Fragrant garden roses are highly popular, but breeding a variety that balances beauty, resilience, and fragrance is not an easy task. That's why breeders are thrilled when they discover a new variety that ticks all these boxes. Danish rose breeder Rosa Eskelund shares this excitement, recently adding three new fragrant varieties to her Plant'n'Relax garden rose series. They have been baptized earlier this year and will be showcased at the IFTF, held from November 5-7 in Vijfhuizen, the Netherlands.
The Winner Takes it All variety
Fragrant varieties in the Plant'n'Relax series
Back in 2000, Rosa started breeding garden roses, and the assortment currently consists of more than 20 varieties. The first fragrant garden rose she introduced was 'Our last summer' in 2013. It became a best-seller in Scandinavia, and it is still popular, she says. "This variety grows up to 2.5-3 meters and has big, strong, and fragrant flowers." Later, she introduced more fragrant varieties, which are now all best-sellers.
And the fragrant varieties are also the ones Rosa is most proud of. "Our Last Summer, Royal Diva, and Royal Estelle, for example, are all three fragrant varieties, and each of them won golden medals in trials. Royal Estelle even won The Golden Rose. This proves the high quality and value of the varieties."
Ophelia
Three new varieties
And as proud she is of her new fragrant 'babies' Ophelia, Royal Victoria, and The Winner Takes it All. This latter variety is a sister rose of Our Last Summer. "They all have this special fragrance and large, beautiful blooms. And on top of this fragrance and striking appearance, they also stand out for their exceptional health and disease resistance, along with glossy green foliage." And Ophelia and Royal Victoria are also interesting because of their compact growth which makes them perfect for pot cultivation, patios, or small gardens, she adds. "Their continuous blooming period from June to November ensures months of enjoyment for the consumer."
Royal Victoria Plant'n'Relax
Worldwide popularity
According to Rosa, the demand for garden roses is increasing worldwide. "In Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, we have growers who do the budding. Then, the bare-rooted roses are exported mainly to Sweden and Norway but also to Thailand, China, and the rest of Europe. And we see the demand growing. Now, after so many years, I see that my garden rose varieties are really being noticed internationally." But why are garden roses still increasing in popularity? "More and more people are spending time in their garden, and roses are one of the few plants with such a long flowering period, from June well into autumn. However, this only applies to the remontant roses, and I only develop remontant varieties." In Scandinavia, the Plant'n'Relax roses have become very popular, and especially when one of Rosa's roses are being baptized by their Crown Princess or another famous person, the demand spikes.
Babtism of Royal Victoria Plant'n'Relax Soliden Castel at the Swedish Rosekonvention summer 2024
High hopes for these new varieties too
Expectations are also high for these three new varieties which are all recently named in baptism ceremonies led by notable figures. The Winner Takes it All and Royal Victoria were baptized in the summer of 2024 in Stockholm. Royal Victoria was officially named at the Soliden Castle on Öland, Sweden, in honor of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. Meanwhile, Ophelia Plant'n'Relax was inspired by the iconic Ophelia from Shakespeare's Hamlet and was baptized by "Ophelia" herself at Denmark's historic Kronborg Castle.
Rosa and Harley at the baptism of The Winner Takes it All.
IFTF
Eager to see these and more roses of Roses Forever, which consist of pot, cut and edible roses, visit their booth (B2.24) at the IFTF in Vijfhuizen, the Netherlands, from November 5-7.
For more information:
Rosa Eskelund
Roses Forever
Tel.: +45 51 57 19 90
[email protected]
www.roses-forever.com