The Rose Society of South Australia's Partnerships

Vibrant partnerships underpin the strength of The Rose Society of South Australia. Many partners also provide members with opportunities and benefits, greatly appreciated by them and the Society.

Adelaide Botanic Garden

The Society works closely with Adelaide Botanic Garden, providing input about the planting rose cultivars in the International Rose Garden, located within the Garden. The IRG is designated as Garden of Excellence by The World Federation of Rose Societies.

The Society’s Autumn Rose Show has been held in the Noel Lothian Hall, adjacent to the IRG, in recent years, and many of the Society’s meetings are held in the Goodman Building at the Garden. We also provide pruning demonstrations for members and the public in the IRG each winter.

A representative of the Society supervises a team of volunteers who gather in the IRG on Friday mornings, from Spring through to Autumn, to deadhead roses.

Neutrog Australia Pty Ltd

This is the Society’s biggest supporter, a dynamic South Australian company with international reach. The company has revolutionised our passion for roses by developing high quality biologically based products that care for roses and the environment. Sudden Impact For Roses, now a staple rose fertiliser in Australian public and private gardens, was developed in conjunction with the Society.

Neutrog Australia Pty Ltd is generous to the Society and also Members, giving them access to a special online store where they enjoy substantial discounts on Neutrog products.

Rose Producers

South Australia is arguably the nation’s home of roses, including some of the best producers in the country—Knight’s Roses and Wagner’s Rose Nursery. Both have online retail stores for bare root and potted roses, as well as gift vouchers and special gift packs. Each provides a discount upon purchases by Society members. These producers can be found online at knightsroses and wagner'srosenursery

Wagner’s Rose Nursery, at Kalangadoo in South Australia’s South East, is the Australian agent for beautiful Delbard Roses, David Austin Roses, the Italian Barni Roses, roses bred by the late Aussie breeder, Bruce Brundrett, and many other breeders from Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Brian Wagner and his wife Benedetta Rusconi from Wagner’s Rose Nursery, provide prizes and support to meetings, particularly the Society’s South East Branch meetings where they and their staff provide special presentations. The President of the branch, Kelly Hillstone, is from Wagner’s.

Knight’s Roses, at Evanston, just north of suburban Adelaide, has a vast selection from Guillot Roses in France, Rosen-Tantau in Germany, England’s Harkness Roses, Scottland’s James Cocker & son, and many other breeders from Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Daniel Knight from Knight’s Roses supports meetings by giving special presentations and provides prizes. The Society is represented at Knight’s Roses Open Days in Winter and conducts pruning demonstrations on-site at the June Open Day.

Rose Associations

We have involvement with key rose associations, among them the National Rose Society of Australia and the World Federation of Rose Societies.

Current South Australian delegates to the National Rose Society of Australia are SA President, Gavin Woods ARA, SMA, SA Secretary, Diane vom Berg ARA and SA’s Web Administrator Chris Kelly. Chris, Secretary to the National Rose Trial Garden of Australia (located at Adelaide Botanic Gardens), is also Web Administrator of the National Society’s website.

Key South Australian rosarians are also involved in the World Federation. Diane vom Berg ARA is the Immediate Past President. Gavin Woods ARA,SMA is the World Federation’s Vice President—Australasia.

National Rose Trial Garden of Australia

Many Society members are actively involved in the National Rose Trial Garden of Australia, located at the International Rose Garden at Adelaide Botanic Garden. Here, roses are tested and assessed. The Trial Garden operates as a separately incorporated body, however the Society and the Trial Garden’s management work closely together, coordinating the Society’s Autumn Rose Show with the Trial Garden’s People’s Choice Awards and promoting the Trial Garden’s activities in Society publications.

Future Partnerships

We embrace partnerships with organisations where there is a natural association and mutually beneficial outcomes.