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...

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...]

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...]

Attention Seeker

Every year rose lovers look forward to the new releases being launched. This month we feature one of the new releases for winter 2023. ‘Attention Seeker’ is well named with striking golden apricot blooms catching the eye in the garden. Produced in clusters, the blooms have a good scent to enjoy.A vigorous medium growing plant with healthy, medium green glossy foliage. Bred by Rob Somerfield, this was a Certificate of Merit winner at the New … [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...]

FLORANZA® La Fillette

People either love or loath striped roses but no one can deny they are different. This month's featured rose is a recent release to the range of striped roses that shows much promise. ‘FLORANZA® La Fillette’ (French for Little Girl) covers itself in candy pink and white striped blooms that have a white reverse. Moderately scented with a tea scent. Medium growing to 1.1 metres, the foliage is light green and semi-glossy.  Bred by Australian … [Read 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...]