Cuttings thrive

Cuttings of the rare orange rose Mary Summer transplanted from the Dunedin Botanic Garden to a Hastings garden last year are doing well.

The floribunda rose was bred in 1976 by Sam McGredy IV, who came to live in New Zealand in 1972, and a search by Hastings heritage rose enthusiast Georgina Campbell found the Dunedin Botanic Garden's bushes to be the only ones of their kind in a public garden.

Mrs Campbell said the cuttings would be planted in the McGredy Rose Garden shortly.

"There will be spares to share with some friends as well, to ensure they are in a few more safe places."

In 2013, the garden would be part of the World Federation of Roses international conference day trip and it was hoped that by then Mary Sumner would be flowering well, she said.