For the love of roses

‘Bee Spicy’ is a vibrant bush rose bringing warmth and colour to garden beds.

From first bud to final bloom, roses reward with beauty, fragrance and seasonal rhythm.

 

There’s something enduring about roses. And despite their reputation, they’re surprisingly straightforward to grow once you understand the basics. They especially love company, so underplant with salvias, catmint or lavender to create a splendid layered textured scene.

These beauties love sunlight

Good soil is important

Roses thrive in rich, well-drained soil improved with organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure. Good soil preparation supports strong growth and repeat flowering.

Pots are also lovely

Many varieties also grow well in large pots (at least 50x50cm) if placed in full sun. Use a premium potting mix and water and feed regularly, as containers dry out more quickly. Avoid vigorous or climbing roses, which you'll find better suited to garden beds

A Climbing red rose delivers bold impact. For a similar look, try 'Crimson Siluetta' or 'Florentina'.

Feed with fertiliser

Healthy growth and repeat flowering rely on consistent feeding. Apply a quality rose fertiliser, such as Neutrog’s Sudden Impact for Roses, in September and again in December, with a third application in late January to support the autumn flush.

Water well and often

Deep, regular watering encourages strong roots and sustained flowering. In hot, dry conditions, roses benefit from a thorough soak every few days. Without adequate moisture, flowering may slow or stop altogether.

Finish with mulching

Mulch in late winter to early spring with a 3-5cm layer of organic material such as compost, well-rotted manure or sugarcane. This helps retain moisture,

regulate soil temperature and improve soil structure. Keep mulch slightly clear of the stem to prevent rot.

You can find roses with stripes, streaks and painterly blended tones. Try 'Tropical Sunset' or 'Camille Pissarro'.

"Roses offer structure, colour and repeat flowering across the seasons, making them one of the most versatile of garden plants"

Prune when necessary

Remove dead or diseased wood and any suckers below the graft. After pruning, apply sulphate of potash to strengthen growth and improve disease resistance, and spray with fungicide such as lime sulphur to control black spot. For more pruning information, see our pruning guide on page 14.

The best times to plant

Bare-rooted roses are best planted in winter while dormant, though potted roses can go in year-round. Soak bare roots overnight before planting and prepare the soil well with compost or soil conditioner. Plant promptly and water in thoroughly.

Cover an arch or frame a doorway with a climbing rose to add rich colour and romantic charm.

Get to know your roses

SHRUBS AND BUSHES

This is the broadest group, including hybrid teas, floribundas and many modern shrubs, as well as English roses such as those bred by David Austin. They form the backbone of most rose gardens, offering repeat flowering, a wide colour range and a variety of growth habits, from compact to more open, arching forms.

STANDARD VARIETIES

Also known as stem roses, these are grafted onto a tall trunk (typically 60-90cm), creating a formal, structured look. Ideal for adding height in garden beds or growing in large pots, they should be staked to protect against wind.

GROUNDCOVERS (CARPET)

Low-growing and spreading, these roses are ideal for covering ground or cascading over walls. Tough and low-maintenance, they flower over a long period.

"Gently tended roses, with sunlight and care, reward you with quiet beauty, fragrance and joy – the essence of a beautiful garden"

Varieties you'll love

1. 'Summer Romance'

2. 'Pierre de Ronsard'

3. 'Perfume Passion'

4. 'Crepuscule'

5. 'Dusky Moon'

6. 'Fairytale Magic'

7. 'Fur Elise'

8. 'Wedding Day'

CLIMBING VARIETIES

Climbing roses bring vertical interest and can be trained over arches, fences and trellises. They take time to establish but reward patience, flowering best on older canes trained horizontally. ‘Pierre de Ronsard’ is a classic, with large, cupped blooms in creamy white edged with soft pink – perfect for a veranda post, small trellis, arch or tripod. Another favourite is ‘Wedding Day’, a vigorous climber. It produces large clusters of apricot buds that open to single creamy-yellow flowers, fading to white. Reaching up to 10m, it’s ideal for covering fences, pergolas, archways or disguising an unsightly structure.

1. 'Pierre de Ronsard' is wonderful over an arch.

2. 'Dusky Moon' is an Australian-bred rose with muted, romantic tones.

3. 'Wedding Day' a favourite with the bees, covers an arbour beautifully.

4. Climbers such as 'Amadeus' and 'Dublin Bay' cloak walls in rich red blooms.

5. 'Laguna' has an intensely sweet scent.

Crepuscule-easy, versatile and full of blooms

Top picks for your garden

FOR SMALL SPACES

‘Crepuscule’ is a nearly thornless climbing rose with clusters of soft apricot blooms that repeat throughout the seasons. It’s easily trained along a fence or wires, making it ideal for compact gardens where space is limited. 'Laguna' is a moderate climbing rose bred by world famous German breeder, Kordes. You can train it along a series of strong horizontal wires attached to a sunny wall, paling fence or trellis and it will reward you with clusters of full petalled magenta pink blooms. This rose will reach 2.5m in height and spread. A good rose to grow where space is limited to embellish the walls of your home.

FOR FRAGRANCE

‘Summer Romance’ from Kordes’ Parfuma® Collection, is a floribunda rose with beautifully swirling blooms in a soft musk-pink. Its healthy, arching canes put on a generous display, so allow it room to spread. The scent – reminiscent of spiced apple with a hint of liquorice – makes it a standout in the garden. ‘Spicy Parfuma’, another standout in the range, is a hybrid tea bearing soft pink buds that open to large, fully petalled blooms with a rich apricot centre. The bush is vigorous, with glossy dark green foliage and the flowers are excellent for cutting.

FROM AUSTRALIAN BREEDS

‘Dusky Moon’ is an award-winning shrub rose bred by Richard and Ruth Walsh. Exquisite cupped and fragrant dusky mauve blooms are in clusters along arching canes. Hardy, vigorous to 1.5m.

Where to buy

TRELOAR ROSES

treloarroses.com.au



GREEN E ROSES

greeneroses.com.au