The winning rose — Home Run — is one of the hardiest and most disease-resistant rose plants in Australia.

In 2007, Swane's Nurseries submitted several rose varieties to the National Rose Trials for evaluation.

As a result, the roses created a new benchmark for performance and vigour.

Swane's Nurseries won an unprecedented 18 awards in 2009, including the Australian Rose of the Year, which they also won in 2010.

Home Run is a dark, fire engine red flower that is compact and has tremendous resistance to mildews which can plague rose plants in early spring and when wet weather prevails.

And there's more good news for gardeners: Home Run is soon to be produced in pink.

Background

The Australian Rose Trials are the only independent trials of new plant releases in Australia and are conducted over a two-year period.

Volunteer judges from the horticulture industry, rose devotees and home gardeners are all on the judicial panel.

Under the control of the National Rose Society and the Adelaide Botanic Gardens the Australian Rose Trials allow the public to rate rose variety selections before they make a purchase.

No other plant released in Australia undergoes such rigorous and independent trials.

Swane's Nurseries Australia annually evaluates hundreds of new varieties from Australian and international breeders.

For more information contact Finbarr O'Leary on 0407 465 543 or fin.swanes@bigpond.com.au