Notcutts Garden Centres are inviting customers to let their imagination bloom with a competition to name a special new rose variety. The rose will be launched in July as part of Notcutts’ 120th anniversary celebrations this year.
The new rose is a bright and cheerful pink colour, with a complex, spicy scent. It is disease resistant, easy to cultivate and will thrive in beds, mixed borders or large planters, Notcutts says. The new rose has been bred and rigorously tested over the past six years by UK rose breeders Harkness Roses.
The competition was launched to Notcutts Privilege Club members in their spring Garden Ideas magazine and has already seen over 2,500 entries. Many name suggestions reflect the glorious pink colour of the rose – such as Pink Fizz, Sugarplum and Pink Blush – whilst some other names reflect the Notcutts heritage.
Notcutts Garden Centres vice chairman Caroline Notcutt, one of the competition judges, said: “We are very excited to introduce this beautiful, celebratory rose variety as part of our 120th anniversary and, as a thank-you, we’d like our customers to help us name it. The competition is a great opportunity for customers to express their creativity – perhaps looking at the rose’s vivid colour, our 120-year history, or whatever inspires the imagination. I look forward to reading the entries and announcing the winner in July.”
As well as having the honour of naming the new rose, the competition winner will receive a prize package including a prime specimen of the rose, £120 in Notcutts gift vouchers, afternoon tea for two at their nearest Notcutts garden centre, a bottle of rosé champagne and a pair of Felco Original No.2 secateurs. Four runner-up prizes will also be presented.
The closing date for entries is May 21 and the winner will be announced in July, with the new rose on sale shortly afterwards at Notcutts’ 18 garden centres across the country. The competition is free to enter for anyone over the age of 18. All entries will be judged by Caroline Notcutt and the Notcutts planteria team.
Customers can enter the Notcutts ‘Name Our Rose’ competition by visiting notcutts.co.uk. Further information and full competition terms and conditions are also available on the website.
