The hot, dry conditions across the region over the last couple of summers have been tough for our farms and gardens. I wrote last month about plants that can handle tough, sunny spots in our gardens. One of the plant groups that I didn’t mention was roses, which are often at their showy best in hot, sunny regions with dry summers.
Their popularity is obviously strong in our region as over 1000 roses have “walked out the door” of my nursery in each of the last two years. I get most of my roses in bare root when they are dormant in winter and I’m currently working on orders for my next 1000, reviewing catalogues from rose growers across three states.
While we all have our favourite, old fashioned roses, some of which have been around for centuries, there are always new roses coming on to the market. Some of the newer ones that catch my eye in 2019 grower catalogues are: Fathers Love (dark red, full petalled, spicey fragrance); Love Song (lavender, floribunda, large flowers); Warm Wishes (apricot); Love Potion (lilac, ruffled petals, highly fragrant); Ketchup and Mustard (deep yellow petal base-bright red edges); Winx (creamy white, full flowers); Guys Gold (bright yellow, double flowers, hybrid tea); Notre Dame du Rosaire (orange to pink, fragrant); Golden Eye (double yellow with a red centre); Kiss me Kate (climber, citrus fragrance, large double pink blossoms); The Jubilee Rose (yellow with red petal edges, fragrant).
Then there are the old favourites that will definitely be in my 2019 order, including: Gold Bunny, Double Delight, Mr Lincoln, Pierre de Ronsard, Just Joey, Iceberg, Baronne Edmund de Rothschild, Crepescule, Friesia, Kardinal, Princess Margaret, St Patrick, Peace, Lady of Shalott, Boscobel, Gertrude Jekyll, Princess Alexandra of Kent, Wisley, A Shropshire Lad, Winchester Cathedral, Graham Thomas, Abraham Darby, and others.
Any other roses that you love? Contact my nursery in the next month to ensure we get them in our order to be received in winter this year.
Ian Rogan
Millthorpe Garden Nursery