Monrovia introduces three new rose series for 2023

Roses are back, and home gardeners are ready. Research shows consumers are looking for beautiful, high petal count roses that bring fragrance, intense color and disease resistance to the garden. With those features in mind, Monrovia is introducing three new rose series, with varying sizes and uses, that offer something for every garden.

Monrovia is also offering more education and inspiration for retailers in a new digital guide. Click here to learn more in Monrovia's new 2023 guide to roses.

“Modern breeding is meeting the challenge of making roses easier to grow,” said Jonathan Pedersen, president and CEO of Monrovia. “For the last several years, we have been partnering with breeders around the world, searching for beautiful roses that deliver more for home gardeners – more blooms, more fragrance better habits and easy care. We chose the best roses from our partners, then trialed and tested selections at all four Monrovia nursery locations across the country. Only the strongest performers that offer excellent disease and pest resistance, low maintenance and stunning blooms are being introduced.”

Consumer demand for roses is being driven by renewed interest in classic flowering shrubs and romantic nostalgia plants, a design trend Monrovia’s experts are calling New Victorian style. “Blame it on Bridgerton,” said Katie Tamony, chief marketing officer at Monrovia, referencing the popular Netflix series. Gardeners are gravitating toward plants that a bring a sense of history and a kind of lush abandon to the garden, such as roses, lilacs, hydrangeas and hollyhocks. “This trend is an elevated, maximized version of cottage or cottage core,” Tamony said. “Our roses bring a romantic mood to the garden without the chaos - you can tuck these in easily anywhere.”

The New Victorian Garden is causal and rambling, but not disorganized, typically with a palette of peach, purples, pinks and white. Monrovia’s new roses are a natural addition to the New Victorian Garden, but they also fit any design that begs for color, fragrance and beauty. Home gardeners can learn more in a consumer version of Monrovia's rose guide.

Monrovia’s Exclusive New Roses Series

Eau de Parfum Bubbly Fragrant Rose - The Eau de Parfum series offers exceptionally fragrant blooms with a high petal count for that beautiful, traditional rose look. This series also features excellent disease resistance and is available in four colors – Berry, Bling, Blush and Bubbly. Repeat blooming from early spring through first frost, 4 feet tall and wide. Zones: 5-10. 

Seaside Swirl Rugosa Rose - The Seaside Swirl Rugosa series brings exceptional hardiness, easy care and fantastic fragrance. Rugosa roses are typically rambling and wild, but the Seaside Swirl collection stays compact, topping out 3 feet tall and wide. Each variety blooms from mid-spring through fall. There are three colors in the series including pink, red and blush, all feature hips in the fall and winter, making them a season-long stunner. Zones: 3-9. 

Heavenly Ascent Climbing Rose - Monrovia has seen a growing demand for climbing roses. The Heavenly Ascent series will grow to 8 feet tall, the perfect mid-range for climbers, making them excellent selections for growing up an arbor or pergola. The series features a high petal count and fresh fragrance. Choose from two colors – red and pink. Blooms from spring through frost. Grows to 8 feet tall with support. Zones: 5-9.

Look for each of these new rose series, and Monrovia’s classic shrub roses – Grace N’ Grit and Nitty Gritty only in Monrovia’s distinctive green pot.