Stephen Scanniello
Horticulturist and Preservation of Heritage Roses
Member since: 2015
Proposed by: Rumson Garden Club, Zone IV
Pre-eminent Rosarian, author, gardener and generous friend to many in GCA, Stephen Scanniello is presently the curator of the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden and rosarian for Elizabeth Park, the nation's oldest public rose garden located in West Hartford, CT. Starting as the general gardener and education associate at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, he rose to become the curator of their Cranford Rose Garden, one of the most acclaimed rose gardens in the nation. He is a judge for the rose trials of Bagatelle in Paris and is also President of the Heritage Rose Foundation. Stephen has worked tirelessly throughout his career to preserve heritage roses and in 2009 created the Heritage Rose District of New York City – a volunteer project that promotes heritage roses and gardening with the children of Harlem. Stephen's serious approach to determining best practices in rose care has led him to receive several awards, including the 2008 Zone IV Horticulture Commendation Award, Great Rosarian of the World Award in 2009, the 2013 GCA Jane Righter Rose Medal and the American Horticultural Society's Annual Book Award in 1998 with his book A YEAR OF ROSES. He has authored and co-authored five books on roses. Stephen Scanniello lives for roses and describes each one as if he were describing a quirky, adored relative. In so doing, he easily attracts volunteers to his many projects with a peerless personal commitment to saving old garden roses locally, nationally and internationally. Honored in 2015 (along with Julie Andrews) by the New York Botanical Garden for his ongoing work in rose preservation and education.
Honorary Member since 2015.
