Floribunda Roses
Many floribunda roses are pretty hardy in zone 5, requiring only minimal winter protection. For a little extra care, floribunda roses will reward you with abundant clusters of colorful blooms all season long. A floribunda rose will generally be more vigorous and tolerant than hybrid tea roses, and also produce more blooms for longer periods.
Floribunda ‘Angel Face’
- Class: Floribunda, modern cluster flower
- Parentage: (‘Circus’ x ‘Lavender Pinocchio) x ‘Sterling Silver’
- Sun: Full sun
- Height: 3-4
- Spread: 3-4
- Growth Habit: Upright and rounded
- Bloom Color: Lavender Mauve
- Flower Form: Fully Double
- Flower Size: Large, 3 1/2 - 4”
- Petal Count: 30-40
- Bloom Season: Repeating, early summer to fall
- Fragrance: Very Strong Lemony fragrance
- Stem: Medium length, 10-15”
- Foliage: Glossy dark green, leathery
- Disease Resistance: Some resistance to common rose diseases, somewhat susceptible to black spot
- Soil: Enriched well drained, sandy or loamy
- Hardiness: zones 5-9 (t0 -10 F)
‘Angel Face’ produces vivid lavender mauve blooms with ruffled petals nearly continuously. Petals are often edged in a deeper purple-pink. This is a rare color in floribunda roses, which may account for its’ popularity. The blooms exhibit a faint silvery sheen from its’ parent ‘Sterling Silver’, adding to the exquisite beauty of the blooms. Excellent cutting flower. Once established bloom production increases. ‘Angel Face’ is one of the most fragrant floribundas. It has a neat rounded shrub form that is pleasing for hedging and shrub borders. Also makes a striking standard, and will do well in large containers. Make sure ‘Angel Face’ gets plenty of sun and regular feedings for best color and blooming. The plant grows vigorously and will do well in zone 4 with moderate protection. Heavily mulch in zone 5. ‘Angel Face’ is also available as a climber, if you can find it.
Floribunda ‘Betty Boop’
- Class: Floribunda, modern cluster flower
- Parentage: ‘Playboy’ x ‘Picasso’
- Sun: Full sun
- Height: 3-5’
- Spread: 4-5’
- Growth Habit: Rounded
- Bloom Color: Ivory and yellow, edged in red
- Flower Form: Semi double
- Flower Size: Large, 4”
- Petal Count: 6-12
- Bloom Season: Late spring or early summer to frost
- Fragrance: Moderately fruity
- Stem: Medium, 10-15”
- Foliage: Glossy green
- Disease Resistance: Moderately disease resistant
- Soil: Enriched well drained
- Hardiness: zones 6-10
This little rose bush became an overnight sensation with it’s colorful blooms of carmine red with creamy white interior and yellow centers. The blooms repeat quickly, are long lasting, and flowers from summer to frost. Summer heat may take a toll on blooms, but new ones open quickly to take their place. In cooler zones this should not be a problem. New foliage emerges dark red, then turns to a rich glossy green. ‘Betty Boop’ is an easy to care for floribunda that does not need deadheading to encourage blooming. Pruning is not needed to maintain a good shape. The plant is naturally rounded making it a perfect choice for bedding and border plants, as specimens, foundation plants or for massing. ‘Betty Boop’ will also do well in a container if it is large enough. Minimal winter protection is suggested in zone 6, moderate winter protection is suggested in zone 5. Zone 4 and north may require maximum protection or Minnesota Tip, but ‘Betty Boop’ has proven to be fairly hardy so you may get away with less in a protected planting site.
Floribunda ‘Bill Warriner’
- Class: Floribunda, modern cluster flower
- Parentage: ‘Sun Flare’ x ‘Impatient’
- Sun: Full sun
- Height: 3-4’
- Spread: 3-
- Growth Habit: Compact
- Bloom Color: Salmon Orange/Coral Pink
- Flower Form: Classic hybrid tea form, opening fully to double
- Flower Size: Medium to Large, 3” - 4”
- Petal Count: 25-30
- Bloom Season: Repeating
- Fragrance: Light sweet fragrance
- Stem: Short to medium length, 5” - 15”, with moderate straight thorns
- Foliage: Dark green, semi glossy
- Disease Resistance: Good resistance
- Soil: Enriched well drained
- Hardiness: zone 6-9
‘Bill Warriner’ blooms constantly with blooms of gorgeous Salmon-Coral in large clusters. The blooms exhibit a classic hybrid tea rose form in bud and initial bloom, then continue to open to a full double form. The clusters are large sprays of well spaced blooms and can easily be de-budded to create a single bloom on each stem if desired. It is an excellent choice for cut flowers despite its’ shorter stems, and the compact habit makes it a good choice for your landscape or garden. Grows vigorously. Once established will hold up fairly well to hot dry summer periods and moderate wind.
Floribunda ‘Black Cherry’
- Class: Floribunda, modern cluster flower
- Parentage: ‘Sexy Rexy’ x ‘Dawn Chorus’
- Sun: Full sun
- Height: 3-4’
- Spread: 3’
- Growth Habit: Bushy
- Bloom Color: Dark red
- Flower Form: Double
- Flower Size: Medium, 3-4”
- Petal Count: 25
- Bloom Season: Repeating
- Fragrance: Light damask fragrance
- Stem: 14” - 18”
- Foliage: Medium green, glossy
- Disease Resistance: Very good resistance to mildew and rust
- Soil: Enriched well drained
- Hardiness: zones 5-10
‘Black Cherry’ provides a striking contrast in the garden with dark, “black cherry” colored blooms. Buds are almost black and are born singly or in clusters. Blooms repeat very well all summer long, deadheading will encourage additional blooming. Rich colored high centered blooms on long stems produce and excellent cutting flower. The blooms hold up well to rain for excellent bedding plants. This is a great rose for humid climates, resisting mildew well. ‘Black Cherry’ own root rose is a hardy rose in zone 5, minimal protection of heavy mulch is advised. This hardy floribunda is a great choice for zone 4 gardeners. Moderate protection of deeply mounded soil and mulch will keep ‘Black Cherry’ growing in a zone 4 garden for years.
Floribunda ‘Blueberry Hill’
- Class: Floribunda, modern cluster flower
- Parentage: ‘Angel Face’ x ‘
- Sun: Full sun
- Height: 2-3’
- Spread: 4-8’
- Growth Habit: Spreading
- Bloom Color: Mauve-lilac
- Flower Form: Semi double
- Flower Size: Large, 4 3/4”
- Petal Count: 12-15
- Bloom Season: Repeating, spring through summer
- Fragrance: Apple fragrance
- Stem: Long
- Foliage: Glossy clear green
- Disease Resistance: Very disease resistant
- Soil: Enriched well drained
- Hardiness: zones 6-11
‘Blueberry Hill’ is a low growing spreading floribunda that produces loads of very large nonstop blooms. The lilac colored petals are delicately waved and the blooms open quickly and lost a long time. It must be diligently deadheaded to produce the floriferous blooms. The bloom clusters appear in early spring through mid summer, with continued flushes into fall.
The foliage of the plant is exceptionally nice, in a glossy clear green that grows vigorously with very good disease resistance. The plant grows consistently well in all zones, holding bloom color well. ‘Blueberry Hill’ is a terrific bedding plant or front of the shrub border. The spreading nature lends itself almost as a ground cover. Unexpectedly, blooms are born on long stems good for cutting. Blooms left on the plant in late season will produce very large hips. ‘Blueberry Hill’ should be protected from spring freezes. Will do well in zone 5 with good winter protection, zone 4 requires maximum protection.
Floribunda ‘Brass Band’
- Class: Floribunda, modern cluster flower
- Parentage: ‘Holy Toledo’ x seedling
- Sun: Full sun
- Height: 3-4’
- Spread: 3’
- Growth Habit: Upright and rounded
- Bloom Color: Apricot
- Flower Form: Double
- Flower Size: Medium to large, 2 3/4”
- Petal Count: 30-41
- Bloom Season: Repeating, summer into fall
- Fragrance: Moderately fruity fragrance
- Stem: Medium length with few thorns
- Foliage: Bright green
- Disease Resistance: Very good disease resistance
- Soil: Enriched well drained
- Hardiness: zones 6-9
‘Brass Band’ is a jazzy, brassy, trumpet of colors in apricot, peach, melon orange, apricot and lemon all in every bloom. Different shades are displayed as the bloom develops, beginning with a lemon yellow bud. The flowers are fully double and well formed with ruffled petals, usually lasting a full two weeks on the plant. Blooming is floriferous, repeating well throughout the season, and does very well in cooler climates with full sun. Cooler weather will encourage the deeper orange colors. Strong stems are just long enough to make a lovely cut flower. In the landscape ‘Brass Brand’ is nice for hedges or planted in masses in beds. Plant in minimum groups of three for best effect, but a single plant can make a nice bright accent. ‘Brass Brand’ is excellent as a rose standard. Shows good cold tolerance and does well in coastal areas. Will do well in zone 5 with good winter protection. Protect from spring freezes in zone 6.
Floribunda ‘Day Breaker’
- Class: Floribunda, modern cluster flower
- Parentage: ‘Silver Jubilee’ x (‘Pensioners Voice x ‘Cheshire Life’)
- Sun: Full sun
- Height: 3-5’
- Spread: 3’
- Growth Habit: Upright, rounded
- Bloom Color: Yellow blended with pink and apricot
- Flower Form: Double
- Flower Size: Large 4” - 4 1/2”
- Petal Count: 30-35
- Bloom Season: Perpetual
- Fragrance: Moderate tea fragrance
- Stem: Medium length
- Foliage: Dark glossy green
- Disease Resistance: Very good disease resistance
- Soil: Enriched well drained
- Hardiness: zones 6-9
‘Day Breaker’s’ elegant pointed yellow buds open to spiraled blooms shaded with the pinks and apricots of summer dawn. Blooms in waves nearly continuously with long lasting blooms. Excellent as a long lasting cut flower. ‘Day Breaker’ grows strong and vigorously, making an excellent landscape shrub as well as a traditional bedding roses.
Floribunda ‘Easy Does It’
- Class: Floribunda, modern cluster flower
- Parentage: (‘Queen Charlotte x ‘Della Balfour’) x ‘Baby Love’
- Sun: Full sun
- Height: 3-4’
- Spread: 3-4’
- Growth Habit: Rounded and bushy
- Bloom Color: Orange, pink, honey blend
- Flower Form: Double
- Flower Size: Large 3 1/2”
- Petal Count: 26-40
- Bloom Season: Continual
- Fragrance: Mild fruity fragrance
- Stem: Medium length
- Foliage: Dark glossy green
- Disease Resistance: Very good disease resistance
- Soil: Enriched well drained
- Hardiness: Zones 6-10
Clusters of ruffled blooms are a blend of citrus orange, peachy pink and honey gold. The scalloped edges and ruffled petals spiral into a gorgeous bloom. Generous blooms create a mild fruity fragrance from spring into fall. This floribunda rose is appropriately named for being easy to grow. ‘Easy Does It’ performs very well in a wide range of climates and conditions. It withstands hot summers in southern regions and blooms late in the fall in cold northern regions. It will require winter protection in zones 5 and colder. The foliage is very glossy, vigorous and disease resistant. ‘Easy Does It’ has a lovely rounded and compact shape which makes it a great specimen rose or border plant.
Floribunda ‘Easy Going’
- Class: Floribunda, modern cluster flower
- Parentage: A sport of ‘Fellowship’
- Sun: Full sun
- Height: 3-5’
- Spread: 2-3’
- Growth Habit: Bushy, rounded
- Bloom Color: Golden Apricot Yellow
- Flower Form: Double
- Flower Size: Medium-Large, 4-6”
- Petal Count: 25-30
- Bloom Season: Continuous in flushes, late spring to frost
- Fragrance: Slight fruity, honey
- Stem: Medium, heavily thorned
- Foliage: Glossy bright green
- Disease Resistance: Good disease and blackspot resistance
- Soil: Enriched well drained
- Hardiness: zones 6b-9
‘Easy Going’ is a yellow variety of ‘Livin’ Easy’. Like ‘Livin’ Easy’ it creates a spectacular mass planting with strong color. The ruffled blooms are produced prolifically, opening with cupped bloom form in small clusters. Remove spent blooms to encourage reblooming. This is a strong and sturdy floribunda with thick petals. Blooming and vigor is fairly consistent across it’s zone range and holds up well in heat. Will do well in zone 5 with good winter protection. Protect from spring freezes in zone 6. Tender new growth exposed to hard freezes may experience canker, die back or plant death. In warmer regions follow standard pruning instructions and remove about one third of the canes’ length. Colder climates will likely require further reduction and cane die-back removal. ‘Easy Going’ is a good container rose, particularly in warmer regions, zone 7 and warmer, where extensive winter protection is not required.
Floribunda ‘Ebb Tide’
- Class: Floribunda, modern cluster flower
- Parentage: Bred from seven different roses
- Sun: Full sun
- Height: 2-4’
- Spread: 3-4’
- Growth Habit: Bushy and upright
- Bloom Color: Purple Plum
- Flower Form: Fully Double
- Flower Size: Large 5”
- Petal Count: 38
- Bloom Season: Repeating, early summer to frost
- Fragrance: Intense sweet, spicy clove
- Stem: Medium in length
- Foliage: Dark glossy green
- Disease Resistance: Moderately disease resistant
- Soil: Enriched well drained
- Hardiness: zones 6 - 9, zone 5 with moderate protection
The very large blooms of ‘Ebb Tide’ are very double old fashioned, with a powerful fragrance. It was hybridized in 2006 by Tom Carruth from ‘Sweet Chariot’ x Blue Nile and ‘Stephen’s Big Purple’. Deep royal purple buds cover the bush, giving rise to the deepest purple blooms available. This can be the deepest rich purple bloom if conditions are right. The color (and size) can vary with the temperature, tending to be the largest and most purple in cooler weather. As summer progresses into the mid 90’s, the blooms will be smaller and less vivid. The lighter smoky lavender is no less lovely as they do not appear simply washed out by the sun.
As an own root floribunda rose, it may be hardy as far north as zone 4 if you protect it properly. ‘Ebb Tide’ improves each year as it is better established, producing more and larger blooms. This floribunda is eye catching as a specimen, wonderful in a mixed border, and creates a stunning hedge (space 5 feet apart). Good choice for containers. Best planted where you can enjoy the outstanding fragrance. The excellent cut flowers will enhance any arrangement. Striking as a tree rose if you can find one. Heavy feeder, fertilize monthly.