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...

Ginger Crunch

This month we feature a new release for winter 2025 which is in a colour shade popular at the moment. ‘Ginger Crunch’ has masses of striking and unique burnt orange/terracotta colour blooms. It makes a great display in any garden and bees are also attracted to this variety. A medium bushy grower to 1.2 metres, it is very healthy. Bred by Rob Somerfield and a winner of a Certificate of Merit at the 2023 NZRS Trial Ground awards in Palmerston … [Read more...]

Spellbound

We feature this month a welcome addition to the range of yellow flowering climbing roses. ‘Spellbound’ covers itself in medium yellow blooms. The colour is pretty stable for a yellow rose and the petals drop cleanly, essential for a good climbing rose. The blooms are set against glossy foliage on a vigourous but not rampant plant. Excellent disease resistance makes this a great rose to grow along a fence, up a pergola or over an … [Read more...]

2024 NZRS International Trial Winners

European Rose Breeders swept the 2024 awards at the New Zealand Rose Society International Rose Trials in Palmerston North. Kordes Rosen of Germany claimed the top award of the trials, the Gold Star of the South Pacific with the orange flowering ‘Phoenix’.Kordes Rosen also won a Certificate of Merit for the red ‘Marondo’. Both varieties were entered into the trials by Matthews Nurseries Ltd of Whanganui. Other Certificates of Merit were … [Read more...]

Mulberry Wine

Rose trials, such as the New Zealand Rose Society International Trials in Palmerston North, are a great place to see the latest trends in roses. This month we feature the overall winner from the most recently concluded trial presented last November. ‘Mulberry Wine’ was a standout winner for breeder Rob Somerfield.  Masses of fragrant purple cerise blooms cover the medium growing, slightly spreading plant. Very healthy with rich glossy … [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...]

Centurion

The colour red is one of the most popular, if not the most popular colour in roses and this month we feature one of the best new red coloured releases in recent times. ‘Centurion’ is a bush rose with large clusters of vibrant orange-red blooms that attract the bees. A good rose for picking, the flowers last well in a vase. A medium-growing compact plant with dark glossy foliage and good disease tolerance. Named for the 100th birthday in … [Read more...]

Attention Seeker

Every year rose lovers look forward to the new releases being launched. This month we feature one of the new releases for winter 2023. ‘Attention Seeker’ is well named with striking golden apricot blooms catching the eye in the garden. Produced in clusters, the blooms have a good scent to enjoy.A vigorous medium growing plant with healthy, medium green glossy foliage. Bred by Rob Somerfield, this was a Certificate of Merit winner at the New … [Read more...]

New Zealand rose breeder takes top award at rose trial

New Zealand rose breeder Bob Matthews has taken out the top award at the New Zealand Rose Society International Rose Trial Grounds in Palmerston North in late November. Mr Matthews variety, named ‘Allison Scott’ for a prominent rosarian won the Gold Star of the South Pacific for the highest scoring rose on trial. The success of the orange flowering variety caps off a year of celebrations for the Matthews family as they celebrate 75 years of … [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...]

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...]