Book  (2011)  Page(s) 39.  
 
Hayden Foulds. Pick of the Bunch. 'Blackberry Nip' (Somnip). Silver Star of the City of Palmerston North, 1998. The first trial ground award for Rob Somerfield who has gone on to greater things in recent years. A stunning colour and strong fragrance as well, it created much interest when first released onto the market.

Website/Catalog  (2010)  Includes photo(s).
 
The colour purple is a rare treat in today’s modern rose, yet with the new hybrid tea, ‘Blackberry Nip’ (syn. SOMnip), that is what you get. Another award winner from Rob Somerfield, it features sumptuous, shapely magenta purple hybrid tea blooms atop long stems, making it ideal for picking. Its quickness to repeat and its delicious fragrance will attract lovers of all roses. The blue-grey hue in its dark green foliage sets the plant off perfectly. In years to come, it will be a classic favourite. 1.5m x 1m.

Book  (2005)  
 
p28 Joan and Ken Turner. Five Favourite Small Roses.
'Blackberry Nip' has so many lovely features for a garden rose. The colour draws your eyes to it and as its name implies it is a deep purple shade. It has an old-fashioned fragrance and the ability to flower profusely. I love it.

p107. Peter Bamber. Review of the Newer Roses for the 2004-2005 Season. Hybrid Teas.
'Blackberry Nip' (SOMnip) Somerfield 1996: Garden rating 7.5, Exhibition rating 6.5: 21 bushes, 19 reports: Some health problems: Heavy fragrance: Medium height: Deep purple flowers. North Olago - a good garden rose, lovely colour and great for picking. Moutere Hills - has some health problems with second year bush. Interesting colour for floral work opens very quickly. Nelson also has a second year bush, but it isn't as good as hoped. Waikato has four growers. One calls it a nice wee rose and has been successful on the show bench, and all comment on the great colour and the wonderful fragrance. All have had some problems with health, nothing serious. Manawatu has two reports, but very different comments. One, the rose is going for a walk in a wheelbarrow as it gets powdery mildew and rust, is slow to repeat. The other grower likes the deep purple blooms and the heavy fragrance. Feilding reports the bush is in its second year and doing much better. Lovely unusual colour, great perfume, not much show potential. Canterbury - fragrance and colour are the only reasons they are keeping it in the garden. Powdery mildew and small size are its biggest negatives. Otorohanga - took a while to get going, four years. Lovely colour.

FINAL ANALYSIS for this variety.
Garden rating 7.5, Exhibition rating 6.0: The colour and fragrance are the main reason for growing this rose. It seems slow to get established and has some health problems. Not one for the show bench, but its main features stand out in the garden and make it a good NZ rose.

Book  (2004)  Page(s) 108.  
 
Peter Bamber. Review of the Newer Roses for the 2003-2004 Season.
'Blackberry Nip' (SOMnip) Somerfield 1996: 'Deep Secret' x 'Old Port': Garden rating 7.4, Exhibition rating 6.1: 41 bushes, 24 reports: Some health problems: Heavy fragrance: Medium height: Deep purple flowers. Manawatu - free flowering garden rose and a favourite with the ladies. Canterbury - have plants subject to powdery mildew. Marlborough says better in cooler weather as petals drop very quickly in the heat, Waikato - a lovely garden rose. Feilding - great colour that shows up in garden. B.O.P bush improving each year.

Book  (2003)  Page(s) 114.  
 
Peter Bamber. Review of the Newer Roses for the 2002-2003 Season.
'Blackberry Nip' (SOMnip) Somerfield 1996: 'Deep Secret' x 'Old Port': Garden rating. 7.7 Exhibition rating. 5.8 Some health problems; Heavy fragrance; Medium height. Deep purple flowers. Canterbury reports heavenly perfume and wonderfuI colour, but does not last when picked. North Otago says good repeat. Otago - good garden rose and loves the name. Manawatu - form is old style HT. Lovely at fully open. One of the best for any garden.

Book  (2002)  Includes photo(s).
 
p35. Nigel Pratt. Other recent purples, or shades thereof, are 'Blueberry Hill' and 'Blackberry Nip', both superb roses. Where others have called their progeny after spirits and commercial wines, the breeder of the latter rose, Rob Somerfield, has chosen the name of a delightful fruit wine.

p49. Photo. 'Blackberry Nip' HT. Photograph Tasman Bay Roses.

p95 Gerard Williams. Top Favourite Roses in New Zealand for the 2001-2002 Season.
Roses that almost made the list were 'Blackberry Nip' and ...

p99 Gerard Williams. Review of the Newer Roses for the 2001-2002 Season. Hybrid Teas
'Blackberry Nip'. Somerfield, 1996. 'Deep Secret' x 'Old Port'. 15 reports on 32 bushes, 1-3 years; 1.2 metres; 7.4 rating. Deep purple, 41+ petals, mostly single to a stem, very fragrant, foliage medium green, upright medium growth. Manawatu says nice coloured blooms but the bush takes mildew. Marlborough says nice perfume and unfading blooms. Good garden rose but the petals drop too soon. Auckland says good colour and plenty of blooms. Nice scent. Good garden rose. North Otago great garden rose, very fragrant and healthy. Waikato likes the colour and fragrance. Found the bush healthy with a good repeat. North Taranaki say healthy. Otago love the perfume, the colour and the new growth. Gisborne finds it excellent and prefers their heavier soil.

Book  (2001)  Page(s) 102.  
 
Gerard Williams. Review of the Newer Roses for the 2000-2001 Season
'Blackberry Nip' Sommerfield, 1996; 'Deep Secret' x 'Old Port'; deep purple; 13 reports on 24 bushes; 1-5 years; 1.2 metres; 7.6 rating; 41+ petals, mostly single, very fragrant, foliage medium green, upright medium growth. A good number of favourable reports on this new rose. Manawatu says, tidy small bush, great for Pot Pouri. Marlborough says healthy with vibrant colour, good repeat. Auckland says good colour and plenty of blooms. Nice scent. Good garden rose. North Otago great garden rose. Northland says good all round garden rose with nice perfume. Manawatu very showy and a lovely fragrance. Te Awamutu has continuous flowers. Waikato likes the colour and fragrance. Found the bush healthy with a good repeat. Some had Powdery Mildew this year.

Book  (2000)  
 
p40. Richard Walters. Rob [Somerfield]'s first commercially released rose 'Blackberry Nip' ('Deep Secret' x 'Old Port') has already won for him the Silver Star in the South Pacific Trial Grounds at Palmerston North and this year the Fragrance Award at the Auckland Rose of the Year. I am sure it will win more as it is released overseas via an agent in Holland.

p80. Cynthia Burnett. I was really thrilled to see that our fellow Rosarian and rose breeder Rob Somerfield from the Bay of Plenty had his rose 'Blackberry Nip' awarded the most fragrant rose.

p97 Gerard Williams. Review of the Newer Roses for the 1999-2000 Season
'Blackberry Nip'. Somerfield 1996; 'Deep Secret' x 'Old Port'; deep purple; 16 reports on 34 bushes; 1-4 years; 1.2 metres; 7.4 rating. 41+ petals, mostly single, very fragrant, foliage medium green, upright medium growth. A great number of favourable reports on this new rose. Manawatu says tidy small bush, great for potpourri. Marlborough says healthy with vibrant colour, good repeat. Auckland says it makes a good garden rose. North Otago found the perfume wonderful and the colour excellent, but it did take some powdery mildew. Hutt Valley felt the dull coloured foliage suits the lovely blooms. Northland says good all-round garden rose with nice perfume, better than 'Old Port', and the colour is stunning. Manawatu all rounder par excellence.

Book  (1999)  
 
p34 Peter Elliott. New Zealand International Rose Trial Ground. Trial 28. 1996-1998.
My personal favourite was the winner of the Silver Star of the City of Palmerston North - 'Blackberry Nip' (HT) from Rob Somerfield of the Bay of Plenty. It is a fantastic purple colour (At home I have it growing with a matching coloured carnation). The rose was bred from 'Old Port' x 'Deep Secret'.

p36 ibid. Variety No. 96.3077. 71.4 points. HT. 'Blackberry Nip'. Breeder: Somerfield. Agent: none listed. Colour: purple.

p38. ibid. Silver Star of the City of Palmerston North. For the best amateur bred rose on trial and Certificate of Merit. 90.3077. 'Blackberry Nip (SOMnip). HT. Rob Somerfield, New Zealand.

Book  (1998)  Page(s) 113.  Includes photo(s).
 
Photo. 'Blackberry Nip', bred by Rod Somerfield, NZ