Winter always seems so dull and dreary so to brighten things up this month, I am going to feature some roses in the orange shades. Traditionally, roses in the orange shades have always been slower to sell than the more popular pinks, whites, reds and yellows but they do lighten up the garden. They are good to mix with yellows and red coloured roses and for something a bit different, try with purple and mauve roses.
Some well-known and less well-known (but still can be brought) orange roses are:
Alexander: An older Hybrid Tea with blooms of vermillion orange. Tall growing, healthy but very thorny!
Beach Baby: Low growing floribunda with clusters of bronze orange blooms in profusion. Low growing, bushy and very healthy with dark green foliage. Light fragrance.
Christophe: A newer rose with clusters of tangerine orange blooms in clusters, lightly scented. Healthy with light green foliage, medium to tall growing.
Kaikoura: One of the most popular patio roses with rose exhibitors and also a good garden rose. Clusters of orange-red blooms cover the plant which is medium to tall growing with bronze-green foliage.
Paddy Stephens: One of the most popular roses grown in New Zealand and an all-around fantastic rose with large blooms of a blend of orange, salmon and coral. Long stems make this a great picking rose and it is very healthy with dark green foliage.
Pat Austin: One of the few David Austin roses in the orange shades, the coppery orange blooms are cupped in form and are very fragrant with a tea rose scent. Shrubby, arching grower.
Super Trouper: Another newer rose with blooms of a vivid bright orange – something that does attract the attention. Good for picking. A medium grower with glossy dark green foliage.
Sundancer: A climber with blooms of orange with a yellow reverse to the petals. Free flowering and very healthy, the plant has moderate vigour and is well clothed in foliage.
Tintinara: A Hybrid Tea with loose blooms of glowing salmon orange which are a standout, lightly fragrant. Medium to tall growing with glossy green foliage.
Westerland: An older climbing that is still worth growing today. The blooms of salmon-apricot cover the plant which is very healthy with spreading growth.
Warm Welcome: A patio climber with masses of single bright orange blooms with yellow in the centre. Very free flowering and quick to repeat bloom. Ideal for smaller gardens.
In the garden for July
- It’s pruning time all month and into August. Once pruned, give the soil a forking over and pick up any fallen debris. Free Rose Pruning demonstrations are being around New Zealand by local rose societies, see New Zealand Rose Society for details
- Continue to plant new seasons roses. If the soil is too wet, you can either hold it in the container it was purchased in or if bare root, heal into a corner of the garden.
- Get a winter clean up spray of copper applied to your roses but leave it a few days after pruning.
By Hayden Foulds
Hayden also serves as Deputy Chairman of the World Federation of Rose Societies Rose Trials Committee amongst other rose endeavours.