Leading the way with cuttings

More than 25 years ago, Victorian nurseryman Anthony Tesselaar revolutionised the way garden roses were grown and marketed around the world when he released the first Flower Carpet rose.

His plan was to grow the groundcover rose on its own roots in a pot, like other plants. He took the bold decision not to involve traditional rose growers in its propagation, but to use production nurseries that specialised in growing potted flowering plants. He sold the rose in a coloured pot (not the typical black pot) with a large, glossy label and full-on marketing campaign. He said it would take the world by storm and appeal to all gardeners, not just rose fanciers. It did!