Did you know that every rose on most rose plants can become a fruit, and that inside each fruit are seeds that, if planted, give rise to plants that are entirely new and unique?
Like us and all animals, rose plants that have grown up from seed have parents (those that have been grafted or came from cuttings also came from plants that came from plants that came from plants […you get the idea] that had parents, but that’s another story). The baby plants contain equal proportions of genetic material from the two parents in unique combinations.
If you deliberately grow a rose plant from seed, you are a rose breeder. There are methods available to optimise breeding, to gain some control over the results.
Would you like to know how it’s done? A respected breeder has gathered his experience and knowledge into a publication; see below.
You can also get together with others and join the Australian Rose Breeders’ Association .
The ARBA was formed in 1992 for amateur rose breeders to share information, ideas and experiences. They put out a quarterly newsletter “The Rose Breeder”. This is full of interesting articles at all levels, from getting started (beginner level, where you just plant your self-pollinated rose hips), to the really scientific.
Click here to visit the Australian Rose Breeders’ Association website (www.arba.rose.org.au)
Joyce Abounding
Breeder: Bruce Chapman
Bruce was a Rose Society of Victoria member and leader both in management and as a generous sharer of his knowledge with others. Many of his roses are sold in nurseries.
“The Amateur Rose Breeders Guide”
By Ron Bell, one of Australia’s leading amateur rose breeders
$10 posted Anyone can become a rose breeder. It doesn’t require expensive equipment or advanced scientific knowledge, although of course this knowledge will certainly enhance the pleasure of creating brand new, unique cultivars. This accessible, friendly book shows you how to breed a new rose of your own.
