Meet: Richard Walsh

Richard Walsh - Breeder of Australian roses



Richard fell for roses when he bought his first home in 1967. He joined the Rose Society in 1972, and that was the start of his long journey with roses.

Did you always love roses?

Not really. It started after buying my first home in Croydon Park in 1967. It was bare and dad was a rose grower so he advised me. I bought my first six roses (Peace, Queen Elizabeth, Buccaneer, Pink Parfait, Roundelay and Orangeade) to brighten up the place. I needed to know how to grow them, so I joined the Rose Society in 1972 and it has been a big journey from that point. I first heard about breeding at a meeting back in the late 70s and made my first crosses in 1980. While there was some success in the 90s, I did not reach what I would call our peak until retiring from fulltime employment in 2004. Through the Rose Society, we have travelled, expanded our knowledge, and made many friends. There is so much to learn and the resources for research are incredible. I have been involved in administration at regional, state, national and international levels, but see my strength these days in writing as well as hybridising.

Why did you decide to breed new roses?

The challenge. To have roses no one else has, and because, at the moment, we see a gap in the market that is not being filled by imported roses.

 

We know of English David Austin roses, Irish McGredy roses, French Meilland roses and German Kordes roses. Do you use any of their roses in your breeding programmes?

All of the above. Roses are not native to Australia or anywhere in the southern hemisphere, so we must start with imported roses. We have made a point of using a variety of breeders, countries of origin, types of roses and flower types to tap into the broadest possible genetic backgrounds.

 

Are there challenges in breeding a new rose?

Acceptance! There is a perception that imported is better and we need a marketing guru like Dick Smith to change that. Our biggest challenge has been finding a nursery to take on the “little” roses. The challenges also include making the right choices for parents and selecting the right ones to keep for potential market or breeding.



For more information about Richard and Ruth's roses, visit www.helpmefind.com/rose.



 

Richard’s Top 5 Roses

Richard and Ruth Walsh have over 100 roses registered and 50 in commercial production. There are currently 20 varieties available.

 

Miss Jane

Floribunda in warm-pink tones. Full old-fashioned blooms borne in large clusters with an intense, sweet fragrance. Repeat bloomer and good disease resistance. Upright growth to 120cm. Award winner in Adelaide.

Joy Delight

Miniflora, mostly solitary salmon-pink blooms with a light fragrance. Grows to 75cm tall, like a small Hybrid Tea, and is suitable for borders or containers. A great cut flower too.

Dusky Moon

Shrub, flowers are a mauve blend, with white reverse, cupped form, borne in small clusters with intense fragrance. Upright in growth to about 130cm tall with dark- green foliage that can look bluish in cooler weather. Selected for the new stamp release (September 2022) by Australia Post.

Trendy

Floribunda, apricot blend, with the outer petals being paler in colour. The blooms are well-formed and have a strong, sweet fragrance. Borne in clusters, an early bloomer and repeat flowers well. Easy-care rose; bushy growth to about 130cm tall; award winner in Adelaide.





 

Rae of Sunshine

Miniature rose, orange blend, with yellow in the centre and on the reverse of the petals. Not very fragrant – as is the case of most of the minis and minifloras – but good disease resistance and repeat bloomer. Good for garden borders or containers.