'SCENTIMENTAL'
My article last month was about 10 of my favorite hybrid teas to grow. This month, at the request of my readers, I am going to list 10 of my favorite floribundas.
Floribundas are generally pretty easy to grow, assuming they are highly rated and cared for properly. They tend to be 3-4 feet tall with large clusters of smaller blooms. Some people don’t think they make good cut flowers. I disagree, the blooms of a floribunda are less formal, but can still make a dazzling display in a vase. Floribundas make excellent hedges. Forget the boxwood hedges for a minute. With consistent watering a great floribunda will easily bloom continually until a hard frost.
1. BLUEBERRY HILL – One of my favorite lavender roses. This rose exhibits great disease resistance and fantastic fragrance. Lavender roses have been notorious for their susceptibility to disease and winter kill, but this 3 foot rose is wonderful.
2. DAYBREAKER – A pastel peach and yellow, mildly fruity 3 foot bush. Very beautiful, it looks soft, but is “tough as nails”.
3. HOT COCOA – Is an unusual color. Jackson and Perkins call it a smoky chocolate orange bi-color. Can you picture that? It is 3-4 feet tall, has fantastic disease resistance and a light fruity fragrance.
4. ICEBERG - This rose was introduced the year I was born, in 1958 and continues to be on the lists of most popular roses in the world. It has beautiful fragrant white flowers and blooms profusely. Obviously at 48 years old it has proven it’s worthiness in your garden. Iceberg stands 4 feet tall, will tolerate part sun and is almost thorn-less.
5. LIVIN’ EASY – One of the easiest roses to grow..period. Livin’ Easy has superior disease resistance with beautiful, fragrant apricot orange blooms. An excellent choice for anyone. 4 feet tall.
6. PLAYBOY – Introduced in 1976 this guy is loud. An orange and scarlet 7-10 petalled bloom that screams, “Look at me!” Absolutely beautiful shiny foliage and an apple fragrance. Playboy can easily get to 4 feet with large canes and an ample spread.
7. PRETTY LADY – Is tough. With beautiful creamsicle colored blooms and incredible disease resistance this is another “no brainer” rose. 4 feet tall. A must have.
8. SEXY REXY – One of the highest rated floribundas in the world. Sexy Rexy is a medium pink bush that, with proper care, will produce buckets of bloom all summer long. It is lightly fragrant and 4 feet tall. This is a fantastic rose.
9. SCENTIMENTAL – This is a deep burgundy red and white striped 3 foot bush with an extra strong fragrance. It is beautiful planted amongst other red roses or right next to Double Delight, the red and white highly fragrant hybrid tea.
10. SUNSPRITE – The first rose that ever bloomed in my very 1st rose garden 28 years ago. Sunsprite is a bright yellow, fragrant 3 foot bush with glossy, very disease resistant deep green foliage. This rose has also stood the test of time.
In closing, let me reiterate, or as some may say, “harp on” the importance of giving all of your roses 6+ hours of sun
(except where noted), 1-2 inches of water per week and 4 cups TEROSA ROSE FOOD once a year.
While these roses all exhibit tremendous disease resistance if you see any or simply want to avoid bug and disease infestation, try using the product Messenger and/or compost tea. Talk about spectacular results. Enjoy a chemical free garden. It is the “best way to grow”.
Terri Hiatt works at Peninsula Gardens as a buyer, designer and rose expert. She teaches gardening classes all over the Pacific Northwest and also at Peninsula Gardens and at Tacoma Community College in Gig Harbor and is the creator of Terosa Ultimate Once A Year Fertilizers. She can be reached at terrihiatt@hotmail.com.
