We start 2016 by featuring one of the most popular red roses grown in New Zealand today. 'Loving Memory' is a good garden rose and one often found exhibited at rose shows. The name also makes it a sought after rose to give when there is bereavement. ‘Loving Memory’ has large well formed lightly scented blooms of cherry red on long stems which make it great for cutting or exhibition. A tall upright growing plant, ‘Loving Memory’ does need a … [Read more...]
Free flowering, healthy roses feature among winning roses
New rose varieties that produce lots of flowers and get less disease topped the New Zealand Rose Society International Trial Awards in Palmerston North in early December with an orange rose ‘Fireball’ coming out on top. Bred by Rob Somerfield of Glenavon Roses in Tauranga, ‘Fireball’ received the top award of the trials, the Gold Star of the South Pacific. “It’s a great variety with lots of flowers and a very healthy plant” said Mr Somerfield … [Read more...]
October – Eyeopener
Groundcover/Shrub roses are nothing new in the world of roses but getting a good one that is in the re shades is not easy. So when one does come along, expect it to be well used in breeding programs around the world. One such rose is ‘Eyeopener’ which has been used in breeding programs the world over since its release in the mid 1980’s. The growth habit is spreading and mounded, reaching up to 1m high and 1.2m wide and covers itself in masses … [Read more...]
August – Anniversary
While pale pink is a fairly common colour in floribunda's, this month’s featured rose is one of the better ones in the colour range to be released in the last 20 years. ‘Anniversary’ is a seedling of the popular ‘Sexy Rexy’ and carries many of its attributes, most of all its ability to produce masses of blooms. The porcelain pink blooms come in small and large clusters throughout the season. At times, it is hard to see the dark green glossy … [Read more...]
July – Solitaire
This month we feature one of the better yellow roses to be released in the last 30 years. For many years yellow roses were often weak growers but this rose was certainly not and by further work, has led to the development of more vigorous growing yellow flowering roses. ‘Solitaire’ is a Hybrid Tea bred by Sam McGredy with large blooms of yellow flushed peach around the edges of the petals, very similar in colouring to the famous ‘Peace’ rose. … [Read more...]
New Zealand Rose Review 2015 – 16
2015 - 16 New Zealand Rose Review Produced by the New Zealand Rose Society (Inc) for members and now available on sale , the Rose Review is your guide to the newer roses sold in the nurseries and garden centres around New Zealand. Rose nurseries also feature their latest releases for 2015. An essential guide if you are wanting to plant some roses in your garden today. As advertised in the Kiwi Gardener magazine. For further … [Read more...]
April – White Romance
It’s been a while since we featured a white rose so for this month, we feature one of the best new white roses of the last 10 years to come onto the market in New Zealand. Some say it’s destined to be the best white floribunda grown in New Zealand, already ranking 4th among the top favourite floribundas as voted by rose society members for 2014. ‘White Romance’ is a wonderful rose both in the garden and on the show bench, producing a great … [Read more...]
NZRS Trial winners 2014
The awards for Trial 44 (2012 - 14) at the New Zealand Rose Society International Trials were presented on December 7th in Palmerston North. A panel of 20 judges have assessed around 30 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 awarded to those entries which score over … [Read more...]
October – Class Act
Single type roses are not always popular with rose lovers as their simple charms are often overlooked by rose lovers. This month we are featuring one of the best of the modern ‘singles’ that is instantly recognised wherever it is grown. ‘Class Act’ is well named as a good all round performer in the garden. Large semi-double blooms of creamy lemon cover the plant. At times when in full bloom, there is almost no foliage to be seen under the … [Read more...]
2013 NZRS Trial winners
New roses from New Zealand and overseas breeders lead the way with awards at the New Zealand International Rose Trials in Palmerston North in late November 2013. The trials, which are operated as a partnership between the New Zealand Rose Society (Inc) and the Palmerston North City Council, aim to trial un-released rose varieties from leading New Zealand and International rose breeders with the view to their possible release onto the local … [Read more...]