Rose 'Suffragette - The Vida Goldstein Rose'

A beautiful rose with a beautiful story.

A gorgeous Hybrid Tea Bush Rose that copes well in dry conditions. The pearly white petals have occasional, pink and cream to add a richness to the bloom. It has good repeat and big, dark green leaves. A sensational rose with great strength, like its namesake. The fragrance is strong, rating 4/5 on our scale.

Vida Goldstein (1869-1949) was a remarkably strong woman who worked hard to make significant social changes. Suffragist and campaigner for social reform in the early 1900s, Vida was key in changes that allowed women the vote, the ability to run for parliament and the right to own land. She was the first woman parliamentary candidate in the British Empire. She toured the world as an advocate for social reform. She pushed for the creation of the Children’s Courts and to raise the age of marriage consent. The federal electorate, the Division of Goldstein in Melbourne was named in her honour in 1984.

Bred by Kordes, you know it will be a strong variety as they don’t use pesticides and fungicides in their breeding program, so only the strongest survive.

Rose bushes are upright, elegant shrubs that are adorned twice a year with spectacular, showy blooms.

Rose bushes are upright, elegant shrubs that are adorned twice a year with spectacular, showy blooms.

The basics of rose care are simply ...

1. Keep the plants moist at all times, but never allow the roots to sit in water.

2. Feed generously, and frequently, two or three times over the flowering season.

3. Keep pests to a minimum (this is usually not a problem if you start with a strong variety, and keep it well watered and well fed).

4. Prune back once a year.

5. Keep the area around the roots weed free, and ensure 4-6 hours of sun per day. Loamy soils are ideal, though Roses will grow in heavy top soils (if well drained) and sandy soils (if kept watered and fed more frequently). For Roses to thrive, good drainage is critical.

When providing your roses with a supporting show and companion planting try and leave a bit of space around their root zone clear.