Each area of the country can have challenging growing conditions for cut flower gardens. When it comes time to choose roses for your cut flower garden, check out the recommendations of the All-America Rose Selections. For several years they’ve been naming regional rose winners. For northern California and the Northwest, the group singled out several disease resistant varieties that can withstand rainy days and humid weather. These include Gemini, About Face, and Cherry Parfait.


About Face Rose

This bushy grandiflora is suited for zones four through ten. Very floriferous, this was released in 2005 by Weeks Roses. It was bred by renowned rose breeder Tom Carruth of the firm.

This is a tall, upright, vigorous bush. The leaves remain deep green and healthy because this variety is very resistant to disease. It reaches six feet in height with a spread of four feet or so. A repeat bloomer, this is easy to grow.

The completely double lovely blooms are medium in size with 30 to 35 petals. These can open either singly, or occasionally in clusters. The blooms are the highest quality during cool weather. With a fruit-like fragrance, these are a bicolored orange blend. Opening from dark reddish-bronze buds, the petals are gold with a reddish-orange on the reverse when they first open. As the blooms age the darkest color becomes lighter.

Very free flowering, this plant’s lineage includes Midas Touch, Hot Cocoa, and O Solo Mio.


Cherry Parfait Rose

In addition to being a regional award winning rose variety, this was also named an American Rose Society winner in 2003.

Suitable for zones five through 11, this grandiflora was released in France in 2003 by Meilland. A somewhat rounded bush, this is medium in height, around five feet with a spread of four feet. Very free flowering, this has dark green foliage that remains healthy.

With a light scent, the blooms are a bicolored orange blend and completely double with over 30 petals. The coloring can vary somewhat from one bloom to another. Predominantly red, these generally have swirls of various reds with cream and white. They often open in clusters. The flowers are medium sized. The plants bloom nicely in hot weather with an intense, strong color. Its lineage includes Matangi, Jacqueline Nebout, Meldinu, and Anticipation.