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...

Hybrid Tea Roses

Honey Bun

The romantic or English type bloom form has become popular with rose breeders over many years as they look to make roses healthier by crossing shrub roses with Hybrid Tea and Floribunda roses. New Zealand breeders have jumped on this trend and this month we feature a new variety from Rob Somerfield featuring this type of flower form. ‘Honey Bun’ has large old fashioned style blooms in an attractive soft creamy peach hue which are produced … [Read more...]

A Million Dreams

This month, we feature a new release from New Zealand rose breeder John Ford ‘A Million Dreams’ is a new Hybrid Tea rose with blooms of a unique dusky pink with blooms produced up to five per stems. There is a moderate fragrance to enjoy as well.  Compact growing with few thorns, it has glossy dark green foliage and good disease tolerance.  Available from Gilroy Nurseries … [Read more...]

DECORANZA® Francis Meilland

For a rose to be named after a member of the breeder’s family, it must an exceptional variety. This month’s feature rose is certainly one to watch for.  ‘DECORANZA® Francis Meilland’ is named after the creator of the ‘Peace’ rose and is a multiple award winner overseas.  The classically shaped blush pink blooms are strongly scented and great for picking. A taller grower to 1.2 metres with deep green foliage, it has very good disease … [Read more...]

Allison Scott

Every now and again, a rose variety will produce a sport which is a naturally occurring change in a characteristic of that variety. This month’s featured rose is a sport from the very popular rose ‘My Mum’. ‘Allison Scott’ is named after a well-known Hutt Valley Rosarian who discovered this sport in her garden. With all the characteristics of ‘My Mum’ other than bloom colour, a glowing warm coral orange. Grows to 1.4 metres high with strong … [Read more...]

ROMANZA® Glitz & Glam

Our featured rose for February certainly lives up to its name as one that attracts attention with a colour blend 'ROMANZA® Glitz & Glam' has large blooms of yellow with candy pink, suffusing to red as they age. There is a light tea scent to enjoy. The plant grows to one metre high and has dark shiny green foliage. Average health so one that does require a bit of attention to have it looking its best.  Bred by Jérôme Rateau of … [Read more...]

Piece of Cake

Kordes of Germany are one of the leading rose breeders in the world with many well-known roses to their credit.One such rose is ‘Piece of Cake’ which in its native Germany, is known as ‘Kordes Jubilee’ as it named for Kordes 125th anniversary. The vanilla cream edged with pink blooms are large in size with old fashioned form. Lightly scented. A great rose for picking with long stems and great vase life.  Strong upright grower to 1.4 metres … [Read more...]

Otago University

Good yellow roses, especially those that can be picked are few and far between. For this month we feature a promising newer variety well worth growing. ‘Otago University’ has shapely warm yellow blooms produced mostly one to a stem, making it ideal for picking. A medium-growing bush with glossy mid-green foliage and good health. Slightly fragrant.  Named for the 150th anniversary of the University of Otago in 2019. Bred by Rob Somerfield … [Read more...]

Smart Choice

To finish off 2022, we feature another new release that will catch the eye in any garden. ‘Smart Choice’ has large fuchsia pink blooms with a lighter reverse to the petals, there is a moderate scent to enjoy.  It is a good rose for picking with long stems and a good vase life. A medium, compact grower with good health. A Certificate of Merit winner in the NZRS Trials in Palmerston North in 2020, it is yet another stunning rose from New … [Read more...]

Legend

Of all the different types of roses, the Hybrid Teas are what people often associate roses as being – large, well-formed blooms with scent being a desirable bonus. ‘Legend’ is one of the best Hybrid Teas to be released in recent years and should appeal to those who like to pick flowers from their garden. The large honey apricot blooms are richly scented and repeat well. The healthy plant grows to 1.1 metres high so is ideal for any garden, … [Read more...]

Pride of Palmy

November is the month when roses are at their best across much of New Zealand as they come into flower and is also the month when many rose shows occur (Covid permitting) and also trial results are announced from the New Zealand Rose Society International Trials in Palmerston North. ‘Pride of Palmy’ has been named to celebrate 50 years of the Palmerston North Rose Trials by its breeder Rob Somerfield of Glenavon Roses. The deep … [Read more...]