New roses – June 2019

My Grandma – Beautiful lilac pink flowers with a divine fragrance. Named for our Grandma Lewanna, the multi-petal vintage style blooms are repeatedly produced on a compact, robust plant. Lovely for picking. One of the ‘My Rose’ series bred by Bob Matthews. Height 1m. Available from Matthews Nurseries Ltd www.rosesnz.co.nz or their resellers.

My Treasure – Another superb easy care rose bred from ‘My Mum’ providing a bounty of repeat flowering apricot golden blooms with open ruffle form. Very bushy plant with lush green foliage. Light fragrance. Height 1.1m. Available from Matthews Nurseries Ltd www.rosesnz.co.nz or their resellers

Night Light – An attractive new variety that produces lots of blooms over the growing season. Blooms open lemon yellow and the outer petals age to cream. Medium growing with dark green foliage and a compact growing habit. Certificate of Merit, NZRS Trials, Palmerston North 2017. Available from resellers of Glenavon Roses www.robsomerfieldroses.co.nz

Olivia Rose Austin – Named for the granddaughter of the late David Austin Senior, this variety has cupped rosettes of an even, mid pink colouring. Light to moderate scent, this variety is very free flowering throughout the season and is very healthy with dark green foliage. Available from Tasman Bay Roses www.tbr.co.nz

Otago University – Named for the 150^th celebrations of Otago University, the perfectly formed yellow blooms are good for picking. It is almost never without blooms. Medium growing with glossy mid green foliage and good health.  Available from resellers of Glenavon Roses www.robsomerfieldroses.co.nz

Purple Pizzazz – Something a bit different for a patio rose, the small purple cerise blooms have a silvery white reverse to the petals. It also has a good scent – something that is not common with patio roses. Very free flowering and exceptionally healthy with dark green foliage. Certificate of Merit, NZRS Trials, Palmerston North 2016. Available from resellers of Glenavon Roses www.robsomerfieldroses.co.nz

Romanza® Garden Sunshine – Yellow full ruffled blooms in small clusters are moderately fragrant with the scent of Aniseed.  Healthy dark disease tolerant foliage.  A rose that will brighten up any garden. Available from Amore Roses www.amoreroses.co.nz

Skyla Rose – A very free flowering variety with glowing medium pink blooms of an old fashioned appearance.  Medium , compact growing with dark green foliage.  Named to celebrate the life of 7 year old Skyla Rose Keating who bravely fought DIPG brain cancer. Skyla was loved beyond measure by all who knew her. Spirit riding free 29.10.2017. Available from resellers of Glenavon Roses www.robsomerfieldroses.co.nz

Strawberry Blonde – Masses of scented golden apricot blooms over the medium, compact growing plant. Very healthy with very dark green foliage which is a feature in its own right.  Certificate of Merit, NZRS Trials, Palmerston North 2017. Available from resellers of Glenavon Roses www.robsomerfieldroses.co.nz

Tabasco – Wow, what a colour! The lightly scented orange salmon blooms come singly or in clusters and make a great display in full bloom. Medium, upright growing with good disease tolerance.  Certificate of Merit, NZRS Trials, Palmerston North 2017. Available from resellers of Glenavon Roses www.robsomerfieldroses.co.nz

The Poets Wife – A welcome addition to the range of yellow English roses, this variety is a rich yellow in colour which pale over time. A strong, rich scent will please lovers of fragrant roses. It forms a well-rounded shrub with shiny foliage. Available from Tasman Bay Roses www.tbr.co.nz

Trendy – Very appealing shapely blooms of soft apricot with deeper highlights and a very strong sweet tea perfume.  Blooms in small clusters on an upright plant with medium green foliage.  Height 50-80cm.  Available from Amore Roses www.amoreroses.co.nz

Tropical Essence – A shade not often found in climbing roses, the large peach coloured blooms also have a strong fruity scent making it great to grow on a wall or fence where the scent can be appreciated. Reletively compact for a climber so it can be grown in smaller gardens. Very healthy with dark green glossy foliage. Available from resellers of Glenavon Roses www.robsomerfieldroses.co.nz

By Hayden Foulds

Hayden also serves as Deputy Chairman of the World Federation of Rose Societies Rose Trials Committee amongst other rose endeavours. 

Read more from Hayden here.