A reference for gardeners · Awards
Rose variety awards and honours
An award does not guarantee that a rose will grow perfectly in your own garden, but it helps you understand its strengths faster: health, fragrance, ornamental value, repeat flowering or value in the landscape.
List of awards and honours
WFRS Rose Hall of Fame
The highest international honour is the “Hall of Fame”. The World Federation of Rose Societies (WFRS) selects varieties by a vote of delegates at conventions once every 3 years. Separately, there are the Modern category (since 1976, 18 varieties: Peace, Queen Elizabeth, Iceberg, Bonica, Pierre de Ronsard and others) and the Old Rose category (since 1988, for historic roses: Cécile Brünner, Souvenir de la Malmaison, Madame Hardy, Mutabilis and others).
ADR (Germany)
Allgemeine Deutsche Rosenneuheitenprüfung — the main European standard. It has operated since 1950. A variety undergoes 3 years of trials in 11 gardens across Germany without chemical protection, and is judged on health, flowering, winter hardiness and ornamental value. One of the most reliable benchmarks for a garden without chemicals.
RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM)
The British “garden quality mark” from the Royal Horticultural Society. It has been in place since 1922 and is reviewed every ~10 years. It assesses stability, availability in shops and suitability for an ordinary garden. Not all AGM varieties suit Ukraine equally, so check the winter hardiness zone.
AARS (USA, 1938–2014)
All-America Rose Selections — the main American award of the twentieth century. It ceased to exist in 2014. It has since been replaced by American Rose Trials for Sustainability (A.R.T.S.) — sustainability trials in different climate zones of the USA. On older varieties, an AARS award is a sign of their historical popularity.
Gold medals from international competitions
Trials run for 2–3 years at specialist rose gardens. The most important are: Bagatelle (Paris, since 1907), Genève (Geneva), Baden-Baden (Germany), Lyon (France), Den Haag (Netherlands), Monza (Italy), Portland (USA), Madrid. Several golds from different countries are a serious mark of quality.
Gamble Fragrance Medal (ARS, USA)
One of the most prestigious fragrance awards in the world. It is awarded by the American Rose Society, but rarely, and only for an outstanding scent that lasts for years. The first winner was Crimson Glory (Kordes 1935, medal 1961). Other winners include Sutter's Gold, Tiffany, Papa Meilland, Double Delight, Mister Lincoln and Friesia.
Edland Fragrance Medal (RNRS, United Kingdom)
The British counterpart is the Henry Edland Memorial medal from the Royal National Rose Society for a distinctive fragrance. Among winners are Teasing Georgia, Margaret Merril and Fragrant Cloud.
Earth-Kind® Rose (Texas A&M, USA)
A modern “eco-friendly” award — only varieties that have grown for 8+ years completely without chemicals in Texas A&M University trials. The list is short but very reliable for those who want to “plant and forget”. Varieties include Mutabilis, Knock Out and Belinda's Dream.
RNRS Rose of the Year (United Kingdom)
The British annual award is “Rose of the Year”. It is given by Rose Society UK (formerly RNRS). Among winners are Penny Lane (1998), Pomponella and Pretty Lady.
Trial certificates
The first level of recognition is the Certificate of Merit, Trial Ground Certificate, Award of Excellence and others. They are given after 2–3 years of observation in a rose garden, but before a full gold medal. They appear at almost all the main competitions.
Separate fragrance prize
At each major competition, a separate award goes to the most fragrant variety in the trial: Prix du Parfum Bagatelle, Geneva Fragrance Award, Hradec Králové Fragrance, Orleans Best Perfume, La Tacita Perfume Prize. Perfume awards are often won by varieties from the Romantica series (Meilland), Austin English Roses and Kordes.
“Best in group” and category awards
At competitions, a separate award goes to the best rose in each of these classes: Hybrid Tea, Floribunda, shrub rose, climber, miniature and groundcover. This helps when roses of very different types compete in the same contest.
Important: check award names in nursery descriptions against the source and the year the award was given, because descriptions sometimes confuse official medals, competition diplomas and simply a variety's strong garden reputation.