Lucknow: The spotlight at the Annual Rose and Gladiolus Show at CSIR–National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) firmly belonged to the prize winners as expert judges announced top honours even before the exhibition opened to the public on January 24, 2026. Among the standout performers, Mrs. Rani Upsam of Hotel Clarks Awadh, Lucknow, emerged as one of the most successful exhibitors, winning multiple major awards including Best Hybrid Tea (HT) Red Rose, Best HT Bicoloured/Blended Rose, and Best HT Yellow Rose of the Show.
Other notable winners included the Head of the Chemical Department, IIT BHU, who won the award for Best HT Striped/Streaked Coloured Rose, while the Principal of CMS, Station Road, Lucknow, secured the Best HT Pink Rose of the Show. HAL, Ayodhya Road, Lucknow, claimed two honours for Best HT White Coloured Rose and Best Fragrant HT Orange Coloured Rose, reflecting institutional excellence in floriculture. The Best HT Lavender–Mauve Coloured Rose was awarded to Janeshwar Mishra Park, LDA, while the Best Gladiolus Spike of the Show went to Mrs. Rekha Devi of Geeta Palli, Alambagh.
The two-day Rose and Gladiolus Show was formally inaugurated at the Botanic Garden, CSIR-NBRI, by Prof. Pradeep Kumar Joshi, Chairperson, National Testing Agency, New Delhi, in the presence of Dr. Radha Rangarajan, Director, CSIR-CDRI, and Dr. A.K. Shasany, Director, CSIR-NBRI. The exhibition has been set up at the Central Lawn of the Institute and was opened for public viewing on January 24.
Sharing details of the event, Dr. K.J. Singh, Convener of the Flower Show, said that the competition spans eight classes (A–H) covering cut flowers, specimen blooms, floral arrangements, potted plants and photography. Entries were received from government and semi-government departments, autonomous bodies, nurserymen, individual growers, women gardeners and students. The show features multiple sections of Hybrid Tea, Floribunda, Polyantha, Miniature Roses and Gladiolus, with First, Second and Third prizes, along with the prestigious Director’s Trophy and Director General’s Trophy for overall excellence.
This year, the show recorded an impressive 510 entries from 73 exhibitors, representing Lucknow as well as outstation participants. CSIR-NBRI has been organising the Annual Rose & Gladiolus Show for over 60 years, playing a pivotal role in popularising roses and gladiolus in the North Indian plains and educating plant lovers about improved varieties and cultivation practices.
Among the key attractions is the CSIR-NBRI Pavilion, showcasing cut flowers from the institute’s rich rose and gladiolus germplasm collection, along with technologies and herbal products developed by the institute. Visitors can also view curated displays of roses, gladiolus, Aloe vera, cacti and succulents, threatened plant species and bonsai plants. An awareness corner by NBRI–EIACP is also featured, highlighting the role of plants in pollution management and environmental sustainability.
The exhibition will remain open to the public on January 25, 2026, from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, while the Prize Distribution Ceremony will be held on the same day at 3:00 pm, bringing the annual floral showcase to a celebratory close.
