Tea-Noisette-China National Collection

In 2005 Ruston’s Roses of Renmark were granted the title "the National Rose Collection of Australia". This mantle is inclusive of all the bushes in the garden-some of which do not exist in other parts of the world. Begun by David Ruston, there are now more than 40,000 rose bushes of more than 3,000 varieties, making the collection one of the biggest, most diverse and important in the world. It now includes modern garden roses such as hybrid teas, floribundas, miniatures and ground covers; old garden roses including gallicas, damasks, centifolias, mosses, bourbons, teas, noisettes, hybrid perpetuals, musks and rugosas; as well as a number of species roses. The good news for rose lovers from around the world is the fact that his niece Anne and her husband Richard decided to purchase the property which will ensure the survival of this unique collection.

In 2007, as an initiative of David Ruston and HRIAI, the planting of a national collection of Tea roses was begun. The plan is to grow all the Teas (and Noisettes and Chinas) available in Australia, including foundlings. The Collection's purposes include the identification, preservation, study, display and eventual distribution of these roses, and the education of heritage rose lovers and the general gardening community about this part of our heritage.

A collection of early HTs and pernetianas has also been commenced, to supplement David's remarkable group of pre-1960 HTs. Other classes may eventually be added if future water supplies permit.

An updated Rose Collection at Ruston's Roses can be downloaded from the Resources page.

   To download the article by Sue Zwar, A Rose Repository at Ruston's Roses, in PDF format. Click here.


Click here to go to David Ruston's Gallery of 15 photos