New Roses

Roses are undeniably, the queen of flowers. Their blooms enchant and delight from home gardens to public spaces.

Even though there are thousands of different varieties planted across Australia, each year new roses are introduced through local garden centres and specialist rose nurseries and that are highly anticipated and keenly sought after.

Meilland International, the world famous rose breeding firm based in the Provence, have been developing new roses for over a hundred years and have given the world such memorable varieties like Papa Meilland, Princess De Monaco and one you might know – Peace.

The Peace rose was voted the world’s favourite rose by the World Federation of Rose Societies. It beautifully formed blooms of yellow and pink have graced gardens the world over since its release in the United States on the 29th of April 1945, the day Berlin fell.

The Peace rose has a rich history. Blooms of it were given to each of the delegations at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations.

A wonderful book that traces the history of the Meilland family and the Peace rose is ‘For the Love of a Rose’ by Antonia Ridge, keep an eye out for a copy – its great reading.

The Peace rose’s legacy lives on with the release of Francis Meilland, the father of the Peace rose would bred the original plant in the south of France and sent budwood to the USA, at the beginning of the second world war. This is a truly beautiful rose, with pastel pink blooms and elegant flowers. The heady perfume is its crowning glory. A wonderful rose to celebrate a wonderful man.

Roses come in all colours and sizes but how about shapes? The new released, Origami is well named for its ‘paper folded’ look. Growing to 1.2 m high. Origami is constantly in bloom. In the spring, the unique blooms carry more cream and in the autumn, more red. It won gold at the Australian National Rose Trails.

Two very lovely new releases. Bright Spirit will lift the garden with its cheery bi-colours.

Little Ray of Sunshine is equally bright and bold. Both these roses make fantastic cut flowers and, yes they are both wonderfully perfumed.

You’ve probably heard of or maybe grown and well known and much loved rose called Double Delight –. As good a rose as Double Delight is, there’s a new kid on the block that’s showing it up.

Fire & Ice looks like Double Delight, but what is may lack in the heavy fragrance of Double Delight, Fire and Ice blows it out of the water for garden performance. Loads of flowers, easy to grow and another gold award winner at the National Rose Trials.

If you are looking for colour, colour, colour, then the Knock Out range has that and loads more. Expect flowers from October to June. Whether it is the original Knock Out or the more recent Pink Knock Out, Blushing Knock Out or Double Knock Out, these plants are hardy, healthy and are garden pleasers.

If you’d like more information and your nearest stockist of these roses plus loads more other wonderful Meilland Introductions, just head to the Corporate Roses website. They are a true delight.