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.

For more rose growing inspiration, care tips, and behind the scenes moments from the nursery, follow us on:

 Facebook
Instagram
TikTok

We share everything from pruning how-tos and seasonal rose advice to sneak peaks at whats blooming around the nursery.

Tag us @knightsroses – we love seeing your gardens!

As another year draws to a close and the festive season approaches, I want to thank you sincerely for your support during the year. It has been a pleasure looking after our customers, and Knight’s Roses look forward to helping you in 2026.

Wishing you and your loved ones peace, joy and happiness this Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

With best regards,

Daniel Knight and all the team at Knight’s Roses

Whether you are starting a new rose garden or continuing your love affair with roses, now is the time to plan your rose order ready for the winter season. With colours more diverse than ever and greater disease resistance, rose growing has never been easier or more enjoyable. Shop online and pre-order your new releases and favourite roses to avoid disappointment. Don’t forget roses also make wonderful gifts! Visit our website or phone us on (08) 8523 1311.

We’re excited to offer three brand-new roses from the world-famous Rosen Tantau, available to order now for 2026.

Country Girl is a wholesome kaleidoscope of colours from small raspberry red buds that open to delightful pink flowers, then with age they start to reveal their complex but beautiful colouring; dark pink through to apricot. When fully in bloom they transform into buff and cream colours with slight hints of pink edging and a yellow centre.
Country Girl has a long and continuous flowering period and has excellent disease resistance to black spot, mildew and rust under normal growing conditions. Leaves are very healthy, medium green, glossy and resistant to unfavourable weather conditions.
The plants have a compact, bushy, slightly arching growth habit, reaching approximately 130cm in height and 100cm in width. The stems are quite weaponized with dense thorns.
Voted ‘The Favourite’ rose for 2026 by the Knight’s Roses Critiquing Team.

The tall, fragrant shrub rose ‘Lancelot’ is a distinguished sport of the multi-award winning Climber ‘Camelot’.

Carrying the qualities of its parent, Lancelot features open double blooms in a cupped shape, 6-8cm in diameter, with dark pink flecks or veining on a soft pink background enhanced by an attractive fragrance. The bush has excellent disease resistance and healthy dark green foliage, reliable repeat flowering and reaches a height up to 1.5m. Awarded Best Shrub Rose at the Saverne Rose Trial in France in 2020.

The Theodor Fontane Rose is a captivating addition to any garden, celebrated for its vibrant orange blooms and historical significance. Named in honour of the renowned German writer and poet Theodor Fontane (born 1819), this rose embodies the beauty and resilience of classic floribundas.
With bursting orange blooms that age gracefully into a soft pink, each flower is a medium-sized, double-bloom form with 17-25 petals, revealing golden stamens at full bloom. The flowers are arranged in small clusters, creating a stunning display throughout the blooming season, filling the glossy green foliaged bush in striking colour. The petals are exceptionally dense, making the flowers resistant to rain and ensuring they remain beautiful in all weather conditions.

Fragrance is one of the most important qualities rose lovers look for in a rose. To some, a rose without scent does not deserve to be in the garden. However, scent is a highly subjective thing, a bloom that is delightfully fragrant to one person can go overlooked by others.

The scent in rose petals comes from a complex blend of organic compounds. It’s a very intricate combination – rose scent is made up of more than 400 different chemicals and pheromones within the rose. The most fragrant roses release their scent from tiny glands in the petals. The perfume wafting from roses invites insects, such as bees and butterflies to visit, boosting cross-pollination. To make the story even more interesting – no two perfumes are alike.

Fortunately for us, rose breeders have acknowledged the importance of fragrance in creating new roses and as a result there are plenty of fragrant roses to look forward to in the future.

Here are a few classic roses worthy of note where the fragrance is strong and delicious:

Amazing Mum,  Angel Face

Best Friend, Black Caviar

Double Delight, The Sacrament Rose

Golden Celebration

Mister Lincoln,  Sonia Rykiel

Per-Fyoom Perfume, Fragrant Cloud

Roses will thrive in our hot dry summers providing we follow a few basic guidelines.

Summer in South Australia is generally hot, dry and sunny with very low humidity.  The average daily temperatures in Adelaide in December are 26°C, in January 29°C and February 29°C. These averages are lower in the Adelaide Hills, Lower South East, Lower Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas and Kangaroo Island and similar or higher elsewhere in the State. What these averages don’t show are the very hot days and heatwaves we have which can be very severe on garden plants.

Rainfall, on average is also generally low in these months. The amount of sunshine is very high, averaging around 300 hours per month.  The UV readings are often high to extreme and evaporation rates, due to heat and low humidity, are very high.

So, what does this mean for our roses and how can we care for them during summer?

1.           Watering

Beat the heat. The most important ingredient for roses in summer is water. Generally, established roses need an average of 20 to 30 litres of water for each rose per week.  It is essential that a rose is well hydrated prior to expected heatwaves, where the temperature is above 35°C on average. If severe heat is forecasted in the week ahead, you should increase the rate of watering to 30 to 40 litres per plant. If a rose dries out, it is difficult to get it to recover quickly.

For healthy, thriving roses, aim for a deep watering once or twice a week, preferably in the early morning. During periods of extreme heat, increase this to three or four times a week. Deep watering is far more effective than light, daily sprinklings. And for scorching days, protect your potted roses by moving them into the shade.

These watering recommendations assume you have a substantial covering of mulch. Without mulch, you will need twice the volume of water per plant.

Finally, for those with roses in pots, a good watering (until it flows from the bottom of the container) will be required every two days. Try and shift or place your pots under partial shade during heatwaves.

2.           Mulch – but which one?

Mulch is the gardener’s “best friend” in the summer months. A good layer of mulch performs three key tasks:

• Significantly reduces evaporation from the soil, saving up to 40% or more of the irrigation otherwise required.
• Cooling and maintaining moisture levels around surface roots (those in the top 10cm of the soil) and helps to control weeds.
• As the mulch breaks down it feeds the plant and enriches the good microbial activity in the soil, working as a soil improver.

First make sure the soil is well watered before you start to mulch. Keep at least 10cm radius from the base of the rose to avoid damage.

Local product Neutrog’s ‘Whoflungdung’ is a certified organic mulch which has revolutionised mulch and its application throughout Australia. This mulch is biologically activated, nutrient rich and weed free. It comes in convenient 20kg compressed bales and can be taken to and easily spread where it’s needed.

On rose garden beds ‘Whoflungdung’ should be applied between 5cm (if topping up areas already mulched) to 10cm thick (if applying for the first time). It should be applied by early summer. Apply water after application to settle the mulch in and reduce the initial odour which only lasts a couple of days.

3.           Flowering

Providing the spent blooms were removed following the first flush in spring, another bountiful blooming period will coincide with the Christmas/New Year period.  Once this is over, you have two options. The first is to leave the spent blooms on the bush and reduce the watering a little, providing just enough to keep the plants alive, but not thriving – effectively placing them into a summer hibernation.  They can then be stirred back into strong growth with an application of Neutrog ‘Sudden Impact for Roses’ and a summer trim in late February or early March to produce a good flush of blooms in autumn.

‘Sudden Impact for Roses’ is an organic based fertiliser recommended by the Rose Society of S.A.  It provides a full range of plant nutrients in a slow release form together with water-soluble nutrients to maximise performance.

The second option is to keep the rose flowering with continuous removal of spent blooms, with plenty of water and applications of liquid ‘Sudden Impact for Roses’ every two weeks in January.

It is to be expected that the flowers in January, February and early March will generally be smaller with less petals than in the spring and late autumn flushes. This is heat related. In addition, due to high UV readings, dark coloured roses, such as red roses, can show scorched petals after very hot, sunny days. Like us, some roses can burn under these conditions. Temporary shade can prevent this occurring if desired.

4.           Fertilising

If you want your roses to thrive during summer, an application of ‘Sudden Impact for Roses’ soon after Christmas is recommended. This can be applied as pellets if you have a sprinkling system or as a liquid if you have drippers.

Any underperforming roses can be given an application of Neutrog’s ‘GOGO Juice’ every fortnight. This is essentially a pro-biotic for your soil and plants which is rich in beneficial bacteria and other microbes to assist in encouraging the plant to recover.  If it does not recover, it may be near the end of its natural life and could be dug out in autumn to enable a new rose to be planted.

If you have put your roses into summer hibernation, start applications of heavy watering early in February and then fertilise with ‘Sudden Impact for Roses’ in mid to late February. A summer trim should follow two weeks later to ensure the rose is set up for an abundant autumn flush in around 55 days after the trim.

A word of warning here because the operative procedure is summer trimming.  It is sometimes wrongly referred to as summer pruning and the inexperienced grower must resist the temptation to cut too heavily.

The weeds are relentless, especially after soaking rainfall in winter and spring. The only answer is to “keep at it”.

5.           Pests and Diseases

Given our hot, dry, low-humidity summers, most fungal issues disappear and pests such as Aphis and grubs also “back off”.

Spider Mite may be an issue and when present, lower leaves close to the ground may pale in colour. Remove a leaf, turn it over and watch carefully (a magnifying glass may help). If insects, the size of pepper start moving around and/or a fine web is evident, Spider Mite are present. Organic oils (such as Eco-Oil or Eco-Neem) or one of the natural sprays (such as Natrasoap) can be used to control bad infestations – don’t use strong, toxic insecticides.

Water sprayed upward from under the leaves can also assist with the removal of early infections.  Spider Mite live under leaves and don’t like to be wet.

Summer is all about the weather. Plan ahead based on the weather forecast for the next 7 days in relation to watering and possibly using shade protection.

If you follow these guidelines you will continue to get the best from your roses.

For more rose growing inspiration, care tips, and behind the scenes moments from the nursery, follow us on:

 Facebook
Instagram
TikTok

We share everything from pruning how-tos and seasonal rose advice to sneak peaks at whats blooming around the nursery.

Tag us @knightsroses – we love seeing your gardens!

As spring arrives, gardens awaken, the sun warms our soils, and it’s time to give some attention to our gardens. Your top priorities for spring are outlined in our rose growing notes. Also consider rejuvenating your garden with some great roses from our list of “Best Sellers”. We also have a detailed guide on preparing new garden beds.

This wonderful collection of roses includes some of the greatest roses of all time together with recent introductions, making our top selling roses list for the 2025 season a helpful guide, especially for rose-lovers who are new rose enthusiasts. You won’t be disappointed.

1. Amazing Mum
2. Double Delight
3. We Will Remember Them
4. Pierre de Ronsard
5. Daniel Morcombe
6. Bonica
7. Ebb Tide
8. Mister Lincoln
9. Mother’s Love
10. Black Caviar

Choose a sunny location with at least six hours of sunlight per day and free of root competition from trees or shrubs. Roses like a well-drained soil, rich in organic matter. Avoid planting in old rose beds unless new soil has been added.

Around Easter is the best time to commence soil preperation for new rose plants, including the removal or underperforming old plants. We think every rose in your garden should earn its place – remove weak lackluster performers to make room for new rose varieties.

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 depleted soil out and replace with soil from elsewhere in the garden which has not grown roses and also add compost.

Neutrog’s newest product, is a super compost named CHOCKABLOK, made from high quality, composted raw materials and ideal for this job. Importantly, it contains no green waste or seeds, ensuring a consistent premium quality compost which will improve soil structure, and boost nutrients and microbial activity.

Then apply an application of 10cm of Whoflungdung plus Neutrog Seamungus and Neutrog GoGo Juice (a soil probiotic) to the area to be planted with the new roses or try their more intensive biological soil conditioner ‘Popul8’.

This mixture should be dug over into the ground to at least the depth of the spade or even deeper if possible. If the ground is heavy with a high clay content, an application of gypsum may be required.

Repeat the application of GoGo 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 to remain very active.

New rose beds or locations should be prepared in the same way, except the removal and replacement of soil is not required.

In recent years, the Rose Society of South Australia has continued its idea of “taking roses to the people”. This year, the Rose Society’s popular Spring Rose Show will be held at South Australia’s largest regional shopping mall – Barossa Central, 1 Murray Street Nuriootpa on Saturday 18th of October (12 noon to 5pm) and Sunday 19th of October (9am to 4pm).

The Barossa Central Mall will be filled with competition enteries and creative floral arrangements. Visitors can get advice from the experts, learn more about rose growing, have a rose identified or become a Rose Society member.

Home gardeners are encouraged to attend on Sunday 19th of October between 10am – 12 noon with their home-grown entries for the Community Class competition* (bring roses with a stem and foliage in water). We are hoping to see lots of entries on the bench and of course there are prizes for the winners.

The Rose Show is generously supported by Barossa Central. Come and smell the roses and stay for morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea. Free admission.

* For more information and show details: Rose Society of South Australia

Fertilising Your Roses in Early Spring

By now, you should have finished pruning and new shoots will be appearing on your rose plants with the warm weather starting.

Give the roots “a boost” by applying a soil tonic or root stimulant, such as Neutrog Seamungus. This seaweed-based soil and plant conditioner, recommended by Rose Societies around Australia, stimulates and supports root growth and development. It is also ideal for establishing new plants, particularly bare-rooted roses.

We recommend fertilising roses with Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses when the new rose shoots are 2cms long. Water the fertiliser in after application or, better still, apply prior to forcast rain. This fertiliser is specifically tailor made for roses and has a hig potash content to assist in boosting flowering and offering improved disease tolerance.

Mulch you rose garden

The benefits of applying mulch include:

• Weed suppersion
• Reducing the amount of evaporation and watering needed
• The mulch breaks down and adds organinc material into the soil
• The introduction of beneficial bacteria
• Encouraging earthworms that aerate the soil
• Regulates soil temperature
• Helps to prevent erosion from heavy rain

Knight’s Roses and the Rose Society recommend Neutrog’s organic mulch ‘Whoflungdung’. It’s a biologically activated, nutrient rich, weed free, absorbant super mulch. Apply the muclh in early spring, according to the manufacturer’s directions. Remember to keep the mulch about 15cm away from the base of young roses in case it burns.

Watering is key to healthy plants

Roses in their first year require supplementary water as their roots are not fully established and the young plants can dry out more quickly than well-established plants.

Generally, we can experience some hot weather in spring and established roses need an average of 20 to 30 litres of water for each rose per week. It is essential that a rose is well hydrated prior to expected heatwaves, where temperature is above 35°C on average. If severe heat is forecasted in the week ahead, you should increase the rate of water to 30-40 litres per plant. If a rose dries out, it is difficult to get it to recover quickly. It is recommended to apply the water in one weekly application or, at most, twice per week preferably in the eaarly morning. Deep watering weekly is far better that small amount daily. These watering recommendations assume you have a substantial covering of mulch.

If you plants are healthy, you will see strong water-shoots emerging from the base of the plant. These are typically rapidly growing and soft. They may need staking to prevent them from snapping off in strong winds. Also, standard roses and climbers should be securely tied to their supports.

As shoots reach 15cm in length, apply preventative fungicides to avoid bad infestations of black spot, rust and mildew. A preventative spraying regime will ensure healthy foliage into summer. A couple of sprays, a fortnight apart, mid to late September and early October may be required. Organic oils (such as Eco-Oil, Eco-Neem or pyrethroid are “gentle on the environment” preventative sprays) which can be used to control aphids and grubs but should only be used if these pest are present. Hoticultural oils should not be used when temperatures are above 32°C.

For more rose growing inspiration, care tips, and behind the scenes moments from the nursery, follow us on:

 Facebook
Instagram
TikTok

We share everything from pruning how-tos and seasonal rose advice to sneak peaks at whats blooming around the nursery.

Tag us @knightsroses – we love seeing your gardens!

Knight’s Roses, 44 Jack Cooper Drive, Gawler

Saturday, 14th June, 2025 from 10am-2pm

You are invited to our Winter Open Day on 14^th June and this year we have added two free rose pruning demonstrations held in conjunction with the Rose Society of SA.

This is a well-timed opportunity for you to brush up on your rose pruning skills and learn from the experts who will be running demonstrations at 11.00am and 12.30pm. Rose pruning rejuvenates your rose plants, shapes the bush and increases flowering. Of course, our Open Day will provide the ideal opportunity to purchase bagged and potted roses and meet members from the Rose Society who will be in attendance to provide helpful rose growing advice. We hope to see you there!

The Knight’s Roses Team

View our extensive catalogue which includes many favourites and hundreds of varieties and order online or phone (08) 8523 1311.  We are proud to present our new release roses for 2025 and our wonderful special cause roses which provide fundraising for well-known and worthy charities. This year we are celebrating 15 years since our Special Cause Roses were first introduced. Speaking of “special roses” read on to discover the special roses in Daniel Knight’s life.

We often associate the winter months with cold, wet conditions and a time when we can ignore the garden assuming “nothing much is happening”.  However, for rose enthusiasts, this period can be busy with planting new roses, pruning existing roses and the removal of old foliage and generally cleaning up.

The average daily temperature in Adelaide in June is 16.1°C, in July 15.4°C and in August 16.6°C. These months are usually wet with an average rainfall of about 78mm in June, 75mm in July and 68mm in August.

Temperatures and rainfall vary significantly over the State during this period with it being colder and wetter in the Adelaide Hills, the South-East and Southern Yorke Peninsula and Eyre Peninsula. Frosts are also common in regional areas. Evaporation rates are very low and sunshine hours decrease.

So, what does this mean for our roses and how can we care for them during winter?

Watering

This is the only period in the year when rainfall usually exceeds evaporation. Therefore, there is no need to water our roses. The two exceptions which will require water are roses in pots and when planting bare-root roses.

Potted roses, particularly those undercover, need to be continually monitored and watered when they become dry. We suggest that you check them weekly.

Bare-root roses should be given at least a full bucket of water with Neutrog Liquid Seamungus added at planting time, this ensures new roots are damp and also removes air pockets in the hole.

Mulch

The easiest time to apply mulch is immediately after pruning when rose stems are bare and after the old fallen leaves and cuttings have been removed.

Generally, this will be late winter and before the roses begin to produce shoots. New shoots are very fragile and canbe accidently broken off.

Neutrog’s ‘Whoflungdung’ has emerged as the “Mulch of Choice” for rose growers. An annual application of 5cm of mulch is recommended. While it can be applied immediately around the base of well-established roses (3 years and older) it is advised not to apply mulch closer than 15cms to new, one or two-year-old plants as occasional damage can occur to young basal shoots.

‘Whoflungdung’ comes in 20kg compressed bales. Apply water after application to settle the mulch in and reduce the initial odour which lasts a few days.

Mulch significantly reduces evaporation from the soil surface in spring, summer and autumn, saving up to 40% – 50% of the irrigation otherwise required; it cools the root zone and introduces beneficial bacteria and good microbial activity in the soil.

Fertilising

As roses are not actively growing in winter, they do not require feeding. However, immediately after pruning is completed and the ground has been cleaned up, roses benefit from an application of Neutrog ‘Seamungus’. This is a soil and plant conditioner, manufactured from seaweed, fish, humid acid and manure. It stimulates the roots into strong healthy growth in late winter and early spring. This assists the rose’s growth and ensures emergence from its winter dormancy is sustained by its root mass.

We recommend the use of pelletised Seamungus, as these pellets will breakdown with winter and spring rains over the next few months, enhancing root growth. It is also recommended that Seamungus is applied prior to mulching.

Pests and Diseases

As roses lose their leaves in winter, it is logical to assume that there is no need to control pests and diseases. In fact, the opposite is true. Once roses lose their leaves and assuming most of the fallen leaves are gathered up and disposed of together with any discarded rose prunings, winter is a great time for pest and disease control.

Fungal spores and pest eggs will be present on the bare rose stems, especially in cracks and crevasses. These will also be left on the ground under the plants. As such, they can readily be treated with winter dormancy sprays, for example oil sprays or Lime Sulphur. Copper Oxy Chloride sprays can also be used; however, these can be detrimental to earth worms.

Winter spray regime is the most important pest and disease control and will ensure significantly reduced problems in spring.

Planting New Roses or Transplanting a Rose

Planting is best done in June, July or early August. Allow ample space around each rose. Labels indicate indicative rose size. Choose an area which receives at least 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day and is free of tree and shrub root competition. Full sun is recommended.

If it is a bare-root rose, remove the plant from its bag, shake off any sawdust and soak it in a full bucket of water for at least 6 hours or overnight. You can add either 20mls of Neutrog Liquid Seamungus or Neutrog GoGo Juice to the water, while the rose is soaking. If the new rose has been established in a pot, there is no need to shake the soil off prior to planting.

Dig a square hole at least 30cm square and deep. Place a small handful of Neutrog Seamungus pellets in the hole and cover with 2cm of soil. Trim or remove any broken or damaged roots with sharp secateurs. Broken roots can result in suckers (root stock) which can rapidly dominate. Position your rose in the hole so that the bud union (woody knob in stem where the branches emerge) is approximately 1 to 2 cm above the natural soil level. Observe where the roots fan out from the base of the plant. Remove the plant label from the plant as the label’s tie can quickly “strangle” a plant as it grows.

Remove the plant and create a mound (inverted cone of soil) in the hole such that when you place the rose back into the hole (at the correct depth) the base of the rose stem rests on top of the mound and its roots can be “fanned out” evenly from the shank of the plant. Back fill hole to approx. half full and fill the hole with a bucket of water. You can gently wriggle the rose to remove air pockets. Wait until the water drains away, backfill the hole to the natural soil level. The height at which the rose is planted is important. The bud union should be 1 to 2cm above ground level.

Winter rains should be sufficient to keep the plant damp until spring when supplementary watering may be required. It takes about 6 – 8 weeks for new roses to become established, therefore do not let the soil dry out completely.

Winter is the best time to transplant existing roses. This can be easily done until the rose is about 10 years old. To transplant a rose, use a sharp shovel or spade and dig all around the rose approx. 30cm out from the base to at least a spade’s depth (approx. 30cm).Remove rose and shake off all the soil. Reduce the top of the plant by at least 75%, leaving 3 or 4 canes about 60cm long. Remove any broken or damaged roots. Soak in a tub with Liquid Seamungus for at least 12 hours. Replant as per instructions above.

When planting a “standard”, “stem rose” or “weeping rose”, ensure the support (stake or hoop) is placed in the ground prior to planting. Locate the rose on the south-east side of the support which will provide shading to the stem from the hot sun. The rose should be tied to the support with recycled stocking or cloth ties. Do not use wire or non-flexible ties as these can choke the stem.

Rose Pruning

Start with climbing roses, followed by bush roses. Pruning is not a difficult task if you use the right equipment and follow a few simple rules. Pruning in July is recommended and avoid the temptation to prune too early.

Wear old clothes and all leather gloves – preferably gauntlets. A high-quality pair of bi-pass secateurs, like Felco or Fiskars is essential. You will also need good loppers and a pruning saw. A pruning saw is ideal for cuts over 2 ½ cm and removing old canes. Make sure your tools are sharp.

For a bush rose, don’t bother looking at the top third to half – this will be removed. Focus on the bottom half of the plant. Ideally, you want to retain strong, healthy, young canes and remove all dead wood, twiggy growth and weak branches. If sufficient new canes have grown from the base (water shoots), then you can remove old canes from the base. Also remove canes crossing over into the centre of the plant. Ultimately, you want the rose bush to resemble a vase shape. The outer rim canes should be reduced to one-third to half of their original height and cut to 3mm above an outwardly facing bud (eye). Remove all leaves.

Climbing rose trained onto trellis

Guy Savoy – Climbing

For climbers, the plant almost “tells you what to do”. First, look at the base of the plant. If it has performed well in the growing season, there will be a number of new canes (these are still green with no side shoots) emanating from the base. These are called “water shoots” and will provide the best flowers in the spring. Therefore, do not remove these.

Secondly, move up from the base of the plant, following older canes (those which were left following the previous years’ pruning). Some of these will have strong new canes emerging partially along the old stem. Others will only have short stems all along the cane. These would have produced the flowers during the previous year.

Determine how many stems you require. As a guide most climbers need at least 12 canes in order to wrap 6 canes onto a trellis on each side of the plant.

Pruning and training Pillar Roses is easy. Ideally you need approximately 6 to 8 canes growing from the base to train them up. Every winter at pruning time remove as many older canes as possible and retain all the young, one year old canes (last season’s new growth). If you need to retain some older canes, spur prune the side shoots, like you would with a climbing rose. Ensure you have 2 to 4 canes to reach the top of the pole, the next 2 to 4 canes should be reduced to reach two-thirds up the pole and the last 2 to 4 canes to reach one third up the pole. This will ensure vertical colour the full length of the pole when therose comes into bloom.

Then simply wrap the canes around the pole, one at a time, half in a clockwise direction and the other half in an anticlockwise direction and then tie them securely at the top. A fine nylon rope which will not rot works best.  The remaining canes can be wrapped around the pole and the ends fed under the already tied canes. This will hold them in place. Old foliage should be removed and fallen leaves and pruning remnants placed into green waste.

For beginners, contact the Rose Society and attend local Rose Pruning Demonstrations and see experts at work.

Other Winter Tips

Check your plant labels are still legible and in place. It is recommended that all roses be labelled and a map is kept showing where roses are planted.

Paprika

This rose produces clusters of blooms in vibrant brick red, creating an eye-catching display. It produces long-lasting, bright red, cupped-shaped flowers with a slight fragrance. A dense, bushy shrub rose, up to 1.3m tall, with repeat flowering over the entire season. Extremely resistant to fungal rose diseases.

Silver Flash

A beautiful top performing rose with great disease resistance. Luminous red blooms have amazing flashes of white on the petals. A bushy, well-shaped hybrid tea featuring fully double flowers enhanced by an intense fruity fragrance. It  flowers all through the season and grows 1m tall.

The Sacrament Rose

Fragrant and beautiful, this Hybrid Tea rose is a tribute to the Sacraments of the Holy Church. It has large blooms of pure white with a creamy yellow centre. The classic flowers have a mass of petals per bloom enhanced by a strong citrus, peach and myrrh fragrance. Upright bush with good disease tolerance, growing  to 1.2m.

Pink Moon

‘Pink Moon’ was discovered at Knight’s Roses and surprisingly we have had quite a few different Hybrid Teas where mutations (sports) have arisen. As the name suggests, this rose is a pure pink  ‘sport’ of ‘Blue Moon’, a famous Hybrid Tea introduced in 1965, bred by Tantau and known for its intensely fragrant lilac blooms and vigorous growth. I must add, ‘Blue Moon’ is still a very popular rose today.

‘Pink Moon’ was released in 2016. It has large, very fragrant, beautiful blooms on a vigorous, free flowering, healthy bush reaching approx. 1.2m.  When I’m out in the rose fields and look down the rows, I can easily spot Pink Moon as it never fails to catch my attention and impress me with its bright colour and bountiful blooms. It’s always a “standout” from all the other roses surrounding it.

Amazing Mum

‘Amazing Mum’ was another fortunate “find” on our property. This Hybrid Tea rose is a sport of ‘Perfume Delight’ which came from the United States and introduced in Australia in 1977.

We have been growing it since it was released.

‘Amazing Mum’ has large, classic shaped, hot pink blooms with a strong damask rose fragrance on a vigorous upright bush. It was such a beautiful rose, I knew it had to be released with a very special name. The reaction from our customers has been fantastic.

Per-Fyoom Perfume

This is one of my personal favourites. Years ago, there was a time when many of the newly released roses lacked perfume, often a trade-off when breeders were concentrating on a longer vase life and other characteristics. I’m pleased to say that while many roses have fragrance to some degree, some rose breeders such as Rosen Tantau are striving to produce varieties that are highly fragrant. Interestingly, roses are scented to attract bee pollinators.

Introduced in 2016, ‘Per-Fyoom Perfume’ is one of the most fragrant roses in our collection. This multi award winning rose produces clusters of cupped shaped blooms with a glorious Old World rose, myrrh and apple blossom scent. The bush is dense and bushy, growing 1.4m tall, with good resistance to disease. If you are looking for fragrance, I highly recommend this wonderful rose.

Membership of the Rose Society of South Australia Inc. entitles you to:

• Four Bulletin magazines issued each year.
• The Australian Rose Annual – Produced by the National Rose Society approx. 160 pages of articles and rose information.
• Neutrog ‘Sudden Impact for Roses’ and other approved products may be purchased quarterly through the Neutrog on-line store at the Rose Society’s ‘members only’ special price.
• Participation in our Rose Shows

Regular meetings are held throughout the year and include where possible guest speakers, cultural Q&A and light refreshments. On occasions these meetings may take place in conjunction with a visit to a public or private garden and Rose Shows are held in April and October each year with a final Christmas luncheon in December. Information regarding meetings is published in the Bulletin and in the ‘meetings’ section of its website. If you have a rose you wish to be identified please bring it along, preferably with some foliage, to a meeting or rose show and our knowledgeable experts will make every effort to identify it for you.

Members and the General Public are most welcome to attend our Branch activities and meetings.  Contact the Rose Society’s Branches in regional areas directly for information about their activities. Chaffey Rose Club is in the Riverland; the South-East Branch covers Naracoorte Penola and Mt. Gambier and Roses on Eyre is located on Eyre Peninsula.

Annual Rose Pruning Demonstrations are held in June and July and everybody is welcome to attend and learn from the experts.

For more information visit the Rose Society of SA website http://sarose.org.au

To contact Knight’s Roses  – phone 08 85231311 or email retailsales@knightsroses.com.au or visit our website www.knightsroses.com.au

Autumn is the ideal time to take a good look at your rose garden and think about pre-ordering your Bare Root Roses for winter. It’s also time to remove any weak plants and prepare your garden beds!

Knight’s Roses are the Australian Agent for some of the world’s most renowned Rose Breeders – Rosen Tantau in Germany, Guillot in France, Harkness in England and James Cocker & Sons in Scotland. We are very proud to introduce new top quality roses every year and are now taking Pre-orders, so jump online and order now to avoid disappointment.

View our extensive catalogue online, listing many favourites and describing the varieties available or phone 1300 1ROSES or (08) 8523 1311.

Saturday, 3rd May, 2025 from 10am-2pm

All are welcome to join our Autumn Open Day to see beautiful roses, get inspired and have some fun.  Hosted by Proprietor, Daniel Knight, this is a chance to explore our large display rose garden which features the best rose varieties, both old and new, showing off their peak autumn blooms. Enjoy coffee or tea, sample delicious food and speak with some of our experienced team and Rose Society members.  We can’t wait to see you there!

Saturday, 14th June, 2025 from 10am-2pm

You are invited to our Winter Open Day which promises to be a hive of activity on 14^th June from 10am to 2pm. This year we have added two free rose pruning demonstrations, run in conjunction with the Rose Society of SA. This is a great opportunity to brush up on your rose pruning skills and learn from the experts. Rose pruning is an essential part of rose maintenance and will rejuvenate your plants for the next 12 months. The Open Day will provide an opportunity to purchase bagged and potted roses and meet members from the Rose Society who will be in attendance to provide rose growing advice.

Eisvogel

Just like the dazzling kingfisher bird, which is its namesake in German, this highly fragrant Nostalgic® hybrid tea rose is unique and enchanting.  The fully-double, rosette-shaped blooms open in a cool violet with a warm copper-orange coloured centre, then blending to pink. The exotic fragrance of the flower is equally stunning as its contrasting colours, showing notes of rose and lily with a base of sandalwood and musk. Ideal as a cut flower for arrangements, Eisvogel brings the charm of nostalgic roses and fragrance into your home. Growing up to 1.2min height, this new variety is easy to grow and has excellent disease resistance.

Paprika

This rose produces clusters of blooms in vibrant brick red, resembling paprika, creating an eye-catching display. Healthy, dark green foliage contrasts the bright red, cupped-shaped flowers. The large (6-8cm diameter) long-lasting blooms have a slight fragrance, a lovely velvety sheen and do not fade with age. This is a very floriferous, dense, bushy shrub rose, up to 1.3m tall, with a long flowering period over the entire season.

Ideal for mass planting, this rose is extremely resistant to common rose diseases, such as black spot and mildew. Its robust growth habit and attractive bright colour has made it very popular overseas. Awarded a Certificate of Merit at the National Rose Trial Garden of Australia in 2024.

Silver Flash

Such a striking rose deserves a spot in every garden. This new release is not only beautiful but a top performing rose with great disease resistance. These luminous red blooms have amazing flashes of white on the petals, making them a standout. Silver Flash is a bushy, well-shaped hybrid tea featuring fully double flowers enhanced by an intense fruity fragrance, growing 1m tall. Blooms are produced  singly and in small clusters all through the season. Awarded a Bronze Medal in the Adelaide Trial Garden in 2021.

The Sacrament Rose

Fragrant and beautiful, ‘The Sacrament Rose’ is a tribute to the Sacraments of the Holy Church. It has large blooms of pure white with a creamy yellow centre complemented by healthy, glossy foliage. The classic flowers have a mass of petals per bloom enhanced by strong citrus notes of lemon and peach with a heart of myrrh in its fragrance. It is an upright Hybrid Tea with good disease tolerance, growing  to 1.2m in height, producing both single flowers on a stem and lovely attractive clusters.

David Austin Roses are loved and admired around the world. David C.H. Austin OBE (1926-2018) began breeding roses as a hobby, on the family farm, in Shropshire England in the1940s. He decided his calling was rose breeding and not sheep!  David wanted to create an entirely new kind of rose with the look, fragrance and beauty of old world roses combined with the desirable qualities of modern roses, with their repeat flowering, wide colour range and improved disease resistance. It took many years but eventually he achieved his goal and he called them English Shrub Roses. He produced over 230 varieties and made a real impact in the world of roses. Here are six highly recommended cultivars to try in your garden.

Ambridge Rose – One of the best Austin performers with prolific repeat flowering.  It has medium-sized flowers in pure apricot with a lovely English rose myrrh scent. It has a neat bushy growth habit with attractive dark green foliage. Excellent cut flower. A tough, attractive rose  bush growing to 1m x 1m.

Sophy’s Rose –  This is a free flowering, strong and vigorous plant which excels in both hot and cold climates. It has large (12cm),rosette-shaped, rich cerise blooms with up to 80 petals complemented by a light tea rose fragrance and excellent repeat flowering ability.  It can be adapted to many garden uses, such as a mass planting, hedge or container. This rose grows to 1.5m tall x 1.2mwide with an upright and bushy growth habit.  Best Shrub Rose and Silver Medal in Adelaide Trial Garden.

Molineux   –  Healthy and easy to grow, Molineux has an even upright growth about 1m tall. It produces long lasting bright yellow blooms, with a musk and Tea Rose fragrance and flowers all the way to the end of June.  Named for David Austin’s local football club, ‘Molineux’ being the name of their Ground.

Troilus  – This rose has an unusual buff colour and is well suited to our climate. The large blooms are ideal to cut. Troilus has very attractive, large, globe-shaped blooms and a sweet fragrance. The top quality, honey-coloured blooms repeat well. The bush is well-shaped, up to 1.5m, with abundant dark green foliage. This rose is an excellent performer in our warm, dry climate.

Emanuel  – This Austin variety makes a colourful display, always blooming and it’s very easy to grow. It produces clusters of fragrant flowers on long stems for cut flowers, on a well branched bush.  The pale pink-apricot flowers fade to pale cream as they age.  Hardy, vigorous and moderately resistant to disease.

Eglantyne – Large, beautifully formed, saucer-shaped blooms with a strong sweet ‘Old Rose’ fragrance. The bush is upright and well-rounded and after deadheading can repeat flower throughout the season. Grows to 1.4m tall.

Fertilising

If an application of Sudden Impact for Roses pellets was not applied in February, ensure the rose plants receive it in 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 hot dry summer.

Pests and Diseases

Our autumn seasons are generally warm to hot and dry until the end of April and these are favourable conditions for rose growing. 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.

Planting New Roses

Autumn is the best period to commence soil preparation for new roses, 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 of10cm of Whoflungdung plus Neutrog Seamungus 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 to remain very active.

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.

Visit the Rose Show at the Adelaide Botanic Garden on

25^th & 26^thApril  – Free Entry!

Autumn is a great time for roses in South Australia. The Adelaide Botanic Garden will be buzzing with excitement as exhibitors stage their best roses.  The public always enjoy the charm and beauty of the roses on display and this year the community is invited to get involved.

The 2025 Autumn Rose Show will be held by the Rose Society of South Australia at the Noel Lothian Hall, Adelaide Botanic Garden, (near Hackney Road entrance) on Friday, 25 April from 12 noon to 4pm and Saturday, 26 April 10am to 4pm.

The public is invited to participate in the community class: “The Advertiser – Best Rose Competition” by staging their best rose blooms on Saturday 26^th between 10am – 11 am. Bring along your home-grown garden roses (in water) to enter your blooms with stem and foliage which will be placed in bottles ready for judging. The first prize will be $200 for the winner. For more information visit the Rose Society of SA website.

While at the Adelaide Botanic Garden, there is another competition (with prizes) being run by the National Rose Trial Garden of Australia, known as the People’s Choice Award. The public is invited to participate in the People’s Choice judging on Friday, April 25 from 12 noon to 4pm, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27,10am to 4pm. Simply choose your favourite five roses in the trial.  Roses are entered by local, interstate and overseas breeders and planted in the trial garden for two years where they are regularly assessed. The National Rose Trial Garden is located within the International Rose Garden in the north-eastern corner of the Adelaide Botanic Garden.

To contact Knight’s Roses  – phone +61 8 85231311 or email retailsales@knightsroses.com.au or visit our website www.knightsroses.com.au

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the whole team at Knight’s Roses. Thank you for your business – we can’t wait to serve you again next year.  Please do not hesitate to contact us with any enquiries.

Daniel Knight

We are busy planning our first “Autumn Rose Open Day” to be held on Saturday, 3rd May, 2025 from 10am for a 10:30am start.

The Rose Society of South Australia will also be onsite to discuss rose categories and types. Come and see our spectacular display of autumn roses at the entrance to our property at 44 Jack Cooper Drive, Evanston. More details to follow soon.

Dreaming of the perfect rose garden? Shop online at Knight’s Roses – we have many potted roses available for sale from our extensive collection with delivery Australia-wide. Pre-order your bagged roses ready for winter to avoid missing out.

Order roses by phone (08) 8523 1311,email retailsales@knightsroses.com.au or visit our website https://knightsroses.com.au

Considering there are thousands of rose varieties commercially available, it can be overwhelming to find the ideal varieties for your garden. Whether you are looking for distinct characteristics, beautiful colours or perfume, take a look at our top selling roses in 2024 for some inspiration:

1. Amazing Mum – has large fragrant bright pink blooms and repeat flowering.
2. Black Caviar – unusual deep red purple blooms with a old fashioned appearance and a superb fragrance, launched to support the National Jockeys Trust.
3. Mister Lincoln – an upright, tall bush producing long straight stems with classic large deep red velvety roses with a strong damask perfume.
4. Iceberg – a legendary rose and universal best-seller, well known for its hardiness, rapid repeat flowering all season long, healthy foliage and clusters of delicate white double blooms.
5. Firestar – clusters of fabulous bright orange blooms fading to raspberry, part proceeds support the CFS Foundation.
6. Mother’s Love – is named to remind us of the memories and love shared by all mothers. It has a vigorous bushy habit and is very hardy with large light pink flowers and a sweet rose fragrance.
7. Ebb Tide – compact bush with attractive, rosette style, dark mauve blooms and a delightful intense spicy clove fragrance.
8. Double Delight – a neat bush with flushes of bi-coloured red and white flowers famous for their lifted spicy scent.
9. Blue Moon – classic lavender blooms on long stems with a strong fragrance and still the most popular of all the ‘blue’ roses.
10. Winx – Easy to grow and very disease resistant with abundant lovely pure white blooms.

Landscape Roses were bred to be tough and hardy! One of the first was ‘La Sevillana’ in 1977. Since then, many landscape roses have been released and praised by professional landscapers, garden clubs and home gardeners alike. Adelaide has several locations featuring these roses.

Landscape and Groundcover Roses fit easily into any garden design, are low maintenance with continuous flowering and are gentler on the environment requiring little or no spraying.

Rose Breeders around the world focused on inventing new shrub and landscape roses which were capable of coping with hot, dry summers and harsh winters, provided a range of colours with strong repeat flowering all season long and, importantly, excellent disease tolerance. One genetic trade-off was generally little or no fragrance. They can be pruned mechanically if desired. The groundcover type “Landscape Roses” can grow more horizontally than vertically and look good when planted en-masse ingroups, borders or as a hedge.

La Sevillana  –   Orange-red clusters of non-fading semi-double flowers with petals dropping cleanly. The resilience, disease resistance and repeat flowering made this rose a worldwide hit. Grows 1.2m x 1.5m.

Bonica –  Clusters of pale pink blooms with very disease resistant foliage. A hardy and vigorous bush or standard rose. It sets hips in the autumn.

Hot Pink Bonica  – A vibrant pink sport of ‘Bonica’ with great repeat flowering, developing rosehips in the autumn. Can grow 1m tall.

Knock Out – Bred in the USA and introduced in 2000. Record-breaking sales have earned it the reputation as the world’s number one Rose Brand. Extremely hardy and drought tolerant with abundant and continuous flowering, producing cherry-red blooms and disease resistant foliage. It does not need deadheading like other roses do, petals drop cleanly. Height approx. 1m. There’s also a ‘Double Pink Knock Out’ on our list.

Flower Carpet – The first Flower Carpet® Rose was bred in 1988 and was one of the first to be marketed as a groundcover rose. ‘Flower Carpet Pink’ was introduced in Australia in 1991. It features small deep-pink double blooms produced in clusters throughout the season with arching, bushy and spreading growth (60cm tall and 1 to 2m wide) with glossy disease resistant foliage. In the past 30 years it has sold about 100 million plants worldwide.

Bees Paradise – A hardy and compact range of low growing shrub roses in Pink, Bi-colour, White and Red. These plants form a carpet of roses and are ideal for group planting, borders, rockeries and informal gardens. Deadheading is not essential.

Watering

Summer is all about the weather. Adelaide has experienced low rainfall for the past five months, almost 50% below average. Water your rose bushes deeply. In particular, pay attention to newly planted and potted roses which should not be allowed to “dry out”.  Young, newly planted roses will benefit from alternate, fortnightly applications of Neutrog’s Liquid Seamungus and GoGo Juice as part of their watering regime.

The amount of sunshine is very high, averaging around 300 hours per month. The UV readings are often high to extreme and evaporation rates, due to heat and low humidity, are very high. The most important ingredient for roses in summer is water. Generally, established roses need an average of 20 to 30 litres of water for each rose per week. It is essential that a rose is well hydrated prior to expected heatwaves above 35°C on average. If severe heat is forecasted in the week ahead, you should increase the rate of watering to 30 to 40 litres per plant. If a rose dries out, it is difficult to get it to recover quickly. Deep watering weekly is far better than small amounts daily. It is recommended to apply the water in one weekly application or, at most, twice per week preferably early in the morning. These watering recommendations assume you have a substantial covering of mulch. Without mulch, you will need twice the volume of water per plant.

Mulch is vital

It is recommended that you top up your mulch now. Currently most soils are still moist and mulching will keep that moisture in the soil. A generous layer of mulch will help conserve water and prevent the soil and plants drying out rapidly, it can cool the surface by 5-10°C,breaks down to feed the root zone, enables good microbial activity in the soil and also helps to smother weeds.

Neutrog’s ‘Whoflungdung’ is an excellent mulch recommended by the Rose Society. It’s a certified organic mulch which is biologically activated, nutrient rich and weed free. It comes in 20kg compressed bales. Make sure the ground is well watered before you mulch. Spread a layer about 5cm in depth and water in to reduce odour and settle it down.

Removing Spent Flowers

To encourage repeat flowering, remove dead blooms. Generally, remove the old bloom and a portion of stem down to the second five-leaflet leaf. Occasionally, some ‘blind’ shoots don’t produce flowers and these can be trimmed to encourage a new shoot. A non-performing rose bush is a sign that it is lacking fertiliser or may be diseased.

Fertilising Your Roses   

If old blooms were removed following the first spring flush, another flush will coincide with Christmas. Then there are two options. The first is to leave the spent blooms on the bush and reduce the watering a little, providing just enough to keep the plants alive, but not thriving – effectively placing them into a summer hibernation.  They can then be stirred back into strong growth with an application of Neutrog’s ‘Sudden Impact for Roses’ and a summer trim in late February or early March.

‘Sudden Impact for Roses’ is an organic based fertiliser recommended by the Rose Society of S.A.  It provides a full range of plant nutrients in a slow release pellet form together with water-soluble nutrients to maximise performance.

The second option is to keep the rose flowering with continuous removal of spent blooms, with plenty of water and applications of liquid ‘Sudden Impact for Roses’ every two weeks in January.

It is to be expected that the flowers in January, February and early March will generally be smaller with less petals compared to autumn flushes. This is heat related. In addition, due to high UV readings, dark coloured roses, such as red roses, can show scorched petals. Temporary shade can prevent this occurring if desired.

Pests and Diseases

Look out for Spider Mite which can appear when it is hot and dry. The lower leaves close to the ground may be pale in colour. Remove a leaf, turn it over and watch carefully (a magnifying glass may help). If insects, the size of pepper start moving around and/or a fine web is evident, Spider Mite are present. Organic oils (such as Eco-Oil or Eco-Neem)or one of the natural sprays (such as Natrasoap)can be used to control bad infestations – don’t use strong, toxic insecticides.

Water sprayed upward from under the leaves can also assist with the removal of early infections.  Spider Mite live under leaves and don’t like to be wet.

Shop online at Knight’s Roses – we still have many potted roses available for sale from our extensive collection with delivery Australia-wide.

To order roses either contact our office by phone (08) 8523 1311, email retailsales@knightsroses.com.au or visit our website https://knightsroses.com.au and place your order online.

With so many rose varieties, the world’s favourite flower can be confusing. There are 3 main categories of roses. There are species (wild) roses created by nature, Old Garden Roses and Modern Roses.

The rose has become the flower most hybridized and improved over time. One American database lists over 10,000 names. Wild roses are species found in the northern hemisphere. Old Garden Roses (both climbing and non-climbing) are those groups that were established prior to 1867, when ‘La France’ was seen to be the first of a group of Modern Roses. Well known Old Garden roses include Gallica, Damask, Centifolia, Moss, Alba, China, Tea, Portland, Bourbon and Hybrid Perpetual. Indeed, many rose groups, including Tea Roses and Hybrid Musks, performed better here than in their countries of origin as the hot, dry, low humidity environment ensured reduced fungal problems.

Modern Garden Roses are the predominant roses of today and new releases are launched each year around the world. The main groups are Hybrid Tea (also known as Large-flowered); Floribunda (also known as Cluster-flowered); Polyantha and Shrub roses which are described as David Austin English Shrub Roses; Hybrid Musk, Hybrid Rugosa and other shrub roses. Modern roses also include Ground Cover and landscape roses; Miniature roses and Climbing Roses. The Climbers can be Large-flowered, Cluster-flowered or Miniature.

Whatever garden design you are thinking of roses can deliver the range of colours, scent and disease tolerance required. Many varieties are exceptionally tough, suitable for our climate and are easy to grow. When you have them, they last for many years.

No other flower is loved as much as the rose. Roses can be placed in just about any landscaping situation and look great in formal, informal, cottage gardens and traditional gardens. What is succeeding for all of us is our ideal climatic conditions to grow roses.

Formal rose garden with English Box hedges

The formal garden is ideal for massed plantings. Orderly garden beds with border plants and shrubs. Roses usually have pride of place in formal gardens, sometimes in an oval or circular bed. For a really formal look, plant low borders such as English Box (Buxus), Dwarf Nandina or cottage perennials like Erigeron ‘Seaside Daisy’, Stachys ‘Lambs Ears’ or lovely white Alyssum Carpet. The right height for a border is all about the scale compared to the rest of the garden. Keep it simple. In garden design we really try to avoid straight lines.

Border with roses and perennials

Harmonise the colours. Pinks go very well with mauve and blue with a touch of white and can be complemented by grey and silver foliage plants. Shrubs and trees that have a neat, classic shape are best for a formal garden. Don’t fail to prune any of these if they start to dominate where they shouldn’t. Order, grace and proportion are the important elements.

For small areas such as patios, consider growing roses in pots – but remember they need regular watering and feeding. The containers can be highly decorative, glazed terracotta pots, wooden tubs or concrete urns. Choose two or three or more attractive pots and group them in one area where they look like a patio garden on their own. A sculpture should be in a position where it adds impact to the scene.

The charm of a rockery lies in the pleasing combination of different shaped rocks with an attractive blend of plants – this is where landscape and ground cover roses can look amazing. When building a rockery for plants, it needs to be well drained and filled with top quality, weed-free soil, then select ground cover roses to give colour for many months of the year, such as the well-known Flower Carpet collection.

Showing Cottage Garden elements

The next style is a Cottage Garden. More or less, they have always been in fashion, can look very beautiful and offer great scope to the enthusiastic gardener who can make a great cottage garden on a tiny plot or large space. Cottage gardens came from humble beginnings. In bygone years these plots had vegetables, fruit trees, herbs and plants grown from cuttings and seeds, often brightened by roses, lilies, hollyhocks, foxgloves, lavender and forget-me-nots providing beauty with usefulness, all grown together. The plants were trained to be eye-catching – roses were trained around verandahs and along fences to appreciate the scent in the air. The cottage garden is not rigid, it’s a manner of gardening flattering to a modern house as it is to an old one.

It is important to note that the higher Potassium and other trace elements in Sudden Impact for Roses is designed to increase resistance to fungal diseases and improve flowering.  If plants are not performing well, supplementary applications of Neutrog Seamungus and GoGo Juice should boost the plant back into strong growth or try the latest updated product ‘POPUL8’ containing a wide diversity of bacteria and fungi to enhance plant growth.

Watering

Water your rose bushes deeply.  Generally, watering will not be required until October. The exceptions are newly planted and potted roses which may require regular watering commencing September. These should not be allowed to “dryout”.

Irrigation systems should be checked in early September to ensure they are working effectively and fix any leaks or problems.

Young, newly planted roses will benefit from alternate, fortnightly applications of Liquid Seamungus and GoGo Juice as part of their watering regime.

Mulch is essential

It is recommended that you top up your mulch now, rather than wait for the hot weather. This needs to be completed in early spring to ensure new growth is not damaged. Currently most soils are still moist and mulching will keep that moisture in the soil.

A generous layer of mulch will help conserve water and prevent the soil and plants drying out rapidly, it cools the surface, breaks down to feed the root zone, enables good microbial activity in the soil and also helps to smother weeds.

Neutrog’s ‘Whoflungdung’ is an excellent mulch recommended by the Rose Society. It’s a certified organic mulch which is biologically activated, nutrient rich and weed free. It comes in 20kg compressed bales and can be easily spread. Spread a layer about 5cm in depth and water in to reduce odour and settle it down.

Removing Spent Flowers

To encourage repeat flowering, remove dead blooms. Generally, remove the old bloom and a portion of stem down to the second five-leaflet leaf. Occasionally, some ‘blind’ spring shoots stop growing and don’t produce flowers and these can be trimmed to encourage a new shoot.  A non-performing rose bush is a sign that it is lacking fertiliser or may be diseased.

Pests and Diseases

Unfortunately, pests and diseases can frustrate rose growers who want clean, healthy bushes. There are now many natural remedies for pests. These include the presence of predatory wasps to control aphids and bacterial laden sprays such as ‘Success’ or ‘Dipel’ to control both bad insects and grubs. Some initial outbreaks of aphids can be severe and these should be washed off or sprayed with a natural product, such as Yates ‘Nature’s Way Natrasoap Pest Spray’. Pest Oils can also be used to control insects and will also assist in fungal treatment.

Fungal issues, if left untreated, can severely impede the performance of rose plants. Prevention is better than acure and applications of preventative fungal sprays a fortnight apart in early spring will certainly stop major outbreaks of Mildew and Black Spot. Natural oil sprays, such as Eco Oil, and milk spray (1-part full cream milk to 10 parts water) are good “gentle on the environment”, preventative sprays. Mancozeb or Triforine sprays offer chemical treatments which have proven very effective. If a major outbreak occurs, regular fungal spray treatments will be necessary to get these diseases under control.

To contact Knight’s Roses  – phone +61 8 85231311 or visit our website www.knightsroses.com.au

Why were standard roses invented? This is a good question and there is a very interesting answer!

Standard roses were developed in the late 18th century in Europe, most likely in Germany. It is believed in the early 19th century standard roses were introduced to allow ladies wearing fashionable crinoline dresses to move more easily around a formal rose garden, as they are on a long rose cane a few feet off the ground with the variety of the rose growing on the top of the cane as below.

It is recorded that there were several nurseries in Germany that specialised in providing the root stock to propogate standard roses. Standard roses were extensively grown in France and England, popular in the Victorian era, where they were featured in the gardens of stately homes.

In the modern day era, standard roses are useful as architectural or structural plants. Patio (2ft or 60cm) and Standard (3ft or 90cm) roses are an ideal height for adding a focal point into your garden or verandah. Perfect for formal gardens, standard roses allow for smaller plants with light surface roots (such as annuals) to be grown underneath.

Standard and Patio roses are built to retain their distinctive ‘lollipop’ shape, however the shape can vary depending on the specific variety that is grafted onto the tall stem. Hybrid tea roses tend to grow in a ‘V’ shape, where as floribundas often maintain the round shape. A climbing or rambling rose when grafted onto a standard creates a cascading form known as a weeping standard – these are generally 5-6ft tall.

When planting standard roses into your garden, staking the stem is essential, as when a standard is in flower, it can be top heavy and can bend, break and fall over. If planting your standard in a row, we recomment planting approximately 1m to 1.2m apart

Email your roses questions to: retailsales@knightsroses.com.au

Contact Knight’s Roses for more information : 1300 1 ROSES or (08) 8523 1311

Order your bare root roses now while there’s plenty of stock. Visit our website https://knightsroses.com.au or phone 1300 1ROSES or (08) 8523 1311. We have a wonderful selection of both bagged and potted roses available. Retail Store operating at 44 Jack Cooper Drice, Gawler SA. Winter is the perfect rime to plant roses, fruit trees and ornamentals, such as Lavender, Lillies, Begonias, Geraniums and shade loving shrubs.

There’s an old saying, “It’s too soon to prune in June!” July is the month when most roses are pruned. Pruning too early risks damage from frosty nights. Some old-fashioned roses and some weeping standards are pruned after they flower in spring. However, these are a minority.  For all other roses, mid-winter is the best time to remove dead, old or diseased wood, shorten healthy canes to promote vigorous new growth and train your roses to a manageable shape and size to encourage flowering. In this process you are rejuvenating the plant to ensure it is productive year after year.

Consider the condition of your plants. Trying to resuscitate an older plant that has been performing poorly is a losing game– best to remove it and replace it. Pruning is not difficult with the right equipment. You need good bi-pass secateurs, good loppers and a pruning saw. Wear all leather gloves, preferably gauntlets. A pruning saw is ideal for cuts over 2.5cm and removing old canes. Make sure your tools are sharp.

When you prune a bush rose, focus on the bottom half of the plant. Ideally, you want to retain strong, healthy, young canes and remove all dead and damaged wood and twiggy growth. If sufficient new canes have grown from the base (water shoots), then you can remove old canes by sawing them off flush at the base. Look at the bottom of the plant and remove any ‘suckers’ those shoots coming from below the bud union.

Also remove canes crossing over into the centre of the plant. Ultimately, you want the rose bush to resemble roughly a cup shape, to allow air to circulate and light to penetrate.

The outer rim canes should be reduced to one-third to half of their original height and cut to 7mm above an outward facing bud (eye). Remove all leaves. Ideally cut at a 45-degree angle above the bud ‘eye’ where foliage was attached. Within a few weeks the dormant bud eye will begin to swell. In another three weeks the swelling will result in a young new stem.

Prune Miniature roses and patio roses slightly less severely than Floribunda roses, as hard pruning encourages the development of a few, strong shoots at the expense of the production of blooms.

Climbing roses and pillars are a great choice as they make use of your vertical space and can create a colourful attractive garden background.

When pruning climbers or pillar roses, first look at the base of the plant. If it has performed well, there will be a number of new canes from the base. These will provide the best flowers in the spring. Therefore, do not remove these.

Secondly, move up from the base of the plant, following older canes (evident following the previous years’ pruning). Some will have strong new canes emerging partially along the old stem. Others will only have short stems all along the cane. These would have produced the flowers during the previous year. Determine how many stems you require.

As a guide most climbers need at least 12 canes in order to wrap 6 canes onto a wire trellis on each side of the plant. Remove dead wood and unwanted old canes.

SAME LOCATION: Boundary of Pillar Roses shown in winter and spring

For a Pillar Rose, leave approximately 6 to 8 good green canes growing from the base, then wrap them onto the pillar, half clockwise and the other half anti-clockwise and tie on.

Remove any remaining old foliage from stems, fallen leaves and pruning remnants and place into green waste. Composting may not kill off spores and disease – best to dispose of it altogether.

Standard ‘Iceberg’ roses are very popular – they last for many years and produce an enormous number of blooms. Pruning is not difficult, although regular shaping is needed to make sure the head does not become too large as it may be damaged by strong wind. Also check that the standard is well secured to its stake. Cut out thin, dead or diseased wood. Prune back new shoots to 3 to 5 buds (about 15cm) and remaining lateral shoots to 2 – 4 buds (about 10 – 15cm). When the plant is about 3 years old, the head will be formed. These buds are sometimes known as ‘eyes’.

Once pruning is finished, a winter dormancy spray should be applied liberally – use Pest Oil, Winter Oil or Lime Sulphur. Winter Oil is considered best. If using Pest Oil double the dosage. This will effectively eliminate over-wintering aphids and spider mite eggs and fungal spores in cracks and crevasses on the stems and also on the ground under rose plants. Copper Oxy Chloride spray can also be used; however, it can be detrimental to worms. The Winter Spray regime is important for pest and disease control and will ensure significantly reduced outbreaks in spring.

FERTILISING

Roses do not require feeding in winter. However, roses benefit from an application of Neutrog ‘Seamungus’.This is a soil tonic and root conditioner, manufactured from seaweed, fish,humid acid and manure. It stimulates the roots into strong healthy growth inlate winter and early spring.

Pelletised Seamungus is recommended, as pellets will breakdown with rainfall enhancing root growth and should be applied prior to mulching. For stressed plants apply Neutrog POPUL8 to add beneficial microbes.

MULCH

Clean up old fallen leaves and cuttings then apply mulch. There are many types of mulch available, including pea straw, pine bark, wood chips and top quality commercial products such as Jeffries Recover and Neutrog ‘Whoflungdung’. Generally, apply mulch in late winter before the roses begin to produce tender shoots which can be accidently broken off.

Knight’s Roses recommend an application of 5cm of Neutrog’s ‘Whoflungdung’. While it can be applied immediately around the base of mature roses (3 years and older) it is advised not to apply mulch closer than 15cms to new, one or two-year-old plants as sometimes damage can occur to young basal shoots.

‘Whoflungdung’ comes in 20kg compressed bales. Apply water after application to settle it down. Mulch significantly reduces evaporation, cools the root zone and introduces good microbial activity into the soil.

PLANTING YOUR NEW BARE ROOT ROSE

Remove your bare root rose from the bag, wash off sawdust, soak in full bucket of water with 20mls of Neutrog GOGO Juice for 4 to 6 hours before planting. Dig a square hole roughly 30cm and add a handful of Neutrog Seamungus pellets into the bottom of the hole and mix thoroughly. This will encourage root development.

JOIN THE ROSE SOCIETY

Consider joining the Rose Society of SA and enjoy meeting other rose lovers and attending events and meetings throughout the year. Free rose pruning demonstrations will be held 30th June and 7th July. Visit the website for more information and lots of helpful advice:  https://sarose.org.au/about/membership

A reminder to email your rose questions to: retailsales@knightsroses.com.au

Contact Knight’s Roses for more information – phone +61 8 85231311 or visit our website www.knightsroses.com.au

What style of garden do you have? Do you follow a theme? This month for something different, we are promoting a Musical Inspired Garden, with beautiful new blooms and some tried and true ones for your collection.

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. He is one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire and span the transition from the Classical period to the Romantic era in classical Music.

Für Elise is one of Beethoven’s most popular compositions, and this rose was named after the Beethoven Anniversary Year 2020. This Gold Medal Winning variety of intense dark pink magenta has beautifully cupped blooms of a nostalgic character.

Slim Dusty, AO MBE, was an iconic Australian country music artist, celebrated for his talent as a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer. Universally recognized as Australia’s King of Country Music, he became a cultural icon with a career spanning almost seven decades. Throughout his illustrious journey, he amassed numerous awards, establishing himself as one of the most revered figures in Australian music history.

The Slim Dusty rose is a compact floribunda rose with rich golden orange tones and is a fitting tribute to Australia’s legend of Country Music.

Dolly Parton is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily for her decades-long career in Country Music.

Dolly Parton rose is an upright, bushy, repeat blooming plant that grows up to 1.5m tall. This is the rose you want to lift your spirits when you have been working 9 – 5!!

This multi award-winning compact hybrid tea rose blooms abundantly at a steady tempo from spring to late autumn. Vibrant and distinctive flowers of ochre orange softening to coppery pink are music to your eyes. These warm, luminous colours are sure to bring harmony to any garden. Jazz Festival has excellent disease resistance and makes a strikingly beautiful cut flower with a delicate perfume. Ideal for garden and pot alike. Height 1.2m.

Soul Sister is a Floribunda with very unusual colouring of milk chocolate buds, opening to a coffee colour and fading to a soft lavender pink. It is a healthy rounded bush, with semi glossy, medium green foliage. Soul Sister has a light tea fragrance.

Add one to your garden for some much needed Soul, Sister!!

Experience the harmonious beauty of the Violina rose – a symphony for the senses. With glossy leaves and magnificent flower heads, the shell pink petals create a visual masterpiece. The fragrance that floats from this rose will fill your whole garden with the most beautiful perfume, especially when in a massed planting. Put a bunch of these flowers in a vase and it will flow through your house, awakening your senses.

We hope you have a wonderful Easter Break and where ever you may be, get to spend some quality time in your garden. Please feel free to share a picture of your garden to on of our Social Pages or email us a picture that we can share.

Happy Easter

from the Knight’s Roses Team