Double, uniform snow-white shade with a subtle silk sheen. - bedding polyantha rose - very weak, barely noticeable scented rose - rose character
– Compact, naturally tidy growth for neat borders
– Masses of tiny snow‑white pompon blooms
– Reliable repeat flowering from summer into autumn
– Medium disease resistance, robust garden performer
– Awarded RHS Award of Garden Merit and ARS wins Special feature: Forms charming red hips after flowering.
LITTLE WHITE PET – white bedding polyantha rose – Henderson
Fill your garden with clouds of white pompon blooms using LITTLE WHITE PET, a classic polyantha that stays naturally compact and tidy without complicated pruning. Its small, ball-shaped flowers appear in generous clusters, creating a soft edging along paths and beds that suits both urban front gardens and country cottages. This own‑root rose establishes steadily in Irish conditions, coping well with our frequent rain and heavier soils when basic drainage is provided. Once planted, it develops into a low, dense hedge-like mound that fits easily into smaller spaces, containers and family gardens. Expect an attractive balance of neat foliage and bloom, with medium maintenance needs that beginners can manage. Over time its moderate self‑cleaning and repeat flowering help keep the display looking fresh, while cluster after cluster of tiny, double rosettes lend a romantic cottage feel from early summer well into autumn – a reliable, long‑lived feature when You want to plant it once and let it settle.
Little White Pet shows very double, pompon-shaped white blooms with a soft creamy centre.
Freshly opened bloom of Little White Pet, showing a pale creamy centre with a hint of pink on the outer petals.
Use cases
Target area
Reason
Front garden edging along paths or driveways
The low, compact habit and 50–80 cm height create a neat, continuous line of snow-white pompons that will not block windows or views, ideal for defining entrances in small Irish front gardens for the busy home gardener
Small groups in ornamental beds around the home
Planting 3–5 bushes together gives generous clusters of tiny, very double blooms with a soft ivory tint, forming a long-season focal point without overwhelming mixed beds, suitable for beginners seeking reliable summer charm owners
Low white flowering hedge in a family garden
With 35–40 cm spacing LITTLE WHITE PET forms a low, continuous, flower-covered line that works well to edge lawns or separate play areas, reaching its full decorative effect as roots, then shoots, then flowering density build over three years families
Container and patio planting near doors or seating
Its modest size and natural mound shape suit large containers; in at least 40–50 litre pots it stays stable and well proportioned, offering close-up views of the pompon blooms by doors, terraces or balconies for compact outdoor spaces residents
Cottage-style mixed border with perennials
The romantic, old-fashioned flower form blends beautifully with airy companions such as Agastache or Lychnis, giving a nostalgic feel that softens fences and walls in rural or cottage-style gardens loved by traditional rose enthusiasts
Small, structured beds in urban gardens
The tidy footprint and mid-green, slightly glossy foliage maintain a clean look even between flowering flushes, ideal where You want low-growing structure that remains attractive close to patios and paths for style-conscious city gardeners
Coastal or exposed sites with heavier soils
This hardy H7 rose tolerates Atlantic weather when planted in improved soil with decent drainage, forming a durable, low bed rose that withstands wind and rain better than taller varieties in simple, resilient planting schemes for coastal home owners
Informal specimen in a small lawn or gravel corner
Used alone at 65 cm spacing, LITTLE WHITE PET becomes a rounded, flower-spangled cushion that adds interest to small lawns, gravel areas or courtyard corners without dominating the space, suiting time-poor gardeners who prefer uncomplicated plantings
Decorating ideas
White Pathway Ribbon – line both sides of a front path with LITTLE WHITE PET at regular spacing to create a low, white flowering ribbon that guides visitors to your door – ideal for homeowners wanting a welcoming yet easy-care entrance
Cottage Bed Mix – combine this polyantha with soft blue Agastache and magenta Lychnis in a small border for a relaxed cottage look, with the rose providing structure while perennials add seasonal colour – perfect for romantic garden stylers
Patio Pot Focus – place a single bush in a 40–50 litre terracotta container by a seating area so its snow-white pompons can be admired up close – suited to balcony and terrace users who like simple but elegant accents
Low Lawn Divider – use a short, curved line of LITTLE WHITE PET to separate play lawn from a flower area, giving a soft, child-friendly boundary that still looks tidy all year – great for families wanting order without harsh barriers
Gravel Garden Jewel – plant one or three bushes into a free-draining gravel bed alongside silvery Artemisia for a textural, low-maintenance combination where the white blooms shine – aimed at busy gardeners favouring minimalist planting
Technical cultivar profile
Property
Data
Name and registration
Trade name LITTLE WHITE PET – bedding polyantha rose; ARS exhibition name White Pet; unregistered sport of Félicité-Perpétue, offered here as an own-root, container-grown garden rose.
Origin and breeding
Historic American sport discovered by Peter Henderson, bred in the United States around 1879, introduced in 1889 and later distributed in Europe as a reliable low white polyantha for beds and edging.
Awards and recognitions
Holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit for dependable garden performance; also a multiple ARS Polyantha Spray show winner, reflecting both ornamental value and consistent flowering habit.
Growth and structure
Compact, bushy shrub 50–80 cm high and 50–75 cm wide, with dense, mid-green, slightly glossy foliage and moderate prickles; forms a rounded mound ideal for edging, small beds, and low hedging.
Flower morphology
Very double, small pompon to ball-shaped blooms, 0.5–1.5 inches across, produced in large clusters; over 40 petals per flower with moderate self-cleaning that benefits from occasional deadheading.
Colour and phenology
Opalescent cream buds with pinkish tones open to snow-white, silk-sheened blooms; colour may cream or slightly brown in strong sun; remontant with generous second flushes through the main season.
Fragrance and aroma
Very weak scent with a light rose character only noticeable at close range; chosen primarily for its visual effect and clustering bloom style rather than for strong perfume in the garden.
Rose hip characteristics
Produces a moderate quantity of small, spherical red hips about 5–8 mm wide, adding discrete late-season interest when not all spent blooms are removed after the main flowering period.
Resistance and hardiness
Hardy to approximately −26 to −23 °C (USDA 5b, RHS H7); medium resistance to black spot, mildew and rust, needing occasional plant protection and regular watering during prolonged heat or drought.
Horticultural recommendations
Suited to beds, edging, hedging and containers; plant at 35–40 cm for lines or 65 cm as a specimen, around 6 plants/m² for mass effect; thrives in well-drained soil with sun to partial shade and basic seasonal care.
LITTLE WHITE PET offers neat, compact growth, masses of white pompon clusters and long-term stability from its own-root form, making it an easy, reliable choice for a family garden that You can enjoy with minimal fuss.
Detailed product attributes
Product Identification Data
Product Name:
LITTLE WHITE PET – white bedding polyantha rose - Henderson
Product Type:
pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL - 2-litre own-root potted rose
Our product is a rose grown with unique pharmaROSA® cultivation technology!
2 litre, own-root, potted rose.
With shoots appropriate to the season.
With roots thoroughly interwoven through the growing medium.
Quality in line with the requirements of the E.N.A. (European Nurserystock Association).
In unique packaging that prevents damage.
Can be planted during frost-free periods.
True-to-type rose plant with an individual identifier.
The pharmaROSA® own-root potted rose is a well-rooted plant that supports reliable establishment when planted and cared for properly, so it can be planted whenever the soil is not frozen.
Stock: several varieties and several stages of development in a short stock section.Shoot system: intensive growth of fresh basal shoots on a young plant.Root system: presentation of the strong root system interwoven through the growing medium with the pot removed.Balance: mature plant where the development of the root system and the shoots is in harmony.
Information about the videos
The video series is not a “seasonal showcase”, but makes the essence of pharmaROSA® own-root production tangible: how the plant is built, what the root system is like and how the shoots renew themselves. The footage was therefore taken at different times, showing plants at different stages of development, so mixed leaf coverage or differing growth stages may appear in the videos. This is not a “sample” of the batch delivered, but an illustration of how the technology works. The current condition of the rose available to order — typical of the given period and similar to what you can expect to receive in the parcel — is shown at the top of the product page.
Pages for private customers Garden roses for the family garden, with minimal care → ORIGINAL® Premium garden roses – instant impact, a truly showpiece garden → EXTRA® Pages for professionals and private customers Roses for public spaces – large areas, sustainable maintenance → NATURAL® Roses for projects – hedge and row planting, fast implementation → RAPID® For professional partners only Production – propagation material for garden roses, wholesale → NEONATAL®
Company details
PharmaRosa Ltd. Company registration number: 01-09-717479 VAT number: 13075314-2-43 Plant health registration no.: HU130721 Bank account (IBAN): HU85117631891388688400000000 BIC (SWIFT): OTPVHUHB Bank name: OTP Bank Nyrt.
