Autumn is the ideal time to review your rose garden and consider pre-ordering your bare-root roses for winter. It’s also the perfect time to remove any weak or non-performing plants and prepare your garden beds for the season ahead.

Knight’s Roses is proud to serve as the Australian agent for top Rose Breeders Rosen Tantau in Germany, Guillot in France, Harkness in England and James Cocker & Sons in Scotland. Each year we are delighted to introduce new, quality roses to Australian gardeners and we are now accepting pre-orders for the coming winter season. We encourage your to place your order early to avoid disapointment.

You may browse our extensive catalogue online where you will find detailed descriptions of available varieties. Our staff are happy to help, so for further assistance please phone 1300 1 ROSES or (08) 8523 1311.

Knight’s Roses, 44 Jack Cooper Drive, Evanston

Saturday 28th March 2026 10am to 2pm

You’re invited to join our Autumn Open Day, where you can explore our display garden at its seasonal best, gather inspiration, learn from experts, purchase some lovely gifts and enjoy the autumn weather.

Hosted by Proprietor Daniel Knight, this event offers an opportunity to wander our driveway rose garden which showcases a wide range of new releases roses. Guests are welcome to enjoy coffee or tea and speak with our experienced team and Rose Society representatives. We look forward to welcoming you!

With every year that goes by, rose breeders are creating even more diverse varieties and colours with greater disease resistance and excellent repeat flowering. Some varieties especially ground cover types and other landscaping roses require very little maintenance so rose growing has never been easier. For profuse flowering check out our Floribunda and Shrub roses. Visit our website or phone 1300 1ROSES or (08) 8523 1311.

A compact, bushy Floribunda featuring a kaleidoscope of colours from raspberry buds which open into pink blooms, then as they age show more complex colours ranging from dark pink through to apricot. As a full bloom they transform into buff and creamy colours with a little pink edging and a yellow centre. ‘Country Girl’ has a long and continuous flowering period producing large clusters of blooms. The bush has great disease resistance to black spot, mildew and rust with very healthy glossy foliage. Highly recommended and voted “The Favourite Rose for 2026” by the Knight’s Roses team.  Grows to 1.3m x 1m.

Renowned for its vigour and stand-out colour, this fragrant, tall shrub rose ‘Lancelot’ is a distinguished sport of the multi-award winning Climber ‘Camelot’. Carrying on the qualities of its parent, Lancelot features open, cupped-shaped, double blooms with dark pink flecks or veining on a soft pink background enhanced by an enticing fragrance. The bush has excellent disease resistance and healthy dark green foliage, reliable repeat flowering and reaches a height of 1.5m. Awarded Best Shrub Rose at the Saverne Rose Trial in France in 2020.

‘Theodor Fontane’ features vibrant orange blooms and exemplifies the beauty and resilience of classic Floribundas. Named to honour the renowned German writer and poet Theodor Fontane (1819-1898), this rose has medium-sized, dazzling orange blooms which age gracefully into a soft pink revealing golden stamens when fully open. Abundant flowers are produced in small clusters creating a stunning display throughout the growing season. The petals are very firm, making the florets resistant to rain damage and ensuring they remain beautiful in all weather. The foliage has very good tolerance to black spot and mildew. A neat rounded bush approximately 1m tall.

Adelaide has often been described as “the City of Roses” as it features several significant rose gardens and many street plantings throughout the city. Thanks to a wonderful Mediterranean climate, Adelaide has many well-known rose gardens where it is estimated more than 2.5 million roses are under cultivation across the city and regional areas. Across the Adelaide Parklands and throughout the city streets, approximately 25,000 rose bushes thrive. Many are displayed in beautifully maintained formal gardens that offer a sensory spectacle with every new flush, made possible by the year‑round commitment of the City of Adelaide’s dedicated horticulturalists.

VEALE GARDENS is located on South Terrace and well worth a visit. There are many pathways through the park around the beautiful rose gardens and water features. Established in 1963, Veale Gardens is named after William C. Veale, who was Adelaide’s Town Clerk from 1947 to 1965. In spring, the roses are magnificent and feature over 50 varieties. The City of Adelaide is very proud of this well-maintained classic garden which is in top condition after some recent replanting and refurbishment over the past few years to bring the garden back to the highest standard.

The RYMILL PARK ROSE GARDEN has been a feature of Adelaide’s East Parklands over many decades. The rose garden was first established by the City of Adelaide in cooperation with the Rose Society of SA and opened in 1961 and the Rose Society has been regularly involved in refurbishment programs. There is a lovely section adjacent to the Adelaide Bowling Club, along Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town, containing large beds of roses to beautify the parklands for all visitors to enjoy.

The ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL ROSE GARDEN is set on 1.5 hectares in the Adelaide Botanic Garden near the Hackney Road entrance. Over 2,700 rose plants represent 350 different varieties and roses trained on pillars and arches are a feature. Mass displays of roses have been exhibited in various locations through the Botanic Garden over its long history. This modern, landscaped garden was opened to the public in October 2000. It is free to enter and is supported and maintained by a wonderful group of volunteers.

URRBRAE HOUSE – Walter Young Avenue, Urrbrae. More than a century ago, pastoralist and businessman Peter Waite made a remarkable bequest to the University of Adelaide, gifting his mansion and 54 hectares of prime land. His instructions were clear: half was to be preserved as a public park, and the other half dedicated to the study of agriculture. From this vision grew the Waite Arboretum, established in 1928, and the Waite Institute, now internationally recognised for excellence in agricultural teaching and research. Peter Waite was truly a man of great vision.

In 1991, the centenary of Urrbrae House, an ambitious project commenced to redevelop the gardens.  The result was a blend of history, art and landscape design incorporating a Twentieth Century Rose Garden with over 200 varieties. Two roses survive from Peter Waite’s time, a Cecile Brunner hedge and Madame Alfred Carrière.

THE HERITAGE GARDEN, GILLENTOWN, CLARE VALLEY was established by the famous rosarian Walter Duncan OAM and his wife Kay Duncan in one of Australia’s oldest wine regions. Starting in 2002, Walter and Kay developed a beautiful garden on two acres, featuring over 2,000 roses and of particular significance 500 of them are heritage roses. Additional plants, such as delphiniums and foxgloves, create an overall scene of abundance and colour. This is one of South Australia’s best private rose gardens usually open in early November as a charity fundraiser. The Heritage Garden also offers B&B accommodation.

Auchendarroch House, one of South Australia’s most significant heritage properties was lovingly restored and is a delightful place to visit. Originally built as The Oakfield Hotel in 1860, it was transformed by Robert Barr Smith into a grand 30-room mansion for the family’s summer residence. He named the property ‘Auchendarroch’, meaning “holy place of the oaks”.

The house later became a convalescent home and, after decades of decline, fell into disrepair. Its revival began in 2000 when Bob Wallis and his daughter Michelle purchased the property and five acres of land. Inspired by its potential, they undertook a meticulous restoration, returning both the mansion and gardens to their former splendour. Roses link the gardens into a romantic unified design. The garden design today interprets the cultural and historical importance of the property where themed gardens have links with the past, reminiscent of the people who lived and worked there.

The mature trees are complemented by camellias, bulbs and herbs but it’s thecharm and fragrance of the numerous rose gardens which truly create a unique setting. Auchendarroch House is now an elegant reception venue set amongst the oaks.

Finally, there are many more notable rose gardens, both public and private, but space does not permit including more but contact your local Rose Society for advice.  We would love you to visit our beautiful South Australian rose gardens in the springtime when the roses are at their best.

The frequent balmy days, particularly later in autumn, are ideal for producing a magnificent autumn flush of high quality, colourful flowers. Here are a few tips to care for your roses and think about the coming months.

Flowering  – Autumn is an excellent flowering period for roses. A light, late summer or early autumn trim will ensure a great flush of flowers around 55 days later. This trim is simply removing the spent summer blooms and a portion of the stem down to a healthy pin-head sized bud nestled between the leaf and stem. Stem removed is generally around 15 – 30cm. Importantly, this is a trim and not a prune and sufficient foliage must remain to avoid exposing the stems to sunburn.

The summer – autumn trim is far more effective if it is completed two or three weeks after an application of Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses. Don’t be concerned if autumn colours are different to spring colours of the same variety. The onset of cooler nights and less sunlight through autumn often produces more intense colours in some varieties.

Fertilising –  An application of  Neutrog ‘Sudden Impact for Roses’ fertiliser can be put on in February or March. Once applied, it should be “watered in”. If possible, and given favourable weather, apply just before forecast rain, which will assist in ensuring the fertiliser is taken to the root zone. If you can’t rely on rain or a sprinkler system, use Sudden Impact for Roses Liquid Fertiliser applied in fortnightly applications until the end of March. Neutrog Go-Go Juice will certainly provide an additional boost to plants after enduring a long dry summer.

Pests and Diseases – As far as pests and fungal diseases are concerned, usually no preventative or curative remedies are required.  With the change in season to wetter weather, cooler nights and even heavy dews, in late April or early May, some fungal diseases may emerge.  You can choose to do nothing and tolerate some infected foliage or apply a preventative organic oil or fungicide spray mid to late April to ensure plants remain clean well into late autumn and early winter.

New Rose Plantings – Around Easter is the ideal time to commence soil preparation for new rose plants, including the removal of underperforming old plants. Where a rose plant is to be removed, commence the process in April or early May by removing the old plant. Endeavour to dig-up as many of the old rose roots as possible. If you can, take a half a barrow of old soil out and replace with soil from elsewhere in the garden which has not grown roses. Then apply an application of 10cm of Whoflungdung plus Neutrog Seamungus pellets and Go-Go Juice to the area to be planted with the new rose(s). This should be dug into the ground to at least the depth of the spade or even deeper if possible. If the soil is lumpy from a high clay content, an application of gypsum maybe required.

Repeat the application of Go-Go Juice every few weeks until the end of May. Keep on digging over the soil to reduce weed growth and to encourage the earth worms and beneficial microbes.

New rose beds or locations should be prepared in the same way, except the removal and replacement of soil is not required.  These should be in full sun and free of root competition from trees or shrubs. Preparation should commence on or before Easter. Autumn is a great time for roses and gardeners who provide the care necessary to maximise performance will be greatly rewarded.

Sunday 26th & Monday 27th April – Free Entry

The Rose Society of South Australia’s annual Autumn Rose Show will take place at the Noel Lothian Hall, Adelaide Botanic Garden, (near Hackney Road entrance) on Sunday 26th April from 12 noon to 4.30pm and Monday, 27th April 10am to 4pm when Adelaide’s best roses will be on display. The show also includes a Rose Perfume Competition, running across both days.

This much-loved show celebrates roses, creativity and sharing garden knowledge. Whether you’re planning a new garden, adding to your collection or simply seeking inspiration, this is the perfect time to start thinking about winter planting. Rose Society members will be on hand throughout the event to offer friendly, expert advice. More information on events and rose growing is available at:  http://sarose.org.au

While visiting the Botanic Garden, don’t miss the opportunity to take part in the People’s Choice Award at the National Rose Trial Garden of Australia. The public is invited to participate in the People’s Choice rose judging on Saturday, 25th from 12noon to 4pm and on Sunday, 26th from 10am to 4pm. Simply choose your favourite five roses in the trial. The Trial features roses submitted by Australian and overseas rose breeders, grown and assessed over two years. It is located within the International Rose Garden in the north-eastern corner of the Adelaide Botanic Garden.

Make a day of it. Come along and enjoy the autumn roses. Stop for lunch, coffee or afternoon tea at Botanic Lodge Café or nearby kiosk. Take your time, wander the gardens and savour the lovely autumn weather. A must visit if you enjoy roses. Don’t forget your hat.

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