Rosa 'New Zealand'

Vigorous hybrid tea rose with semi-glossy dark green foliage, flowering profusely in flushes throughout the season. Soft pink flowers with about 25-30 petals, 10-15 cm wide, to 17 cm wide when fully open. Strong sweet honeysuckle fragrance. Ornamental hips.

Registration name Rosa 'MACgenev', bred by Sam McGredy (New Zealand) from a cross between Rosa 'Harmonie' and Rosa 'Auckland Metro'. Also known as Rosa 'Aotearoa' and Rosa 'Aotearoa New Zealand'. Named to commemorate the 150th anniversary of New Zealand. 'Aotearoa' is the Maori name for New Zealand and means 'Land of the long white cloud'.

Prefers a sunny position in any well-draining soil with a generous amount of organic matter. Fertilise in early spring and again in early summer. Dead-head during the flowering season and prune in winter. Excellent mildew and rust resistance. Above average resistance to blackspot.

Lovely rose with good clean foliage and a wonderful fragrance. Looks great in beds and borders, as a single specimen or in groups. Available as a standard or a bush rose. Combine with other pastels or with plants flowering in shades of blue such as Ageratum houstonianum or the deep blue colour of Centaurea montana. Excellent cut flower. Remove the side buds if you want long single-flower stems, or leave the side buds if you like sprays.