Slater's Crimson China

Slater's Crimson China (also known as Semperflorens,  Old Crimson China and Rosa chinesis) was introduced to English gardens in 1792 and to New Zealand between 1812-1814.

Slater’s Crimson China is probably the oldest know cultivated garden rose with records showing it being grown prior to 1658. It was discovered in China and introduced to the United Kingdom in 1792.

How the rose arrived in New Zealand is somewhat of a mystery, some think it arrived with Samuel Marsden in1814 and established at the Mission Station at Rangihoua Pa.  A more widely believed version however is that it was brought to New Zealand in 1812 by Ruatara, a Ngapuhi Rangatira(Chief) of Te Hihitu hapu, who travelled to London as early as 1809 to meet with King George II.  He did not meet the King and was sent back to New Zealand on the Ann where he met up with Rev. Samuel Marsden who took him to his mission at Parramatta in Sydney.  Ruatara returned to New Zealand in 1812 with seed, wheat and agricultural tools and set aside land for the future missionary settlement next to his own pā at Rangihoua.  

The original rose is still growing at Kemp House in Kerikeri and the rose at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds is a cutting of that rose.

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