The name floribunda suggests plants that bear copious flowers. In effect, floribundas are a cross between a hybrid tea rose and a polyantha. Usually, this group of rose cultivars is hardy, have low growths and bushier compared to hybrid tea roses.
These attributes of floribundas make them an ideal selection for landscaping. On the other hand, they perform best when they are grown as borders, hedges or even used in mass plantings since floribundas not only produce abundance of flowers but also repeat their blooms quickly.
Some floribundas bear high-centered flowers - typical of hybrid tea roses, while there are other cultivars whose flowers are flatter, ornamental or even cup-shaped. Then again, some floribundas bear single flower on a stem, while most others produce blooms that appear in sprays.
Most floribunda flowers are single, each composed of anything between 5 and 12 petals, some are semi-double comprising 13 to 25 petals, a few of the flowers are double (each composed of anything between 25 and 45 petals and some are very double (each flower composed of more than 45 petals.
Even the individual flowers of floribundas can be remarkable as they may measure up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) across in the case of the largest cultivars. However, generally the width of the flowers of most cultivars could be anything between 3 inches and 4 inches (7.62 cm and 11.4 cm).
Some floribunda cultivars also produce smaller flowers that seldom measure more than 1 ½ inches to 2 ½ inches (3.8 cm to 5.1 cm). However, even these small floribunda flowers are actually showstoppers when they are in full bloom.
Though the habit of floribundas is similar to those of hybrid tea roses - 'ever blooming habit', the flowers of floribundas are borne on comparatively more rounded and neater shrubs. Moreover, the floribundas have a tendency to be capable of enduring cold better.
Generally speaking, floribundas perform their best practically all over the United States as well as Canada. They have a preference of arid climatic conditions that prevail in the West. Nevertheless, floribundas are considered to be a better selection for growing in the Southwest than in the Southeast.
Introduced - 1972
The flowers of 'Anabell' rose are fragrant, flashy and have a rich orange-salmon hue blended with silver. Each flower measures anything between 3 inches and 4 inches in diameter and is composed of 30 petals.
The shape of 'Anabell' rose is similar to that of typical hybrid tea rose. The plants are in bloom throughout the summer. The flowers appear in large sprays on tidy and neat plants that grow up to a height of 2 feet to 3 feet. The plants of this rose cultivar are resistant to diseases as well as winter hardy.
Introduced - 1968
'Angel Face' rose produces pointed buds that unfurl into double flowers with frilled, lavender-mauve hued petals that encircle golden stamens. The flowers of this floribunda cultivar may be flat or cup-shaped and they appear in sprays consistently all through the growing season.
The flowers have different phases of bloom that range from bud to fully open flowers. The blooms of 'Angel Face' rose are excellent for use as cut flowers. The plants of 'Angel Face' just grow up to a height of 2 feet to 3 feet.
The plants are dense as well as compact with a rather spreading habit. These features of the plant make it effect for growing in garden beds and borders as well as its use as a low hedge. While the plants of this rose are somewhat resistant to disease, in some areas they may be vulnerable to mildew and black spot.
Introduced - 1965
'Apricot Nectar' rose bears cup-shaped, double blooms that appear in clusters of three or even more and they bloom all though the growing season. Each flower of this floribunda cultivar measures anything between 4 inches and 4 ½ inches in diameter and have an interesting blend of apricot and pink, while the center is golden hued.
The flowers have an intense apricot-like fruity fragrance. The leaves of this rose are dark green, glossy and have a leathery texture. The plants of 'Apricot Nectar' are extremely vigorous and compact with a bushy nature.
The plants have an extended flowering season that make a wonderful display and useful when grown in garden beds or borders, either singly or in a mass. While 'Apricot Nectar' is capable of resisting some rose diseases, this floribunda cultivar is vulnerable to black spot.
Introduced - 1938
'Betty Prior' rose is among the maiden floribunda hybrids. Its popularity has never waned owing to the fact that this rose bears plentiful clusters of vivid pink, fragrant flowers. Composed of a single round of five petals, the blooms of 'Betty Prior' appear as big dogwood blossoms and they produce a wonderful display against the shiny foliage.
As the flowers of 'Betty Prior' are very simple, they are able to easily blend with annuals and perennials when grown in a mixed border. In addition, 'Betty Prior' rose also performs well when grown as a hedge or foundation planting.
Since this rose is capable of resisting disease, the foliage usually remains unaffected by fungal infections. This rose is not only a heavy bloomer, but also very reliable. Moreover, the plants of 'Betty Prior' are exceptionally cold hardy for any variety of floribunda.
Introduced - 1982
'Brown Velvet' is among the very few roses that have been classified as russet by the American Rose Society. The flowers of this floribunda rose variety have a unique color that originates from their orange base with a cast of purple.
As a result, the flowers appear to be brown. Each flower of 'Brown Velvet' measures 2 ½ inches to 3 inches across and is composed of as many as 35 petals. The flowers are borne in small sprays and have a light fragrance.
The flowers are decorative and are composed of curved mass ruffled petals. The foliage of this floribunda cultivar is dark green and resistant to diseases. The plants grow up to a height of 4 feet.
Introduced - 1975
This floribunda cultivar was dedicated to raise funds for the 10th anniversary of the England's Coventry Cathedral, which was severely damaged during the war. 'Cathedral' rose bears high-centered blooms whose color varies from dark apricot to orange and has a perfect blend of yellow. The flowers are waxy and slightly fragrant.
Each bloom measures anything between 3 inches and 4 inches wide and is composed of 18 to 24 petals. The plants have a bushy nature and grow up to a height of 3 ½ feet to 4 feet. The color of the foliage of 'Cathedral' rose varies from glossy olive to deep green.
Introduced - 1980
'Cherish' rose bears high-centered, double blooms with coral-apricot hue and having a creamy white color at their base. This rose produces spiralled buds that unfurl gradually and the blooms last for a very long time.
Each flower of 'Cherish' rose measures anything between 3 inches and 4 inches in diameter and they appear both singly as well as in clusters of as many as 20. The flowers have a light cinnamon scent and they have a lengthy blooming season.
The new leaves of 'Cherish' rose have a bronze red hue, which gradually change to very dark green and become glossy as they mature. The plant of 'Cherish' rose are bushy and rather spreading in nature. They are compact and have a symmetrical habit.
This attributes make this floribunda cultivar an excellent selection for planting in garden beds and borders. In addition, you may also use this rose in the form of a low hedge. The flowers of 'Cherish' rose are very useful for cutting. This rose has a long list of virtues and these include its ability to resist diseases as well as its remarkable hardiness.
Introduced - 1989
'Class Act' rose produces long and pointed buds that unfurl into informal blooms having pure and bright white hue. Each flower of this floribunda cultivar comprises about 20 to 25 petals and measures 3 inches to 4 inches across.
The flowers have a light fruity fragrance and they may be borne both singly as well as in sprays. The plants of 'Class Act' grow up to a height of anything between 3 feet and 5 feet and have a bushy and rounded shape.
The leaves are dark green and have an exceptional ability to resist rose diseases. In addition, 'Class Act' is also winter hardy.
Introduced - 1967
'Escapade' rose bears simple pink hued flowers having a white eye at the center. The flowers of this floribunda cultivar resemble the blooms of 'Betty Prior'. However, compared to the flowers of 'Betty Prior', the blooms of 'Escapade' are fuller and composed of more petals. In addition, these flowers have a distinct fragrance.
'Escapade' rose is also a very prolific and reliable re-bloomer and also an excellent source of cut flowers. The plants have a vigorous growth and are healthy as well as hardy. The foliage of this rose is light green, glossy and clean.
Besides, the profile of the foliage is graceful and somewhat spreading. 'Escapade' rose can be effectively used in the form of a landscape shrub, a low growing hedge or even a foundation planting.
This rose is capable of easily blending into any mixed border of other shrubs and flowers. In addition, this rose is also excellent for growing as a flowering hedge.
