An award winning rose features as the Rose of the Month for March. ‘Ladies Night’ topped the NZRS trials in 2018 and was recognised with the presentation of the Gold Star of the South Pacific award to its breeder Rob Somerfield. . Red buds open to lightly scented blooms of red with a pink centre. With long stems, it is a good picking rose to enjoy in a vase. A medium to tall upright growing plant, it has very good health. Available … [Read more...]
Hybrid Tea Roses
Mary Ann
This month we feature a newer release with an old-fashioned look that seems to be one of the trends in rose breeding at the moment. ‘Mary Ann’ is a compact growing bush rose with clusters of large, cupped shaped quartered blooms of orange to apricot depending on the weather. Moderately scented, the blooms are also good for picking. A compact, medium growing plant with dark green ribbed foliage, it also has good health. Bred by Tantau of … [Read more...]
Amore Black Lace
Everyone loves a red rose and this month’s feature rose is one of the best new ones in this colour range. ‘Amore Black Lace’ features well-formed blooms of velvety red, lightly scented and mostly one to a stem so a great rose for picking. A tall, upright growing variety with glossy green leaves, it is a healthy variety. Bred by Brad Jalbert of Canada, it is a worthwhile addition to the range of red roses and especially if you are inclined … [Read more...]
Tabasco
This month we feature a very eye-catching recent release that will brighten up any garden. ‘Tabasco’ is well named with blooms of orange salmon produced both singly and in clusters, making for a stunning sight when in full bloom. Lightly scented. Medium growing with an upright habit, it is very healthy with healthy green foliage. Bred by Rob Somerfield, it was a Certificate of Merit winner at the NZRS Trials in Palmerston North in 2017. One … [Read more...]
Decoranza® Rose Field
The colour pink is the most common colour in roses but there is always room for ‘one more’ in every garden. This month we feature a promising new release rose that will please those who grow roses for garden display and exhibition. ‘Decoranza® Rose Field’ has blooms of an appealing rose pink with a strong sweet tea scent. It is great for picking with blooms mostly coming one to a stem. The medium growing bush has excellent disease tolerance … [Read more...]
‘Pride of Palmy’ selected as name for city rose
‘Pride of Palmy’ has been announced as the name for the rose celebrating 50 years of International Rose Trials in Palmerston North in 2020. The name was announced at the presentation of this year’s rose trial award on Sunday by the Mayor of Palmerston North, Grant Smith and was selected from names submitted in a competition held in August and September. Six people submitted the name with Ann Cryer of Pukekohe drawn as the recipient of six … [Read more...]
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...]
November – Sweet Romanza
November is when roses are at their peak flowering in New Zealand and it is always good to see what newer roses look like when they begin blooming. This month we feature a newer variety with lots of promise. ‘Sweet Romanza’ is from Dutch breeders Spek and has blooms of white with the faintest tinge of pink to the blooms, moderately scented with a tea rose scent. It is super healthy with dark green glossy foliage. Grows to 1.2 metres and is an … [Read more...]
October – Hamilton Gardens
This month we feature the very last rose to be released by the late Sam McGredy who passed away on August 25th in Auckland. Discovered as a naturally occurring sport or mutation of the popular McGredy rose ‘Paddy Stephens’, it shares many of its attributes including fantastic disease tolerance, long stems ideal for picking and well formed blooms. The only difference is the colour which is an appealing blend of apricot, pink and cream. Should … [Read more...]
May – Wedding Celebration
May is Royal Wedding month and what better way to celebrate than with a rose with a wedding theme ‘Wedding Celebration’ features large blooms of dark red, fully double with a pleasing perfume borne mostly solitary on long stems. A good variety for picking. Tall growing with glossy dark green foliage and has good health. Bred by Poulsens of Denmark, this variety has a name that is bound to sell it as a wedding gift and is a welcome addition … [Read more...]