of the trial. No doubt what caught the judge’s eyes the most was the display of bright orange blooms with a yellow reverse which covered the plants during the growing season. A very colourful … [Read more...]

Green with Envy

Green is not a colour often associated with roses so this month’s featured rose has certainly created a lot of interest since its release last year. ‘Green with Envy’ is the culmination of 29 years of work by Rob Somerfield to create a green rose. The lime green blooms come in clusters on a medium-growing plant. The flowers will last for a long time, either on the bush or in a vase and intensifies with age.  There is no scent but the novelty … [Read more...]

Pink Ribbon

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and what better rose to feature than the newly released rose ‘Pink Ribbon’ ‘Pink Ribbon’ is a stunning free flowering rose with masses of soft pink cupped blooms covering the compact, bushy growing plant. An ideal rose for a pot or to grow in the garden. It looks especially stunning planted in large groups and is also good as a standard. Bred by Bob Matthews of Matthews Nurseries, $2 from the sale of … [Read more...]

Valerie Webster

For the first month of 2021, we feature one of the winners from the NZRS International Rose Trials in Palmerston North which were announced at the end of November. Clusters of pure yellow blooms, lightly scented feature on a very healthy, medium growing plant with glossy green foliage. Named in celebration of Zonta International’s Centennial year in 2019 and for their beloved past Governor Valerie Webster. Presented with a Certificate of Merit … [Read more...]

Green with Envy

Green is not a colour you associate very often with roses so this month’s featured rose is a very welcome new addition to this colour range. Aptly named ‘Green with Envy’ is a new release for spring 2020 from Rob Somerfield. It is the culmination of 29 years of breeding by Rob to get a green rose good enough to release onto the market. The blooms are lime green in colour and are produced in large clusters. The colour intensifies with age, … [Read more...]

My Best Mate

This month we feature a new release for winter 2020 that would make a great gift for your best mate. ‘My Best Mate’ has clusters of rich red blooms set against glossy green foliage. An easy to grow rose that will reward even the most novice gardener with lots of blooms and great disease tolerance. No scent. Bred by Bob Matthews of Matthews Nurseries Ltd, Wanganui, this is the latest addition to the My Rose Collection. Available from … [Read more...]

Amore® Expresso

This month we feature a welcome addition to the range of brown toned roses available in New Zealand. ‘Amore® Expresso’ is a good garden rose with clusters of brown flowers, opening to reveal golden yellow stamens. A spicy clove scent of moderate strength is another addition to this medium growing variety. Perhaps the best feature of this rose is its fantastic health with the dark glossy foliage looking great well into the autumn … [Read more...]

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...]