Floribunda Roses are an essential rose variety that will complement any garden. Whether you grow them in a pot on your balcony or create a large flower bed in a spacious backyard, Floribunda Roses are sure to attract attention with hundreds of flowers on a compact bush all summer long.
These roses are a cross between a large-flowered hybrid tea rose and a densely flowered polyantha variety. The English translation of the Latin word “floribunda” is “plenty of flowers” or “free-flowering,” alluding to the fact that these roses are known for producing flower clusters. Who wouldn't love that?
Floribunda roses are perfect for flower beds and container displays due to their compact nature and tendency not to grow taller than 5-6 feet. You may know how to grow roses, but there are a few steps you can take to keep these plants thriving. If you're looking for rose garden ideas, floribunda roses are definitely worth considering as one of your tough, durable rose options. We asked a rose expert for three tips for growing this impactful flower.
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How to grow Floribunda roses
Floribunda roses can be grown in U.S. plant hardiness zone 5 through U.S. plant hardiness zone 9 and can tolerate a wide range of climates. They generally can tolerate temperatures down to 10°F, but if you experience continuous cold spells with frost or snow, it's a good idea to protect your floribunda rose.
No rose can be described as easy to care for, but floribunda varieties are relatively stress-free, flowering from June through October and highly disease-resistant. Follow these three expert-approved tips and your garden will be bursting with roses this year.
1. Floribunda roses grow best in sunny locations.
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“Floribunda roses are versatile and can be grown in most regions. We have around 156 floribunda roses on our property, and they're all hardy, cold-hardy plants,” says Robin Jennings, rose expert and strategic partnerships manager at Heirloom Roses.
“Like all roses, floribunda roses need at least six to eight hours of sunlight,” Robin adds. “Generally, the more sunlight a rose can get, the healthier it will be and the more flowers it will produce.”
So, if you're planting a new plant, it's important to choose the right location. Whether you're planting a rootless rose or a potted plant, it's important to give it as much sunlight as possible every day if you want the best flowering.
This is especially important in northern or cooler regions where direct sunlight and light levels are significantly reduced compared to southern gardens.
Robin Jennings
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Rose Expert
Robin Jennings, a city-raised Canadian native, discovered her passion for gardening on the farmland of Oregon's Willamette Valley. Robin works at Heirloom Roses, where she works with breeders to promote the beauty of own-rooted roses and preserve old varieties.
Buy Floribunda Roses
This 'Nelson Mandela' rose from Heirloom Roses is a real masterpiece, producing striking red flowers that are sure to turn heads.
'Purple Tiger' is a truly unique rose, with white and purple flecks that give it an artistic and dramatic look.
'Candy Cane' roses produce striking bi-toned deep pink flowers edged in red, and with this rose, the more the better.
2. Removing dead flowers from floribunda roses is a must
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“Deadheading is essential for floribunda roses,” says Robin. “Removing the dead flowers encourages new rose growth. The more old flowers you remove, the sooner new flowers will appear.”
Using a clean, sharp tool, carefully remove the dead flowers as the petals begin to fall. Once the entire cluster has finished blooming, cut off the entire stem down to the leaf node.
When figuring out how to deadhead roses, Robin has a tip specific to floribunda roses: “These flowers grow in clusters, so if you pluck off the center flower even if it hasn't fully bloomed, the rest of the flowers will bloom at the same time, creating a beautiful sight.”
“Deading is an essential part of summer rose care,” Robin continues, “especially if you want to keep your prized roses in good condition. My favorite floribunda rose at the moment is Parfum Earth Angel, which has beautiful peony-shaped flowers and an incredibly sweet scent of lemon and raspberry.”
Heirloom Roses supplies “Parfuma Earth Angel” and it can be ordered from Amazon.
These Felco pruning shears will make pruning and deadheading your garden a breeze this spring and summer, and are also perfect for cutting flowers for vases.
3. Fertilizer helps floribunda roses grow
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“If you're planting a new floribunda rose, I recommend watering it thoroughly when you plant it and using fish fertilizer, which is gentle on the young roots and won't damage them,” advises Robin. You can buy fish fertilizer online from Amazon.
After the first year, you can use either a granular slow-release fertilizer or a water-soluble rose fertilizer, both of which will help provide essential nutrients for rose growth.
For all you gardening enthusiasts looking for a new project, why not learn how to make your own rose fertilizer? Our guide has all the information you need to try this out using household and garden waste.
This Miracle-Grow rose fertilizer will encourage your rose bushes to produce bigger, better flowers this year, helping them bloom for as long as possible.
FAQ
What Floribunda rose varieties are suitable for container gardens?
Most floribunda roses have a compact growth habit and are well suited to potted plants. One of my favorites is 'Violet Pride,' a striking lilac rose that produces a plethora of beautiful flowers. This variety never grows more than 3-4 feet tall and is well suited to a sunny patio or balcony. 'Violet Pride' roses are offered by Heirloom Roses and are available on Amazon.
Floribunda roses will add colour and impact to your garden this year, with vibrant flowers from summer through to autumn. For more information on roses, check out our guide on how to transport roses.
