Website/Catalog  (11 May 2013)  Includes photo(s).
 
'Sky Tower' (SOMskywer). Climbing rose with large, impressive clusters of hot pink flowers. These hot pink blooms are produced in mass and glow like a beacon from any point in the garden. Flowers come in large clusters. It is often possible to pick one stem and have a perfect floral arrangement. The foliage is large and luxuriant and is a striking feature on its own. 'Sky Tower' is named after Auckland's iconic waterfront building. Awarded Best Climbing Rose, Hamilton Trial Grounds, New Zealand. Climber. Hot Pink. Open semi double bloom. Flower Size 90 - 100mm. Petal Count 15 - 20. Height 2.8 - 3m. Habit Vigorous. Fragrance 1. Disease Resistance Excellent. Parentage 'Strawberry Ice' x 'Hot Chocolate'. Year of Release 2004. Introducer Glenavon Roses Ltd

Website/Catalog  (2010)  Includes photo(s).
 
Another award-winning rose is the climbing rose ‘Sky Tower’ (pbr) (syn. SOMskywer). It is not a vigorous giant, rather one that can be espaliered on a fence or trellis over 3 sq. m. One stem of the eye-catching, large, semi-double iridescent pink blooms in beautifully open clusters will make a superb arrangement. The foliage is dark green, glossy and disease resistant, on this strong, healthy plant. Bred by Rob Somerfield of Glenavon Roses at Tauranga in New Zealand, it is the perfect foil for growers of climbing roses such as 'White Cloud', 'Iceberg' or 'Climbing Seduction'.

Book  (2009)  
 
p47. South Canterbury Rose Society. My Favourite Climbers. 'Sky Tower' Somerfield 2003. Beautiful, absolutely delightful, a picture of health, are three ways I would describe 'Sky Tower'. It's truly a fantastic rose. I have had it for just under two years and it continues to give that "wow" factor. Its stems of rich pink flowers and glossy green foliage makes it stand out in the garden. It is an extremely healthy rose with vigorous growth. I have only ever shown three stems of 'Sky Tower' and one vase of it, all have received first places, two have been given best in show. I would thoroughly recommend this rose to all members and I regularly recommend it to members of the public. Rather slow to repeat but it picks and lasts well in a vase.

p49. Lynley Neal. My Favourite Climbers. 'Sky Tower'. This would be my newest climber, only four seasons old. Heads of vibrant pink blooms complemented by glossy mid green foliage make this good for the show bench and also makes a colourful statement in the garden.

p82 David Ruston. 'Sky Tower' (Somerfield) 2003. I was most impressed when I saw this in Auckland in 2002.

p132 Doug Grant. Review of the Newer Roses for the 2008-2009 Season
'Sky Tower'. (SOMtabco) Somerfield 2003: 16 Reports: 29 Plants: Garden 7.3, Exhibition 7.0: Tall: Health 7.3: Fragrance 2.4: Vibrant pink blooms. Northland: Very healthy rose, grows well as a large bush rose, the large heads are excellent for showing. Waikato: This is my colour, blooms fade quickly, great garden display. Waikato: Grown as a shrub in my garden, spectacular in spring but slow repeat. Matamata: Very tall, lots of blooms, large heads for showing, healthy. BOP: Very strong grower, plenty of basal shoots, best in spring, blooms fade, dark green foliage. Marlborough: No health problems. Canterbury: Dual purpose rose, floribunda / climber, plenty of blooms, very healthy. Otago: Holds its colour well but taking time to do its thing.

p133 Doug Grant. Final Analysis 2009
'Sky Tower' (SOMskywer) Somerfield 2003. Large Climber. 67 Reports: 132 Plants. Garden 7.8, Exhibition 7.8. Tall. Health very good: slight fragrance. Blooms vibrant pink. Vigorous shrub, pillar or climbing rose, very healthy, always in flower, repeats okay, good for exhibiting as stems.

Book  (2008)  Page(s) 133.  
 
Doug Grant. Review of the Newer Roses For the 2007-2008 Season.
'Sky Tower'. (SOMtabco), Somerfield 2003. 18 Reports. 37 Plants. Garden 7.4, Exhibition 7.7. Tall. Health 7.8. Fragrance 3.2. Vibrant pink blooms. Kaitaia: Big, healthy, great repeat, nothing much worries this plant. Northland: Grown as a shrub, very healthy, good for showing in vase classes and large heads, repeats well. Waikato: Health not so good, rust is a problem this year, lovely heads in the spring, slow repeat. Matamata: Vigorous and healthy, lots of blooms with large heads for showing. Bay of Plenty: Can be grown as a climber or bush, good health, vigorous but manageable. Horowhenua: Very healthy and vigorous, huge stems, colour fades quickly in summer. South Canterbury: Grown as a hybrid tea, excellent.

Book  (2007)  
 
p100 New Zealand Rose of the Year 2006. Best Climber. 'Sky Tower'. Somerfield, New Zealand.

p132. Doug Grant. Review of the Newer Roses for the 2006-2007 Season.
'Sky Tower'. (SOMtabco) Somerfield 2003: 15 Reports: 29 Plants: Garden 8.0, Exhibition 8.0: Tall: Health 7.9: Fragrance 3.0: Vibrant pink blooms. Northland: can be grown as a pillar rose, gives good large heads for showing and also good display vases. Waikato: good health, colour, produces good large stems for show bench. Te Awamutu: vigorous, very showy, makes good large stems, blooms last well, repeats. BOP: can be trained as a bush rose or climber, very healthy and vigorous but containable. Excellent large stems for exhibiting, always in flower but does fade. Marlborough: very healthy with lovely large heads but slow to repeat.

Book  (2006)  Page(s) 117.  
 
Peter Bamber. Review of the Newer Roses for the 2005-2006 Season.
Large Flowered Climbers. 'Sky Tower' (SOMtabco) Somerfield 2003: Garden rating 8.1, Exhibition rating 8.0: 22 bushes, 9 reports: Disease resisant: No fragrance: Tall: Vibrant pink flowers, A Waikato reporter with a first year bush has had very rapid growth with very healthy foliage. Needs frequent deadheading with the abundance of blooms, good repeat, impressive in the garden. B.O.P. with nine bushes in the garden says possibly grows too tall for a good garden rose, produces great large stems for showing, foliage can be a bit on the large side. Marlborough also has a first year bush that has made plenty of growth, very healthy, large heads of brilliant pink blooms that last well. Northland claims that this rose will be one of the top climbers in the years ahead. Produces well formed large heads. Manawatu reports a problem with blackspot and rust but likes the bright pink cluster of flowers.

Book  (2005)  Includes photo(s).
 
p48 David Ruston. The Northland Rose Tour. Pacific Regional Conference, Auckland.
'Sky Tower' bred from 'Strawberry Ice' x 'Hot Chocolate' is another welcome addition to the all too small list of hot pink floribundas.

p48-49. Photo by Hayden Foulds 'Sky Tower'.

p117 Peter Bamber. Review of the Newer Roses for the 2004-2005 Season.
'Sky Tower'. (SOMtabco) Somerfield 2003: Garden rating 8.4, Exhibition rating 8.3: 15 bushes, 9 reports: Disease Resistant, No fragrance: Tall. Vibrant pink flowers. Paeroa bought for its colour (had no tag) and only just found out that it's a climber, but loves it. Something fresh and new to rival 'Raspberry Ice'. Have seen some beauties on the show bench. Huge large stems, colour holds, not affected by rain. Manawatu - one of the best new roses. Outstanding pink colour, no health problems. Everyone needs one. Te Awamutu - only new bushes (3) but they are looking good. Waikato - tall growing, sometimes very wildly long stems, lots of colour. Appears healthy, great growth, foliage get too big in relation to flowers. Another Waikato grower - not sure if this should be a climber or a shrub. Lots of pink blooms, fantastic large stems for exhibitors, excellent health, recommended.

Magazine  (Apr 2004)  Page(s) 35.  
 
Registration
'Somskywer', LCl, mp, 2004, ( Sky Tower), Somerfield, Rob, [Strawberry Ice X Hot Chocolate], description