National and international rose growers will shortly find out which of their roses has been judged the best grown at the New Zealand International Rose Trial Grounds in Palmerston North’s Victoria Esplanade Gardens.
Over the past two years, 40 roses submitted by growers and hybridisers from around the world have been grown and cared for by Palmerston North City Council staff at the trials. Most of these roses have never been seen before in New Zealand and represent the latest trends in the rose industry.
“Rose breeders worldwide are breeding roses with more flowers and improved disease tolerance, plus more and more varieties have fragrant blooms than ever before,” says John Ford, chairman of the Trial Ground Committee.
The roses are evaluated by a panel of 20 judges on characteristics including colour, fragrance, health, flower form and novelty over the two-year period.