Olympic Gold Rose
Nurseries and rose growers are really getting into the Olympic spirit this year, with the release of an exciting new rose. It’s called Australia’s Olympic Gold Rose, and it features clusters of beautiful golden yellow flowers. They’re set against deep green leaves with a distinctive reddish tinge, which Ben Swane says is a sure sign of high quality in rose foliage. As you’d expect with an Olympian, the new rose is very vigorous. It will grow to about 1.5m (5’5) tall.
Best climate: Roses will grow in most parts of Australia, but they look their best from Sydney to Perth and areas south.
Best look:
mass or group plantings Tuscan-style landscapes ground or pot culture cut flowers
Good points:
tough, strong grower profuse golden yellow blooms repeat flowering
Downside: The flowers only have a slight fragrance
Culture: Choose an open, sunny position for your new rose. Prepare the planting hole well in advance, incorporating some well-decayed organic material. Bare rooted roses should be planted within a day or two of purchase. Unwrap the rose, place it in a bucket of water and carry it to the prepared hole. Mound the soil at the bottom of the hole and position the plant so that the roots are well spread, and backfill. The bud union should be 20-30mm (0.5-1") above the surface of the soil. Water in. Don’t fertilise at this stage, wait until after the first crop of flowers.
Getting started:
Our segment was filmed at Swane’s Nursery, 490 Galston Road, Dural, NSW, 2158. Phone (02) 9651 1322, fax (02) 9651 2146. Australia’s Olympic Gold Rose will be available Australia-wide from June, through nurseries and chain-stores. It can also be purchased by mail-order for $19.95 (plus postage) from Swane’s.