Book  (1938)  Page(s) 117.  
 
Mr Frank Penn, NZ.  New Roses in Auckland
Portadown. (I still think this one of the best reds we have in Auckland),

Website/Catalog  (1938)  Page(s) 36.  
 
Bush Roses
Portadown (Hybrid Tea)... Rich deep crimson. Beautiful bud, with large petals. Good bushy erect growth. Free. Wonderful in the young stage. Rather subject to mildew. Faint perfumed. Introduced 1928.

Book  (1936)  Page(s) 89.  
 
Frank Penn. Rose Notes from Auckland, N.Z.
...but there are other reds that are more attractive, such as Portadown, which is, I think, the best all-round red Rose in my garden. Nearly every bloom comes perfect. It is a real aristocrat, blooms very profusely, and does splendidly.  The only fault I have with it is that it has only a little fragrance. Some growers declare it mildews very badly, but in that respect it is no worse with me than many others. 

Book  (1936)  Page(s) 575.  
 
Portadown (HT) McGredy 1928; velvety dark crimson, purple reflexes, very large, double, fine form, high-centered, lasting, fragrance 5/10, floriferous, continuous bloom, long stems, black prickles, growth 6/10, upright, bushy, hardy. Sangerhausen

Magazine  (Dec 1932)  Page(s) 109.  
 
Portadown (S. M. Gredy et Son).— Fleur grosse, pleine, superbe. Coloris rouge cramoisi foncé à reflet velouté. Excessivement florifère. Convient pour massif, jardin et exposition.

Magazine  (Aug 1931)  Page(s) 111.  
 
[From the N.R.S. Trial garden in 1930] Un Certificat de première classe a été décerné à :
Portadown (H. T.), S. Mc Gredy & Son.
Couleur : Rouge foncé. Forme de la fleur: Parfait e avec centre en pointe élevée. Parfum : Légèrement odoriférante. Forme de croissance : Modérément vigoureuse. Feuillage vert rougeâtre, bois rouge, épines noires. Destinations les mieux appropriées : Exposition, parterres. Remarques : Dans quelques situations, cette variété a des tendances au Mildew, mais ici elle en a été particulièrement indemne. Doit être plantée de façon liés serrée.

Website/Catalog  (1930)  Page(s) 44.  
 
New Roses 1929.  Portadown (HT) (S. McGredy & Son, 1928). 3.  In the last few years there have been many red roses placed on the market, and one is entitled to expect colour constancy in any implied improvement.  This variety is one of the weakest in colour values we have seen and, in addition, is a slave to black spot and mildew.  It is difficult to see any redeeming feature and the variety will be discarded.  

Website/Catalog  (1929)  Page(s) 29.  
 
Rosiers nouveaux 1928. Hybrides de Thé...
Portadown (S. Mc. Gredy et Son). — Fleur d'un coloris riche, rouge cramoisi foncé a reflet velouté ; grande, pleine, de forme superbe, sur pédoncule long et ferme. Arbuste vigoureux à rameaux buisaonnants et ^érigés, fleurissant à profusion pendant toute la saison. Variété de grand mérite.

Website/Catalog  (1929)  Page(s) 39.  
 
New Roses 1929
Portadown (HT) (S. McGredy & Son, 1928). A rich deep crimson rose with a velvety sheen which is a step on the way to the ideal dark crimson, suitable alike for garden, bedding and exhibition. The raisers say: "Though we speak so glowingly of 'James Gibson', Portadown is an entirely different type, and we have never seen two roses with such distinctive habit of growth, diversity of colouring and striking general character. The flowers are large, full, and beautifully formed, reminding one of the perfection of 'Mrs. Henry Morse' at its best. The petals are huge and of heavy texture. Habit of growth is very free and bushy and the flowers are borne profusely all season on strong, very stout, stiff stems which are heavily foliaged with large dark leaves. The habit is very distinct and We know no variety which has the same stout, bushy, upright, vigorous and free flowering propensities." The plants seem to break from every eye and to be always in flower. 5/- each.
Colour fades badly, 25 petals. No perfume. Not up to general standard of 'Lord Charlemont', 'Etoile de Hollande' or 'Edith Clark'.

Article (misc)  (1929)  Page(s) 222.  
 
Portadown Hybrid Tea (S. McGredy & Son, 1928)... rich deep crimson with a velvety sheen. Certificate of Merit, NRS, 1927; Award of Merit (unanimous), RHS, 1928.