Rochfords International Rose Trials
Seven new roses receive the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit through collaboration with Rochfords International Rose Trials
Seven new hybrid tea, floribunda and shrub roses have been identified by the RHS Woody Expert Group as worthy of an RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit. Each of these roses achieved top results in the independent trials held at the Rochfords International Rose Trials site in Hertfordshire.
Roses in full bloom, creating a stunning sea of colour at Rochfords International Rose Trials
This new partnership between the RHS and Rochfords International Rose Trials means that any rose earning a Gold Medal or Order of Merit at Rochfords, and is available to buy, will now be automatically considered for the RHS Recommended: AGM. It avoids repeating work already done in the trials and helps gardeners discover the best new roses as soon as they arrive on the market.
It avoids repeating work already done in the trials and helps gardeners discover the best new roses as soon as they arrive on the market.
Benefits of this new approach
- The strongest performing new roses can be recognised with an RHS Recommended: AGM, without duplicating work already carried out at Rochfords
- Breeders may be more likely to enter their roses for the trials, knowing that top performers will be considered for the RHS Recommended: AGM
- The RHS Recommended: AGM list will remain current, with the newest and best roses highlighted for gardeners
What are the Rochfords International Rose Trials?
Established in 2018 by Paul Rochford, a fifth-generation nurseryman, the trials offer a UK site where breeders from around the world can submit new seedling varieties for assessment. Entry is free, provided the roses are not yet commercially available in the UK at the time of planting.
Rochfords is one of only two independent and nonprofit trial sites of this kind in the UK, the other being in Belfast. The site aims to support rose breeders and growers while promoting horticulture to new audiences. It also allows enthusiasts, schools, colleges and horticultural societies to view and judge roses before they are released. Worldwide, there are 24 similar trial sites, including locations such as Baden Baden in Germany and The Hague in the Netherlands.
How the trials work?
Rochfords International Rose Trials play a key part in assessing new roses before they reach garden centres and nurseries. Around 35 rose experts judge the plants using international criteria set by the World Federation of Rose Societies (WFRS). The roses are grown for three years without chemicals, mirroring the standards used in RHS trials and providing a robust test of their performance.
Judging criteria: Maximum score: 100 points
- General impression, including plant form, foliage, vigour and novelty: 30 points
- Flower quality, colour, abundance, repeat flowering and post flowering performance: 30 points
- Health, including tolerance to fungal diseases and pests: 30 points
- Fragrance: 10 points
Blooming red roses in full display on the trial beds as judges assess entries at RHS Wisley
The Rochfords trials award Gold, Order of Merit and Trial Ground Certificate awards. Roses need to score at least 70 points to receive a Gold award and this same scoring system was used for the first RHS trial of red roses at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey between 2021 and 2024, which provided a helpful benchmark for identifying award worthy varieties. Order of Merit roses usually achieve 68 points or more, although thresholds can shift depending on overall standards in a given year. These scoring levels are also used when considering roses for the RHS Recommended: AGM.
Seven recommended roses
The following seven roses have been put forward for the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit:
Rosa BETTER TIMES (‘Kortimbett’) (HT)
A vigorous, upright hybrid tea rose with clusters of large double blooms in soft yellow, bright orange and pink. Firm petals and healthy foliage make it ideal for cutting.
- Height: 100cm
- Breeder: Kordes
- Availability: Roots Plants, Golden Valley Plants
Rosa DELIGHTFUL DEB’S (‘Wekgobeahor’)
A rose with single reddish pink blooms from June to November. Semi-glossy, mid to dark green foliage, with new growth that starts red before turning darker. Well-suited to borders and containers.
- Height: 75cm
- Breeder: C&K Jones
- Availability: C&K Jones
Rosa HONEY, BEE MINE (‘Dicsolar’)
A floribunda rose with semi double yellow blooms and an orange pink centre, produced in flushes through the season. Lightly perfumed flowers that open flat and attract many insects.
- Height: 95cm
- Breeder: Dickson Roses
- Availability: Rumwood Nurseries, Griffins Roses
Rosa IMPALA (‘Korimala’) (HT)
A bushy floribunda rose with double, full flowers and is strong disease resistance. It produces new blooms throughout summer without needing a trim. Ideal for classic borders, mixed plantings and pots on a terrace or balcony.
- Height: 80cm
- Breeder: Kordes
- Availability: Golden Valley Plants
Rosa LADY ADRIANNA (‘Dictapestry’)
A charming rose with sprays of brightly coloured semi double blooms and a mild sweet scent. The open flowers attract pollinating insects and repeat well through a long season. Suitable for borders and large pots.
- Height: 90cm
- Breeder: Dickson Roses
- Availability: Curbishleys, Griffins
Rosa TRUDY (‘Kenholmes’)
A vibrant red floribunda rose with clusters of rich velvet blooms and mustard coloured stamenss. It has a traditional rose scent and a bushy, compact habit, making it a reliable choice for beds and mixed borders.
Rosa VOLCANO (‘Korcolipas’) (HT)
A hybrid tea rose with cherry red blooms blended with a warm yellow centre from June to October. Lightly fragrant with dark emerald foliage, it is recommended for pots on a terrace or balcony.
- Height: 70cm
- Breeder: Kordes
- Availability: Peter Beales Roses, The Potted Garden Nursery
Next steps and ongoing review
With the new partnership in place, the RHS now has a clear process for bringing top performing roses from the Rochfords International Rose Trials into the RHS Recommended: AGM list. Looking ahead, results from the Rochfords trials will be shared each year to keep records up to date. Annual checks on UK availability will ensure that qualifying roses are ready for consideration and a yearly report will be made to the RHS Woody Expert Group highlighting any new roses suggsted for RHS Recommended: AGM status. This ongoing review helps maintain a reliable and current list of outstanding roses for gardeners.
