Floribunda roses for the San Francisco Bay Area

June 15, 4:51 PMSF Gardening ExaminerChris McLaughlin

Previous Next

1 comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the SF Gardening Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

'Angel Face'

This rose group earns its keep in the landscape or garden perhaps like no other. Unlike their cousin the hybrid tea, floribundas were bred as handsome shrubs for landscaping and make a remarkable living fence or hedge.

Roses are placed into different groups or classes according to their growing habits and bloom characteristics. The floribunda rose came to be when some clever rosarian early in the 20th century got the bright idea to cross polyantha rose varieties with hybrid tea varieties. The cross was a good one and what came of the breeding was a full, attractive shrub with hybrid tea-like flowers – and in massive amounts.

Floribunda roses bloom in sprays like polyanthas, however, their blossoms are in the form of hybrid teas. As a colorful shrub, they have no rival and they make the most excellent cut flowers. Not surprisingly, we now have floribundas blooming in every color that the hybrid teas offer. Floribundas reach anywhere from 3 to 5 feet high; their growing range making them versatile for any landscape.

Most nurseries will suggest that you grow them as you would any shrub, just be sure of each one’s particular growth habit before you plant. Some grow very tall and some are low and spreading. All roses thrive in full sun and regular, deep watering. Most will tolerate a little less sun, but you’ll be rewarded if you do a little homework and place them where they long to be for 8 hours a day.

Great Floribunda Roses for the Bay Area

• ‘Iceberg’ – One of the most revered floribunda roses anywhere. She blooms in pure white. A mature plant reaches 3-4 feet and has a honey-sweet fragrance.
• ‘Sexy Rexy’ – Low-growing with mildly scented flowers. Living up to her name, Sexy Rexy is almost continually covered in pink blooms.
• ‘Marmalade Skies’ – Plant matures to 3 feet. Tropical orange-ish red in color with a fruity fragrance.
• ‘Sunsprite’ – This lemon-yellow rose leaves nothing to be desired. It has fragrance, non-stop blooms, and disease-resistance.
• ‘Intrigue’ – Plum colored flowers, intensely scented, and disease-resistant.
• ‘Scentimental’ – You really have to appreciate rose names. Amazing burgundy-red blossoms with a strong, spicy scent. The roses on this plant are quite showy with splashes of white; no two flowers are the same.