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...

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...]

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...]

Skyla Rose

We start 2024 by featuring the overall winner from the New Zealand Rose of the Year competition held at Rogers Rose Garden in Hamilton last November. It also won Best Floribunda and Most Fragrant Rose in the same competition in 2019.‘Skyla Rose’ has clusters of glowing medium pink blooms that open to an old-fashioned form. There is a good scent to enjoy as well. A medium compact growing bush to 1 – 1.1 metres with medium green foliage.  Bred … [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...]

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...]

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...]

Inkspots

The Persica or Hulthemia roses have generated much interest in the rose world over recent years and this months featured rose is one developed right here in New Zealand. Bred by Rob Somerfield,  ‘Inkspots’ covers itself in masses of white blooms with a burgundy centre. In full bloom, you can hardly see the foliage. The compact growing plant is very healthy with glossy dark green leaves. It looks great in any garden or pot and looks great … [Read more...]