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...

Endless Summer

As we head towards summer, we will be anticipating the first blooms on new varieties that will be flowering for the first time.One new variety to look out for is ‘Endless Summer’ bred by Rob Somerfield of New Zealand. ‘Endless Summer’ features classically formed blooms of yellow that hold their colour well. Great for picking with long stems. A vigourous, healthy growing rose to 1.5 metres high.  Available from resellers of Glenavon … [Read more...]

Old Friends

Our featured rose this month is another new release and one to plant to remember friends from years gone past. ‘Old Friends’ features masses of blooms, larger in size with creamy petals surrounding the lemon centre. The blooms are lightly scented and create an outstanding display.  Winner of a Certificate of Merit at the New Zealand Rose Society trials in Palmerston North 2019. Bred by Rob Somerfield and available from resellers of … [Read 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...]

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...]