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...

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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...]

Tagged With: 2022, fragrance, Gold Star, NZRS trials, Rob Somerfield, Rose of the Month

Irish rose breeder takes top award at rose trial

Rose breeders from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland dominated the awards presented at the trials with five of the six awards going to rose breeders in this part of the world. Amateur rose breeder David Kenny, a retired school teacher from Tullow took home the main awards with the variety ‘FLORANZA® Eye Popping won the Gold Star of the South Pacific for the highest scoring rose on trial and the Nola Simpson Novelty Award for the … [Read more...]

Tagged With: Amore Roses, Certificate of Merit, Colin Dickson, David Kenny, Glenavon Roses, Gold Star, Matthews Nurseries, Nola Simpson Novelty Award, Rob Somerfield

FLORANZA® Eye Popping

To start off 2022, we feature an award-winning rose from the latest round of results from the New Zealand Rose Society trials in Palmerston North. FLORANZA® Eye Popping is a very floriferous rose with masses of single blooms starting yellow and fading to white with a red/purple ‘eye’ to the blooms.  At times, you can’t see the foliage by the sheer masse of blooms which repeat well throughout the summer and into autumn.  A very … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2022, David Kenny, disease tolerance, Gold Star, New Zealand Rose Society, NZRS trials, patio rose, Rose of the Month, shrub rose

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...]

Tagged With: 2019, Bob Matthews, Brad Jalbert, Certificate of Merit, floribunda rose, Gold Star, Hybrid Tea rose, Manawatu, NZRS trials, Rob Somerfield

January – Quintessential

We begin 2018 by featuring a promising new rose variety that will be released this winter in New Zealand. ‘Quintessential’ comes from the breeding program of Rob Somerfield and combines his signature traits of lots of flowers and exceptional health. The medium pink blooms have a lighter reverse to the petals and as they are packed with petals, they have an old fashioned appearance and are lightly scented.  A medium, bushy grower with dark … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2018, floribunda rose, Gold Star, NZRS trials, Rob Somerfield, Rose of the Month

Rose Trial Winners 2017

The awards for Trial 47 (2015 - 17) at the New Zealand Rose Society International Trials were presented on November 26th at the Dugald Mackenzie Rose Gardens in Palmerston North. It was a clean sweep for rose breeder Rob Somerfield of Glenavon Roses in Tauranga with all four awards presented on the day by the Mayor of Palmerston North, Grant Smith. A panel of 20 judges have assessed around 40 entries from New Zealand and overseas rose breeders … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2017, Certificate of Merit, disease tolerance, Gold Star, NZRS trials, Palmerston North, Rob Somerfield

August – Fireball

This month we feature a rose guaranteed to light up any garden this coming season. ‘Fireball’ is a new release floribunda with masses of orange blooms with a silvery – yellow centre and reverse to the petals. The blooms are lightly fragrant and it is a free flowering variety, with quick repeat during the summer months. A medium, bushy grower with glossy green foliage, ‘Fireball will be a great colourful addition to any garden. Bred by Rob … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2017, disease tolerance, floribunda rose, Gold Star, NZRS trials, Rob Somerfield, Rose of the Month

February – Christchurch Remembers

For this month, we feature a rose named to commemorate the victims of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and which will be widely available in New Zealand this winter. First of all, ‘Christchurch Remembers’ is red in colour - a bright scarlet red that darkens around the petal edges as they age.  A floribunda, ‘Christchurch Remembers’ does have relatively large blooms for this type of rose but they are produced in clusters and last well on the … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2017, Gold Star, New Zealand Rose of the Year, NZRS trials, Rob Somerfield, Rose of the Month

Rose Trial winners 2016

The awards for Trial 46 (2014 - 16) at the New Zealand Rose Society International Trials were presented on December 4th at the Dugald Mackenzie Rose Gardens in Palmerston North. A panel of 20 judges have  assessed around 40 entries from New Zealand and overseas rose breeders (via their New Zealand agents) over a range of categories including freedom of flowering, health, plant quality, flower quality and fragrance. Certificates of Merit are … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2016, Bob Matthews, Certificate of Merit, Chris Warner, disease tolerance, floribunda rose, Gold Star, New Zealand Rose Society, NZRS trials, palmerston north gardens, Rob Somerfield

Win – Christchurch Remembers

Win - we have three plants of the 2016 New Zealand Rose of the Year winner to three lucky winners. There are only very limited plants available this summer but will be widely available in winter 2017 from Mitre 10 and Palmers stores. This floribunda rose has blooms of medium red, darkening on the edges. Medium growing with mid green foliage. Bred by Rob Somerfield of Glenavon Roses, Tauranga, this rose is his tribute to the people of … [Read more...]

Tagged With: 2016, floribunda rose, Gold Star, New Zealand Rose of the Year, Rob Somerfield

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