Rosa floribunda Josephs Coat

The Rose 'Joseph's Coat', when in bloom, that is, for 4 to 5 months, is an indescribable bush. It is covered with lightly scented bouquets, whose colour evolves throughout the day. Adorned with very healthy foliage, its strong stems form a solid framework that will support the mass of flowers and foliage at human height without weakening. A true bush, resistant to diseases and summer drought, accepting poor soils, this rose is astonishing in the background of a flower bed, works wonders in a flowering hedge or when trained against a wall. A variety to rediscover!

Rose 'Joseph's Coat' is a superb American creation by Herbert C. Swim, published by Armstrong, dating back to 1964. It is the result of a cross between the roses 'Circus' and 'Buccaneer'. Its numerous qualities were rewarded with a gold medal at Bagatelle in 1964, the Certificate of Merit in Rome, and a distinction from the Royal Society of Roses in England.

Extremely vigorous, this floribunda rose forms a beautiful bush with a slightly spreading habit in a few years, with average dimensions at maturity reaching 1.80m (5 ft 11 in) in height and 1.50m (4 ft 11 in) in width. In mild climates, it can reach a height of 3m (9 ft 10 in). Its green stems adorned with reddish thorns are sturdy. They bear abundant deciduous foliage, divided into 5 to 7 leaflets of a fairly dark, matte green colour, and carried by very thorny petioles. Its abundant flowering in June continues more sporadically until October-November if the soil remains moist. Its 7cm (2.8 in) wide semi-double corollas are slightly ruffled, gathered in loose clusters of 5 to 7 flowers with a slightly blurred pattern. The pointed buds, yellow-orange in colour, open into flowers with variable and evolving colours, in a palette ranging from yellow to old purple pink, with hints of pink. Note that this colour harmony is more flamboyant in autumn. The fragrance of the flowers is described as floral, with medium intensity, more noticeable in the evening and in hot weather. This variety does not produce hips.

The rose 'Joseph's Coat', which does not require pruning, is vigorous and robust enough to be integrated into a free or defensive hedge. Hardy, undemanding, and very easy going, it will thrive in all areas. Plant it alongside abelias, botanical roses, escallonia, beberis, spring spireas, viburnums, lilacs, mock oranges, or serviceberries according to your soil and climate. It will also create a sensation at the back of flower beds with easy plants such as perennial geraniums and blue asters, or with lower shrubs (Caryopteris, lavenders, Perovskia...). Its use is versatile, according to each gardener's desires. And its delicately scented roses sparkle in bouquets.

A curiosity of nature: all parts of the 'Joseph's Coat' flower that are not exposed to the sun will be light in colour: if you lift one of the petals, you will discover on the petal below it its "shadow", of a light colour. This phenomenon is called photosensitisation and is marked in this variety.