Fact Sheet

We all know that plants are dynamic, living things, and because we understand so much about our own plants (we carry out trials around the world) we appreciate the subtle differences regarding their growth and habit.

Which is why it’s worthwhile visiting the section of our site which gives you local information – which plants are available; when it’s best to plant, prune and feed them; tips and so on. It’s all here to help you enjoy them more.

Flower Carpet ® WHITE. Masses of lightly fragrant blooms that just want to flower and flower

Flower Carpet ® WHITE planted en masse giving blooms all season long

Introduction

Flower Carpet® WHITE is a tough high performance groundcover rose, one of the series of Flower Carpet groundcover roses introduced by Anthony Tesselaar International that can bloom up to 10 months of the year.

Flower Carpet WHITE is considered by many to be the most disease-resistant white rose available. It has proved in international trials to be highly resistant to common rose blights such as black spot and mildew. It does not require routine chemical spraying and dusting.

It has a pleasant fragrance and a notable ability to retain beautiful, snowy white petals for the entire life of the flowers, even after exposure to rain. These petals fall to the ground in a pleasing “snow” effect.

Flower Carpet groundcover roses are “self-cleaning” and require no fancy pruning or deadheading, simply trim to shape anytime of year. To invigorate blooming, cut back to 10-inches once annually in late winter or early spring. Maximum flowering and performance can be achieved by feeding with a timed-release rose food high in potash in early Spring.

Key Features

Masses of white blooms that retain their color
After blooming, rose petals fall to the ground in a “snow” effect
Glossy green foliage
Pleasingly fragrant
Disease-resistance, easy-care maintenance

Suggested Uses

Use in flowerbeds, mass plantings, large containers, hanging baskets, and as tree roses. A perfect commercial landscaping plant for low-maintenance color.

Growth Habit

Bushes are low, dense and compact. More compact than the other Flower Carpet groundcover roses.

Growth Pattern

To invigorate blooming once plants are established, cut canes back to 10-inches annually in late winter or early spring.

Plant Size

14 to 24 inches in height, 36 inches across (spread).

Flower Size

Medium-large sized (about 2 - 2½ inches across).

Spacing

Plant 2-3 per square yard, for ground cover. Plant 3-4 feet apart to establish boundaries.

Hardiness

Will thrive in USDA zones 5 to 10. In cold zones, protect over the first winter. In zones 5 and below, continued winter protection is advised. In areas of intense heat (for example Phoenix, AZ), protect by planting in semi-shade.

Flowering Period

Once established, will bloom from late Spring to Fall in flowering ‘flushes’ of 3+ weeks that will come and go throughout the season with lighter blooms in between. Flower lifespan is 2-3 days.

Number Of Flowers

Blooms positioned throughout the leaf canopy, in clusters of up to 20 blooms. In full sun, a well-fed, well-watered, mature bush can produce up to 500 flowers per season. With only 4-5 hours of sun per day, it will still produce plentiful flowers, but not as many as in full sun.

Flower Color

Soft white, stays clean and pure even after rains.

Fragrance

Fresh sweet rose fragrance.

Foliage

Dark glossy green, medium sized leaves. Can remain evergreen in USDA zones 8b and above.

Pruning/Pinching

No fancy pruning needed. Cut back by ⅔ annually in late winter or early spring. Trim to shape anytime of year, if desired. The bush is self-cleaning with few rose hips, no dead-heading required, petals fall away cleanly.

Light Needs

For best bloom, grow in full sun. Grows well in partial shade (4-5 hours of sun per day) with reduced blooms.

Soil Needs

Can thrive in a variety of soil conditions. Performs best in well-drained friable garden soil with added organic matter.

Water Needs

When planting in the landscape, water in well particularly during hot conditions and continue to water regularly until the plant is established. Flower Carpet roses are very tolerant of dry conditions once established.

Fertilizer

For maximum flowering and performance, feed with a balanced rose food. It is best not to feed roses in fall and winter as extra nutrients then will force new growth and increase the chances of cold-damage over winter. In warm climates (USDA zones 8 and up): feed in early spring and late summer. In cold climates (USDA zones 5 – 7): feed in spring and summer.

Disease Tolerance

Very resistant to common rose blights such as black spot and mildew. It does not require routine chemical spraying and dusting, apply only if needed.

Pest Issues

Treat for insect pests only as needed.

Special Care

In zones 5 and below winter protection is advised, especially in first winter.

Parentage

Rosa var. ‘Immensee’ x var. ‘Margaret Merrill’.