We’re lucky as rose lovers to have so many wonderful roses to select from and grow in our gardens – and even more lucky to have new varieties coming onto the market each year to tempt us to add them to our gardens. There are too many for winter 2019 to feature in one column, so my June column will feature the rest.
Keep an eye out for these and if you can’t find a source, email me and I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction.
Amore ® Eye Need You – Gorgeous ruffled double blooms of blushing pink with a surprise dark raspberry centre – something different for your garden. Short mounding growth with disease tolerant dark green foliage. A strong sweet tea fragrance is an added bonus. Height 50-60cm. Available from Amore Roses.
Berry Nice – Dazzling shades of berry magenta-pink flowers smother the bushy easy-care plant which grows to 1 metre. The blooms stand out on glossy green foliage putting on a show stopping display of colour. Repeat flowering. One of the ‘My Rose’ collection bred by Bob Matthews. Available from Matthews Nurseries Ltd or their resellers.
Cappucino – Utterly unique antique pink buds open into coffee blooms which age with a hint of blush pink. Tall upright growth ideal for picking, repeats well. Height 1.2m. Available from Matthews Nurseries Ltd or their resellers.
Decoranza® Louisa Jane – Large high pointed blooms of glowing ivory white with pink edges of perfect form usually come one to a stem, perfect for picking for a vase. Sweetly scented. disease tolerance. Height 1 – 1.2 metres. Available from Amore Roses.
Feeling Better – Named for the Look Good, Feel better cancer charity, the blooms are soft cream with a thin raspberry edge to the petals. As the flowers age, the cream turns pink. Compact, medium growing plant with lots of flowers and great health. Certificate of Merit, NZRS Trials, Palmerston North 2013. Available from resellers of Glenavon Roses www.robsomerfieldroses.co.nz
Floranza® Hypnotic Blush – Soft baby pink blooms with an equally soft myrrh tea scent. Short growth perfect for container or pot culture. Some disease tolerance. Height 60-80cm. Available from Amore Roses.
Floranza® Mind Games – A bouquet of semi-double striped pink and white blooms, lightly scented. No two flowers the same make a lovely garden display. Dark green semi-glossy foliage with some disease tolerance. Height 60-80cm. Available from Amore Roses.
Floranza® Modern Twist – Beautiful ruffled semi-double hot coral-pink blooms with a light tea scent are mass produced in large heads which smother the plant attracting attention. Disease resistant dark green glossy foliage. Height 1.5-2m. Available from Amore Roses.
Forget Me Not – An amazing abundance of true lilac flowers which open to reveal golden stamens. This enchanting rose just keeps on flowering. A very healthy bushy plant. Delicate fragrance. Bred by Bob Matthews. Height 90cm – 1m. Available from Matthews Nurseries Ltd www.rosesnz.co.nz or their resellers
Goldjuwel – A bright yellow patio rose to light up your life. Elegant blooms are produced in large clusters on a compact, bushy plant with light green glossy foliage. It repeats bloom very quickly. Height 40-50cm. Available from Amore Roses.
Inka – The golden yellow ruffled flowers have excellent colour stability, even in our strong NZ sun. Full romantic flowers in clusters with a strong tea fragrance. Medium green glossy foliage and good disease tolerance. Height 80cm. Available from Amore Roses.
Love Bug – A strong medium to tall growing rose with clusters of cardinal red blooms with a subtle fragrance. Healthy with dark, glossy green foliage. Gold Star of the South Pacific, NZRS Trials, Palmerston North 2017. Available from resellers of Glenavon Roses.
Lucky Charm – Delightful miniature old fashioned formed flowers of soft lemon yellow to creamy white. The clusters of repeat flowering beauties grow on a compact bushy plant. Available from Matthews Nurseries Ltd or their resellers.
Lucy’s Rose – A compact growing plant with quartered blooms of intense pink. Good for picking. A dollar from each plant sold will go to Ranui House. Available from Tasman Bay Roses.
In the Rose Garden for May
- It’s a quiet month in the rose gardens ahead of the winter months.
- Continue to prepare the soil for new plantings. Dig over and add compost ready for winter planting. If planting where roses have been before, swap the soil for that in another part of the garden.
- Clean up around your roses by removing any fallen leaves and debris.
- Discard any roses you wish to no longer grow.
- Order new seasons roses for winter planting from garden centres and rose nurseries.
By Hayden Foulds
Hayden also serves as Deputy Chairman of the World Federation of Rose Societies Rose Trials Committee amongst other rose endeavours.