Every three years, the World Rose Convention is held where rose enthusiasts from around the world gather for a week of lectures, garden visits, social events and other functions like rose shows and trials which may be organised by the host country.
This year, the World Rose Convention was held in Copenhagen, Denmark by the Danish Rose Society. 24 New Zealanders were among the 620 rosarians from 34 countries who attended and by all accounts, had a great time. This was an extra special convention as it marked 50 years since the founding of the World Federation of Rose Societies of which the New Zealand Rose Society is a founding member.
The convention also saw two successful nominations by the New Zealand Rose Society for International Awards. Mrs Fiona Hyland of Dunedin was recognised with the World Rose Award for services to the rose. A member of Heritage Roses New Zealand, Fiona has an impressive record as an author, editor, researcher and speaker on heritage roses.
The Christchurch Botanic Gardens were also recognised with the Award of Garden Excellence for both the Central and Heritage Rose Gardens. The award recognises outstanding rose gardens from a historical, educational and visual viewpoints.
In 2021, the next World Rose Convention will be held in Adelaide, Australia and will include a ‘post’ post to New Zealand following the convention.
You may not think of Denmark when it comes to roses but there is much interest in growing them, not only in Denmark but also in Sweden, Norway and even Iceland. Climate does play a part in what can be grown so many of the roses are either heritage varieties or from Northern European breeders like Kordes and Tantau of Germany and local Danish breeders
Perhaps the most well-known name connected to roses in Denmark are the rose breeding family of Poulsens. First founded in 1878, the business is now run by the fourth generation Poulsen, Pernille Olesen and her husband Mogans. The range of roses bred by Poulsens range from the traditional garden roses through to groundcover type roses and roses that are bred to be grown indoors as a pot plant for a few weeks in bloom before being thrown away. Poulsens are also credited with the development of what would become known as floribunda roses by crossing Hybrid Teas with Polyantha Roses in the early 1900’s.
The most well-known Poulsen Rose in New Zealand is ‘Ingrid Bergman’, a red Hybrid Tea that was inducted into the WFRS Rose Hall of Fame in 2003. Other well-known Poulsen roses include ‘Sparkler’, ‘Enchantment’, ‘Memory Lane’ and the newer ‘Mum in a Million’, ‘Silver Anniversary’ and ‘Scent by an Angel’. Poulsen Roses generally do quite well in New Zealand conditions.
In the Rose Garden for August
- Continue to prune roses which should be done by mid-month.
- Once pruning is done, tidy up around the roses, pick up any fallen leaves, remove weeds and lightly fork over the ground.
- Apply a winter clean up spray of copper but leave it until a few days after pruning.
- Check stakes and ties on standard roses and renew if required.
- Towards the end of the month and into September, apply a general rose fertiliser such as Neutrog’s ‘Sudden Impact for Roses’ to your roses at the recommended rates.
By Hayden Foulds
Hayden also serves as Deputy Chairman of the World Federation of Rose Societies Rose Trials Committee amongst other rose endeavours.