Meteor Wins Rose of the Year 2024
Image: Roses UK
The winner of the prestigious 'Rose of the Year' 2024 has been awarded to 'Meteor,' a rose variety bred by Kordes, a breeder known for their previous successful creations. The Rose of the Year initiative was introduced in 1982 with the purpose of identifying the best roses through a series of trials conducted each year.
Rose of the Year is awarded by Roses UK, a marketing project funded by the British Association of Rose Breeders (BARB). Rose breeders are invited to submit what they consider to be the finest among their upcoming rose varieties to the competition. Typically, around 20 different varieties are submitted annually. Trials are held across the United Kingdom, spanning from Aberdeen in the north to Hampshire in the south, including Northern Ireland and East Anglia, to evaluate the performance of the roses under diverse soil and climate conditions.
The trial period extends for two years and involves the assessment of the rose varieties by both amateur and professional judges. The variety deemed most deserving is ultimately selected as the Rose of the Year. The selection process takes place approximately six years in advance of the rose's availability to ensure sufficient stock levels can be built up before its introduction to the public.
'Meteor' boasts a delicate fragrance with flowers that initially bloom in a golden yellow shade, gradually turning to an increasingly vibrant flush of red. The colour intensity of the blooms deepens with increased exposure to sunlight. This repeat-flowering rose reaches a height of approximately 70 cm, making it suitable for border planting as well as pot cultivation.