Dr. Suni Bolar is a rose breeder in New Jersey. She was the Vice-President of the Jersey Shore Rose Society for many years. She has written numerous award winning articles which have been published in the American Rose magazine, the Rose Hybridizers Association Newsletter, the Penn-Jersey district newsletter and in numerous local rose society newsletters across the country. She and her husband Rafiq Bolar have a company named Bolar Roses, L.L.C.
Bolar Roses L.L.C. was formed in 2012 when Suni Bolar and her husband Rafiq Bolar’s journey in the rose world culminated in their breeding program. Both Suni Bolar and Rafiq Bolar are Master Rosarians and Silver Medal honorees of the American Rose Society. They started out as rose exhibitors competing at local, district and national rose shows winning many awards including a National Queen (best rose in a rose show) in 2013. After retiring from exhibiting roses, they are now completely focused on their breeding program. They breed disease resistant, insect resistant, fragrant and extremely cold hardy roses. They are working hard at breeding no spray roses with good florist rose form and fragrance, both of which are lacking in the newer roses being introduced.
Bolar Roses LLC is located in Hillsborough, NJ, USA on 4 ½ acres of land where seedlings are trialed for release into commerce. Although Hillsborough falls under USDA Zone 7a, the property is in a wind zone and has a microclimate of Zone 5. So most of the seedlings hybridized are well suited for extremely cold climates.
The common rose diseases that are prevalent in New Jersey are black spot, mildew and cercospora. The major pests in New Jersey are midge, thrips, aphids, mites and Japanese beetles. The seedlings hybridized have good resistance to these diseases and pests.
Most of the crosses are done in May and June outdoors in the garden. The hips are collected in September and the seeds are planted after stratification in December. The seedlings are evaluated in the greenhouse for multiple bloom cycles. The shortlisted seedlings are then planted outdoors in trial beds in June and further evaluated for 3 to 4 years before they are given to rose companies for introduction into commerce.
In addition to High Country Roses, Suni Bolar’s hybridized roses are also sold by ‘Amore Roses’ in New Zealand.