Episode: #6 07/10/2006
Presenter: Phil Dudman

Phil visits the historical New Farm Park in Brisbane where Roses have always been an important part of the gardens as they are today. They certainly add an old world charm to the place but more importantly, they show you the best varieties to grow in our climate.

The name of each variety is all clearly marked, and every one of them has been trialled and endorsed by the Queensland Rose society. Despite the recent dry conditions, these plants are thriving which goes to show, when you choose the right varieties, it is possible to grow magnificent roses here.

The ?Iceberg? rose (Rosa, Modern Rose, Modern Shrub, Cluster-Flowered), which is a hardy free flowering bush, is nearly always covered in clusters of soft white fragrant blooms. The most effective way to display its charm is planted en masse.

The recently introduced ?Burgundy Iceberg? (Rosa, Modern Rose, Modern Shrub, Cluster-Flowered) has proven to be very special, with the same reliable free flowering habit and high level of disease resistance.

The ?Playboy? rose (Rosa, Modern Rose, Modern Shrub, Cluster-Flowered) has bright orange and yellow bloom and in time, the flowers fade to a deep pink which creates a bold multi-toned colour effect. It is a great pick for those of you who like a splash of colour and fun in the garden.

Peace? (Rosa, Modern Rose, Modern Shrub, Large Flowered) is a famous variety that has been around since the 1940?s and is still high on the popularity list. The blooms are large and perfect with exquisite yellow and pink petals. The stems are long which makes it a superb cut flower.

When it comes to fragrance you can?t beat ?Mister Lincoln? (Rosa, Modern Rose, Modern Shrub, Large-flowered). The flowers hold their shape and colour too well after cutting which makes it the most popular commercially grown red rose for the cut-flower market.

Roses tend to perform their best in raised free draining beds with a good thick layer of mulch over the top to keep the soil cool and moist. Most of our modern varieties are recurrent flowerers, and the earlier you remove the spent flowers, the quicker you will be rewarded with a succession of blooms. They need feeding to help them along and something like Yates Once a year feeder for Roses is ideal.

If you are keen on growing roses here in Queensland then a visit to the marvellous display at New Farm Park is a must. If you would like to learn more from the local experts, then check out the details for the Queensland Rose Society on the Garden Gurus Website.

New Farm Park
Brunswick Street
Brisbane

Queensland Rose Society
Q.R.S. Inc.
G.P.O. Box 1866
Brisbane Q 4001
(07) 3342 0656

http://queenslandrose.tripod.com/

Featured Products

Thrive Once a Year Feeder for Roses

• A rich fertiliser for long term feeding of garden and potted roses
• Special combination of fast acting and controlled release nutrients
• Special combination of fast acting and controlled release nutrients
• Will feed roses for up to 12 months.