AS WARWICK celebrates 50 years as 'The Rose City', former councillor Les Meiklejohn is encouraging locals to grow the iconic flower.

In 1964 Warwick Shire Council adopted the rose as their floral emblem, a symbol that even today has prominence in the town's image.

An avid gardener and lover of roses, Mr Meiklejohn was president of the Warwick and District Tourist Association, which was behind the move to secure a special hybrid rose - the City of Warwick.

Mr Meiklejohn said the City of Warwick rose was created in 1991.

"We approached Swanes Nurseries and they said they would do it," he said.

"The colour red came from maroon, which along with royal blue is one of Warwick's colours."

The City of Warwick rose was created by Bear Creek Nurseries in the US and was funded by the council, with many people in town buying them.

With high-centred blooms and long, strong stems, the City of Warwick rose became popular around the world.

Mr Meiklejohn grew a number of the City of Warwick roses at his old Clark St home, before moving to Regency Park seven years ago.

The idea to become the Rose City was first raised by a Warwick Horticultural Society judge in 1961.

Mr Meiklejohn said people in Warwick had always embraced the idea of the Rose City.

"A lot of people incorporated rose into their business names," he said.

"All roses grow well in Warwick."

While Mr Meiklejohn no longer grows roses, he admits the love and interest is still there.

During a recent trip to the Victorian city of Benalla, he was in awe of the beautiful big garden beds of roses.

"That's what I'd like to think we could do more of here," he said.

"Displaying the name of the roses would generate more interest for people.

"It would be good if more people in Warwick grew roses."