Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1907 - 1954), Monday 7 December 1942, page 4


A ROSE FOR LADIES— 'WARRAWEE.'

This heading has been specially selected because it expresses, in a dual sense, just what the words indicate. In the first place it was raised by Mrs. H. C. Fitzhardinge,

who is Australia's first woman rose hybridist to secure overseas recognition. In the past, this fascinating and tedious work has been left exclusively to men, but almost the first of many seedlings resulting from a lady's handiwork has leapt into world wide prominence. Even as a tiny plant, 'Warrawee' showed signs of latent excellence, and, as season followed season, the various quali ties improved considerably. With others, it was sent to America far further testing, and there attracted the keen attention of Mr. R. Marion Hatton, now assistant editor of the 'American Rose Annual.' At Mr. Hatton's urgent suggestion, the new variety was registered, under the new American Plant Patent Law, and was granted Patent No. 140. It is being distributed simultaneously in Europe, America and Australia, and, in a year or two, will be gracing tens of thousands of gardens in three continents. In the second sense 'Warrawee' is essentially a woman'a rose – an aristocrat in re spect of shape, daintily refined as to color, pleasantly fragrant, and producing beautiful blooms on extra long stems. It is just as if it were expressly made to 'my lady's' specifications for home and garden decoration.Under Under artificial light, when many flowers fade into dull listless colors, 'Warrawee ' sparkles with new life. When blooms are being cut, one is forcibly reminded of its lavish production by the new young flow ering shoots which are already in evidence, before older blooms are fit to pick. In growth it is unusually vigorous, and in this respect is far ahead of many imported varieties. The color is rosy salmon on the outside, with an inner face of silvery pink, fading to lighter shades as the bloom ages. 'Warrawee' has been thoroughly tested for six years before being catalogued, and is definitely a 'better rose.' The National Rose Society of N.S.W. gave it a bronze medal (the highest award) and first prize for the best bedding rose, both at which bear eloquent testimony to the variety. 'Warrawee' is catalogued by a number of growers, and it is a rose that does well in North Queensland. 'Sap' has mentioned this rose so that you may order it in the June days which are ahead.