Class: Floribunda

Summer Snow Photo © Lisa's Rose Garden

Floribundas were produced by crossing Polyantha roses with Hybrid Teas in the 1920's and 1930's. Dines and Svend Poulsen, two Danish brothers, concentrated on breeding cold hardy roses from Dwarf Polyanthas, Polyanthas, and Ramblers. Svend Poulsen bred the Dwarf Polyantha Orleans Rose with the Hybrid Tea 'Red Star'. Two excellent seedlings resulted (Else Poulsen, a pink semi-double, and Kirsten Poulsen, a red single) and were introduced in 1924. Both have large flowers borne in clusters and are remontant. Breeding continued and other Poulsen roses were introduced in the decade that followed. The most famous is the red Karen Poulsen, introduced in 1932. The roses bred by the Poulsens and other breeders following their example were classified as Hybrid Polyanthas. The class was renamed Floribunda in 1952 and is one of the most important rose classes. Taller growing Floribundas (many with classic Hybrid Tea blooms) are classified as Grandiflora roses in America.

Floribundas are versatile in the garden, offering the opportunity to gain classic, high-centered Hybrid Tea style blooms on plants which are usually vigorous, relatively low-growing (most in the 3-5 foot range), attractive shrubs. Usually taller than Polyanthas and with larger flowers in huge upright trusses, the Floribundas are easier to grow and demonstrate greater disease resistance than the Hybrid Tea Roses while their cold hardiness varies.

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