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...

Blue September

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month so what better rose to feature than ‘Blue September’, a new release for 2024. ‘Blue September’ features clusters of fragrant lilac blue blooms, opening to reveal bee-friendly stamens. A medium growing plant with few thorns, this is an easy care variety suitable for all gardens. Bred by Bob Matthews, himself a prostate cancer survivor, $2 from the sale of each plant will be donated to the Prostate … [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...]

STARLET ROSE® Melina®

Fragrant patio climbing roses are few and far between so this month we feature a recently released variety to New Zealand. STARLET ROSE® Melina® has clusters of quartered violet blooms fading to light blue as they age. Strongly scented, the perfume fills the air making this a good rose to plant where it can be enjoyed during summer. Free flowering, this is a healthy variety with medium green glossy foliage. A vigorous, yet compact grower to … [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...]

Showpiece Champagne

This month we feature another of the Showpiece series of roses, which have been developed by Reinhardt Noack, the same breeder as the Flower Carpet® series of roses.Showpiece Champagne features large blooms of soft creamy orange- peach with a strong scent; these can be enjoyed on the plant or brought inside for the vase.   A medium-growing plant to one metre high, Showpiece Champagne is easy to grow with lush mid-green foliage that is tolerant to … [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...]

Grandma’s Rose

This month we feature a brand new release for spring 2022, numbers will be limited but will be more widely available in 2023. ‘Grandma’s Rose’ is bred by Rob Somerfield of Glenavon Roses and named by his children for their grandmother (Rob’s mother) as the bloom colour “is her colour”. The colour is a unique rich purple-red, quite unique and even better, the blooms are highly scented. Medium growing with dark green healthy glossy foliage. … [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...]

Showpiece Lipstick

This month we feature another of the Showpiece series that are from the same breeder as the popular Flower Carpet® roses which were introduced in New Zealand last year.   ‘Showpiece Lipstick’ is one of the Showpiece™ series from Werner and Reinhardt Noack of Germany and features large reddish pink scented blooms. Other colours available are ‘Blush’ (light pink) and ‘Berry’ (purple/pink) with more in the pipeline.  All the … [Read more...]