Floribunda roses are a group of garden roses that are known for their large clusters of blooms. They were developed by crossing hybrid tea roses with polyantha roses, which are characterized by abundant clusters of smaller flowers. The idea was to create roses that bloomed with the polyantha profusion, but with hybrid tea floral beauty and color range.
Floribundas are found in all hybrid tea colors and with the classic hybrid tea-shaped blossom, sometimes differing from hybrid teas only in their cluster-flowering habit.
Clusters of flowers borne repeatedly from summer through autumn (as opposed to hybrid teas which typically produce flowers singly on each stem). Each flower is smaller than hybrid teas but their presence in large clusters gives an impressive floral display.
The first Floribunda rose was introduced in 1930 by the German breeder, Paul S. Wild, it was called “Kronenbourg”. The rose was developed in Europe and then quickly became popular in other parts of the world. The Floribunda rose quickly gained popularity with home gardeners and commercial growers alike, due to their hardiness, disease resistance, and long blooming period.
In this article, I will explore the history and development of Floribunda roses, their characteristics, and tips for growing and caring for them in your own garden.
List of Floribunda Roses
- Julia Child Rose
- Iceberg Rose
- Impatient Rose
- Mardi Gras Rose
- Scentimental Rose
- Sexy Rexy Rose
- Betty Boop Rose
- Princess of Wales
- Angel Face Rose
- Amber Queen Rose
- Anne Harkness Rose
- Arthur Bell Rose
- Bonica 82 Rose
- Cherish Rose
- English Miss Rose
- Heidi Klum Rose
- Champagne Moment Rose
- Rose At Last
Characteristics of Floribunda Roses
- Floribunda roses produce clusters of flowers, sometimes with as many as 20-30 blooms per stem.
- The roses bloom repeatedly throughout the growing season, which can last from spring through fall.
- They are generally shorter and bushier than traditional hybrid tea roses, making them well suited for garden beds, borders, and patio containers.
- The roses come in a wide variety of colors, including red, pink, yellow, white, and orange.
- Many floribunda roses have a pleasant fragrance, which can vary from light and delicate to strong and heady.
- Floribunda roses are known to be more disease resistant than other types of roses.
- These roses are adaptable to different climates, soil types, and growing conditions. They can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 4-9.
Description of History and Characteristic of Floribunda Roses
Julia Child rose
The Julia Child rose, known in the UK as the Absolutely Fabulous rose was bred by the American Tom Carruth in 2004.
This rose is named after Julia Child, the famous American chef and television personality known for her love of French cuisine and her cookbook “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.”
Julia rose is a cross between the hybrid tea rose “First Prize” and the floribunda rose “Crimson Glory.” Flowers are medium size with about 26–40 petals, cup-like or globular in shape.
The Julia rose was named an All-America Rose Selection (AARS) winner in 2007, an award given to new rose varieties that are deemed outstanding in terms of their health, hardiness, and garden performance.
Julia is a repeat blooming variety that can produce flowers from late spring to frost.
Also Read: Different Types of Yellow Roses
Iceberg Rose
Iceberg Rose, also known as ‘Schneewittchen’ has large clusters of pure white blooms that are produced in abundance from spring to fall.
This rose was developed by German rose breeder, Kordes in 1958, and it quickly became one of the most popular roses in the world.
Iceberg Rose can reach up to 3 or 4 feet in height and somewhere around 2 or 3 feet wide. It has glossy green foliage and the blooms are very fragrant.
You can actually use the rose in a variety of ways including border and mass planting. You can also train the rose to grow as a small climber.
Iceberg rose is versatile in nature and can be grown successively in range of climates, due to the fact, it is cold hardy, heat and drought tolerant.
For sure this is a good rose that should be considered by those looking for a white rose that is easy to care for and produces an abundance of blooms.
The Impatient rose
The Impatient rose was first introduced in the United States by the Star Roses and Plants nursery in the early 2000s.
The rose was bred to be more disease-resistant and able to bloom more profusely than other floribunda roses. ‘Impatient’ rose produces flat, semi-double, scented, orange-red flowers with glossy, light green leaves.
Something good about this rose is its hardiness and tolerance to heat and humidity. This rose does well particularly in warmer climates though it got ability to grown in a variety of soil types. You can use it for landscaping your yard or grow it in containers for use in outdoor spaces such as patio.
Mardi Gras Rose
Rosa ‘Mardi Gras’ can be described as an exceptional floribunda rose cultivar that was expertly bred by renowned rose hybridizer Dr. Keith Zary in 2007.
This vibrant cultivar was then introduced to the United States by the renowned rose growers, Jackson & Perkins, in 2008. It features striking blooms, which are borne singly or in small clusters.
The flowers boast a mesmerizing blend of orange, yellow and pink hues and are highly fragrant, with a medium musk scent that is sure to delight the senses.
The leaves are both attractive and healthy, providing a lush backdrop for the striking blooms. The rose is also highly disease resistant and if cared for well can provide beautiful blooms for a very long time.
Scentimental Rose
Rosa ‘Scentimental’ was developed by renowned rose breeder Tom Carruth in 1996, this variety boasts a unique coloration of red and white stripes. Each bloom is packed with up to 36 petals.
The blooms are a deep, rich burgundy-red color and are adorned with creamy-white swirls, giving them a truly striking appearance. Each bloom is also packed with up to 36 petals.
One of the most interesting things about these flowers is that no two flowers are alike, each bloom has its own distinct splashes of color. The roses also emit a moderate, spicy fragrance that is sure to delight the senses.
These roses begin to bloom in late spring, and will continue to produce flowers in flushes throughout the fall, making them a reliable and long-lasting source of color or attraction in the garden.
Sexy Rexy Rose
Rosa ‘Sexy Rexy’ is an amazingly beautiful and highly prized floribunda rose cultivar which has won multiple awards for its visual interest it generates wherever it is placed.
Developed by the renowned breeder, Sam McGredy IV, this rose was first introduced to the world by McGredy Roses International in 1984. This rose is versatile and can be planted in a border, or used as a specimen in a container or pot.
The most obvious identifying feature of this rose is its small clusters of cupped, fully double blooms that are slightly scented with a soft pink color.
Each flower is made up of an impressive 40 petals. These ravishing blossoms bloom profusely in flushes, starting in late spring and continuing into the fall, providing an extended period of beauty in the garden.
Betty Boop Rose
Rosa ‘Betty Boop’ was bred by American hybridizer and introduced to the United States by Weeks Roses in 1999. This highly sought-after rose was named an All-America Rose Selections winner in the same year of its introduction, a testament to its exceptional beauty.
This rose has a red and white flowers, with red edges and yellow stamens. It blooms in flushes from spring through fall, providing an extended period of beauty. The blooms have a strong, fruity fragrance and are best for adding visual interest and fragrance wherever they are placed especially in patios.
Princess of Wales Rose
The Rosa ‘Princess of Wales’ is a stunning rose that was Bred by Harkness in the United Kingdom and was first introduced in 1997, this rose features elegant cream buds that open to reveal full, double flowers of pure white. The petals are delicately frilled and abundant, and each flower is adorned with a golden tiara of stamens at its center.
The Rosa ‘Princess of Wales’ produces clusters of up to nine flowers per stem and has a fresh, subtle scent. Its dark, glossy foliage overall, adds to the general aesthetic appeal of the rose. This cultivar blooms in flushes, starting in early summer and continuing through mid-autumn or even later in mild seasons.
Angel Face Rose
Angel Face rose is a floribunda rose variety that originated at Swim and Weeks nursery in Southern California. It was introduced in 1968 and quickly gained recognition as an All-American Rose Selection the following year, becoming the first mauve colored rose to receive this prestigious award.
One major characteristics of “Angel Face” is its ruffled petals. These petals are often edged with a flush of red, and they tend to be more erect in young flowers before flattening out to reveal the central golden bunch of stamens as they age.
This is a smaller variety of rose compared to hybrid tea roses, reaching a height of 2 to 3 feet tall. Its dark green glossy leaves provide a striking contrast to the delicate mauve color of the flowers.
Amber Queen Rose
Rosa ‘Amber Queen’ is actually one of the most popular floribunda rose cultivar in North America. It was bred by Jack Harkness and introduced in Great Britain by Harkness Roses in 1984.
Its parent varieties are the floribunda, Rosa ‘Southampton’ and the hybrid tea, Rosa Typhoon. This combination of parent varieties resulted in a truly unique and striking rose variety that has been recognized with multiple awards.
The flowers of ‘Amber Queen’ are an apricot blend, with variations of apricot, pink and yellow in color. Each cluster contains 3 to 7 flowers, which overall have a strong and spicy scent.
The leaves are very large and are initially dark red in color, later turning dark green and glossy with time. The plant has a spreading habit, and its branches are covered with reddish prickles.
Anne Harkness Rose
Rosa ‘Anne Harkness’ is a highly sought-after floribunda rose cultivar that was developed by renowned breeder Jack Harkness in 1979 and introduced into Great Britain the following year in 1980.
This rose has an exceptional beauty and work well as a cut flower and is long lasting when used in vase arrangements. The flowers of ‘Anne Harkness’ are apricot or apricot-blend in color with yellow or gold edges.
The most interesting thing about Anne Harkness rose is its late blooming habit, beginning to bloom late in the season. Despite this, it is a reliable repeat bloomer, providing a continuous display of its beautiful apricot flowers from late summer to early fall.
The flowers are particularly outstanding in August and September. This rose can be the best option for flower gardeners particularly those looking for a late-season bloomer.
Arthur Bell Rose
Rosa ‘Arthur Bell’, a yellow rose cultivar bred by Sam McGredy IV in Northern Ireland in 1964, is a highly esteemed variety having received numerous awards and is among the most popular rose flower in England and Northern Europe.
This is an all round type of rose plant that can be used differently including as a cut flower, as a container plant, in the yard flowerbeds or as a hedge in a landscape setting.
In the summer Arthur Bell Rose plant will produce clusters of fragrant, bright yellow flowers that fade to a pale yellow as they mature. The blooms are slightly double with red stamens when they first open, on thick, prickly stems.
The best thing about this rose, is that, the flowers are resistant to disintegration in rain, and are therefore a reliable option for gardening in all weather conditions.
Also Read: Different Types of Yellow Lilies
Bonica 82 Rose
Rosa ‘Bonica 82’ is a versatile rose cultivar that was bred by Marie-Louise Meilland in France in 1982.
This cultivar was honored with the title of All-America Rose Selections winner in 1987, a testament to its exceptional qualities. Whether used in the garden, in containers, as a cut flower, hedge, or landscape, this plant is sure to impress.
The buds of Rosa ‘Bonica 82’ are of a rich, dark pink color. As the flowers begin to open, they display a bright pale pink color that eventually fades to near white in warmer climates. Each cluster contains five to fifteen flowers with a relatively mild, sweet fragrance.
The petals are ruffled and slightly cupped. The long blooming period of Rosa ‘Bonica 82’ extends into late October. Moreover, the plant produces bright red rose hips that last until the following spring.
Cherish Rose
“Rosa ‘Cherish’ is a vibrant orange-pink floribunda rose cultivar, bred by William Warriner in the United States before 1977 and introduced to the market by Jackson & Perkins in 1980.
This rose was recognized as an All-America Rose Selections in the same year. The rose is a product of two floribunda roses, ‘Bridal Pink’ and ‘Matador’, as its stock parents.
The flowers of Rosa ‘Cherish’ have a high-centered, double bloom form, a mild scent and are borne singly or in small clusters.
The buds are a reddish-orange color, and the flowers open as a coral pink before transitioning to a light pink with a salmon center. The rose boasts a strong, spicy fragrance.
English Miss Rose
Rosa ‘English Miss’ cultivar was bred by Roger Pawsey of Cants of Colchester, Essex in 1977 and was introduced into Great Britain in 1979.
The flowers of ‘English Miss’ are double in form, resembling camellia flowers, with a strong and sweet fragrance that has a spicy undertone. The flowers are often borne in large clusters in the traditional floribunda style. The color of the blooms is a pale pink, often with darker pink edges.
The blooming period of ‘English Miss’ starts from June and lasts until mid-October. It is actually an idea rose cultivar for anyone who want to enjoy a continuous display of flowers throughout the summer and into the fall.
The foliage of the plant is also an attractive feature, with a purple to dark green color and a leathery texture. The cultivar is known to do extremely well in rainy weather.
Heidi Klum rose
The Heidi Klum rose is a stunning variety of Floribunda rose developed by the renowned called Tantau company after crossbreeding Old Port and Barkarole roses.
In 2005 Heidi Klum, a famous German-American model, television host model and business woman, named the rose after herself. The rose features a compact and richly blooming form, with a strong and captivating scent.
The flowers of the Heidi Klum rose can reach up to 9 cm in size, with as many as 40 petals per bloom. The striking color of the flowers is predominantly a vibrant red, and the foliage is lush and green.
This shrub rose always grows with a dense, rounded habit, and therefore it can be appropriate for use in both landscaping and flower gardens.
Candy Cane Cocktail
The Rosa Candy Cane Cocktail is an amazingly beautiful rose bred in France in the year 2013 by Alain Meilland of Meilland International. This beautiful variety consists of small clusters of very full, cupped flowers, with a creamy-white base suffused with deep pink to red edges.
Each blossom is packed with 42 petals, creating a striking bi-colored effect. The rose blooms profusely in flushes from late spring to fall, and in effect contrast well with its dark green foliage.
This rose can be used in a variety of ways such as hedge, it can as well planted at the back of a perennial border, or even placed in a large container on the patio.
Its bushy habit and clusters of blooms make it a real eye-candy, no matter where it is planted. The Rosa Candy Cane Cocktail is sure to add elegance and beauty around any home.
At Last Rose
Rosa “At Last” is a remarkable rose variety developed by the highly skilled rose breeder, Heather Horner of Stansted Mountfitchet, Great Britain.
This rose was created through a complex process of cross-pollination, utilizing the English rose ‘Laura Ford’ and the shrub rose ‘Goldbusch’ as the seed parent, and the floribunda rose Frilly Jilly (’Horjilly’) as the pollen parent.
The unique combination of parent roses resulted in the creation of Rosa At Last, a rose that beams with an array of desirable characteristics.
The most interesting characteristic of Rosa At Last, however, is its large, sweetly scented, fully double apricot orange blossoms, which delicately fade to pale pink. These blooms have a unique continuity, blooming from late spring until the first frost, providing an extended period of visual enjoyment.
Unlike other roses that require deadheading, the blooms of Rosa At Last will naturally fall off once they have finished blooming, eliminating the need for any additional maintenance.