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...

Wollerton Old Hall

This month we feature a recent English rose to be released in New Zealand and is proving to be a worthy addition to the range of English roses available here ‘Wollerton Old Hall’ is a large shrub that is perhaps best grown as a climber under New Zealand conditions. Quick to repeat, the blooms are produced in clusters and open apricot, turning cream as they age.  Strongly scented, it is a welcome addition to the range of English roses in this … [Read more...]

February – AMORE® Perfumed Kiss

February is of course the month of Valentine’s Day (14th for those of you who need reminding) and this month’s rose while not red, does have a romantic name that will appeal. ‘Amore® Perfumed Kiss’ is an appealing shade of lavender brushed with plum. The blooms are well-formed and have the most powerful fragrance you could wish for in a rose. Lovers of fragrant roses take note; this is another to add to your garden. A medium growing, very … [Read more...]

January – Graham Thomas

This month in tribute to David Austin who passed away aged 92 in December, we feature, without doubt, the most well-known of all the many fine roses he has bred and graced the gardens of rose lovers around the world. ‘Graham Thomas’ is well known to all rose lovers for its deep golden yellow cupped blooms which appear in clusters all season long. Bring the inside to enjoy in a vase or leave for a great garden display. The fragrance, while not … [Read more...]

November – Strawberry Blonde

November is the month when roses reach their spring peak across much of New Zealand and is also when we get to see the blooms on new release rose for the first time. One new release for winter 2018 was ‘Strawberry Blonde’ which we are featuring for November.  This floribunda comes to us from Rob Somerfield and has masses of golden apricot blooms that soften with age. For those who like a bit of scent, this one has a good scent. Like other … [Read more...]

March – The Lady Gardener

The David Austin or English roses have been popular with rose lovers in New Zealand since the first varieties were introduced over 30 years ago. This month, we feature one of the new introductions coming onto the market in winter 2018. ‘The Lady Gardener’ has large, full petalled blooms of a stunning rich apricot that pales towards the edges of the bloom. Strongly scented with a tea-vanilla scent. A bushy, medium growing plant with good … [Read more...]

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...]

September – Pamela Bartrum

This month, we feature a rose named for a well-known South Canterbury rosarian which deserves to be more widely grown around New Zealand. ‘Pamela Bartrum’ is a floribunda with blooms of soft salmon pink, large in size for this type of rose with a moderate fruity scent.  A short to medium grower in the garden, this variety has healthy, glossy foliage and is very quick to repeat flower so it is almost never without blooms. Bred by George and … [Read more...]

March – Magnifi-scent

Everyone loves fragrant roses and this month we feature a new release for winter 2017 that is bound to please the noses of everyone. 'Magnifi-scent' is a Hybrid Tea with blooms best described as ‘French Rose’. Not red, but not pink either but a great colour to mix with other roses and garden plants. Blooms usually come one to a stem and with quick repeat, the plant is never without flowers. A bushy, medium growing plant with glossy disease … [Read more...]

English Rose: Munstead Wood

David Austin or English roses have always been popular with New Zealand gardeners with their old fashioned blooms and fantastic  fragrance. This month, we feature one of the newer varieties to be introduced to New Zealand and a welcome addition to Austin roses in this colour range. English rose, ‘Munstead Wood’ features very deep velvety crimson cupped blooms with lighter outer petals and a strong old rose scent. A bushy, spreading grower, it … [Read more...]