Roses are on my mind at the moment ordering a new batch of over 900 roses from wholesale growers across a couple of states, to replace the similar number that we have sold over the past 12 months. Some gardeners see them as a bit old fashioned but I have always loved them for their colour, fragrance and hardiness.
Looking at grower catalogues and gardening magazines in recent times has highlighted a few new cultivars that you may like to consider for an appropriate, sunny spot in your garden. When considering climbing roses I always find it hard to go past the beautiful Pierre de Ronsard (light pink) or Gold Bunny (yellow). There is a new climber, Arabia, that has fragrant orange/peach coloured blooms and another, Future, that has double, white/pale pink blooms.
New bush roses that are getting strong interest are Fairytale Magic, a floribunda with old style double pink, fragrant flowers; Outback Dreaming with strong golden blooms and a touch of red on the petal edges; Dream Chaser with bright pink, double, old fashioned blooms; Governor Marie Bashir an Australian bred, floribunda rose with classic light pink flowers, named after a lady we all respect.
The Unconventional Lady rose (who comes up with these names!) is a new, tall growing hybrid tea rose with beautiful deep pink, fragrant flowers. Groundcover and small bush roses that are great for pots and small garden beds are popular. I sell lots of Purple Rain which grows to about a 50cm high mound, covered in clusters of violet pink blooms. Garden of Roses is a new one, a floribunda growing to about 60cm with double pink/ apricot blooms.
Ian Rogan
Millthorpe Garden Nursery