We’re lucky as rose lovers to have a wonderful choice of roses to select and grow in our gardens and even more so to have new varieties coming onto the market each year tempting us to add them to our gardens. There is too many for winter 2020 to feature in one column so my June column will feature the rest.
At the time of writing of this column, it was still uncertain when garden centres would be able to reopen and when rose growers could start lifting their crop ready for sending out. New seasons roses usually start appearing in store from Queens Birthday weekend but may be delayed this year. Your local garden centre should be able to advise and there is always online ordering available.
Keep an eye out for these and if you can’t find a source, email me (hayden@nzroses.org.nz) and I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction.
Centurion – Large clusters of vibrant scarlet red blooms cover the medium growing plant. Excellent health and good for picking, the bees also love the blooms as well. Voted as People’s Choice Award winner in the NZRS Trials 2013. Named for George Foulds (my grandfather) on the occasion of his 100th birthday in November 2019. Available from Wairere Nurseries www.wairere.co.nz
Cutie Pie – An adorable new miniature with masses of small peach coral blooms smothering the plant. Lightly scented. Ideal for smaller spaces and pots. Height 90cm. Available from Matthews Nurseries Ltd www.rosesnz.co.nz or their resellers.
Desdemona – the latest David Austin release, the peachy pink buds open to white blooms with a pinkish hue. Strongly scented with an old rose scent. Medium, bushy growing plant. Available from Tasman Bay Roses www.tbr.co.nz or their resellers.
Decoranza® Tropical Temptation – Blooms are a warm, soft orange with a medium to strong sweet scent. Low growing with very healthy foliage. Height 1 metre. Available from Amore Roses www.amoreroses.co.nz
Decoranza® Rose Field – An appealing shade of rose pink with a strong sweet tea scent. Great for picking with blooms usually one to a stem. Upright short to medium growing healthy plant with dark green shiny foliage. Height 1 metre. Available from Amore Roses www.amoreroses.co.nz
Enigma – one of the latest additions to the ‘My Rose’ collection bred by Bob Matthews, the lightly scented ruffled blooms are a unique shade of terracotta fading to dusky pink. A very healthy, bushy growing plant with glossy foliage. Height 1.3 metres. Available from Matthews Nurseries Ltd www.rosesnz.co.nz or their resellers.
Eye Spy – A welcome addition to the range of Persica roses with a distinct ‘eye to the blooms, this climber has peach blooms with a dark red spot. A healthy, vigorous grower with glossy green foliage. Available from resellers of Glenavon Roses.
Floranza® Mexican Wave – A colourful addition to any garden with its blend of orange, pink, gold and red blooms. Lightly scented. Upright short to medium plant with very healthy dark green glossy foliage. Height 1 metre. Available from Amore Roses www.amoreroses.co.nz
Floranza® Eye Popping – A very free flowering rose with masses of single yellow blooms, fading to white with a red ‘eye’ deepening to purple. Low, compact grower which looks great on a short standard. Height 70cm. Available from Amore Roses www.amoreroses.co.nz
Green with Envy – The culmination of nearly 30 years breeding for a green rose by breeder Rob Somerfield, this will turn heads in any garden. The lime green blooms are produced in clusters and last for ages on the bush and when picked for the vase. Voted as People’s Choice Award winner in the NZRS Trials 2013. Available in Spring 2020 from resellers of Glenavon Roses.
Julie Marguerithe – Rich pink buds open to creamy pink blooms, fading to almost white as they age. It has a good fragrance. Very healthy with dark green glossy foliage. Named for Julie Hardaker, former Mayor of Hamilton. Available from Wairere Nurseries www.wairere.co.nz
Ladies Night – The winner of the Gold Star of the South Pacific for the best rose in the Palmerston North trials for 2018, the red buds open to blooms of red with a pink centre. Great for picking. A medium to tall grower with great health, it is also good for picking. Available from resellers of Glenavon Roses.
By Hayden Foulds
Hayden also serves as Deputy Chairman of the World Federation of Rose Societies Rose Trials Committee amongst other rose endeavours.