Rock & Roll™ – WEKgobnez grandiflora bedding rose
If You enjoy roses with a truly spectacular presence, Rock & Roll™ is a striking grandiflora that turns an ordinary front bed into a living artwork. Large, double, red‑and‑cream blooms open in bold, high‑impact patterns, with each flower slightly different, so Your planting never feels repetitive. Its clear, strong fragrance carries on still summer evenings, bringing classic rose scent right to Your door or patio. The sturdy, upright growth and dense, glossy foliage make it ideal as a feature in smaller borders, where You want height without a sprawling shrub. Strong remontant flowering gives You impressive second flushes when given regular feeding and care, helping Your garden stay colourful even after early summer. Own‑root plants gradually develop a balanced bush that recovers well from pruning, supporting long‑term longevity in Your family garden. In Ireland’s damp climate, with frequent rain and heavy soil, reliable drainage and good air movement will help the plant stay at its best. The pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2‑litre own‑root format is easy to manage in smaller spaces, and as it settles in, You can expect roots in year one, strong new shoots in year two and full ornamental impact by year three.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Front garden feature rose |
The bold, striped red‑and‑cream flowers read clearly from the street, so a single plant near the gate or front path gives strong visual impact without needing a large bed, ideal if You want a standout focal point in a compact Irish front garden for beginners |
| Ornamental bed by the patio |
Its strong fragrance and large, double blooms are best appreciated up close, so planting near a terrace or seating area lets You enjoy scented summer evenings, especially where You can walk past and cut a few stems for the house for homeowners |
| Small group planting (3–5 plants) |
Planting a short row or cluster at the recommended spacing creates a dense, upright block of colour; the repeated striping pattern looks deliberate and designed, suiting family gardens aiming for neat, showy beds with simple maintenance for families |
| Specimen in a mixed cottage border |
The energetic, variegated flowers stand out against looser perennials such as wallflowers or catmint, adding structure and height in traditional cottage‑style borders where You still want a clearly defined focal shrub among softer planting for cottage‑gardeners |
| Cut‑flower corner in a family garden |
Long, upright stems with large, double blooms make this variety suitable for cutting; a dedicated patch allows You to harvest showy stems for vases while keeping the main ornamental beds tidy and predictable for urban‑gardeners |
| Part‑shade side border |
Its suitability for partial shade means it can colour the side of the house or a fence where there is sun for only part of the day, helping You use awkward garden strips more effectively instead of leaving them bare or lawned for busy‑owners |
| Large container on a sunny patio |
Planted in a 40–50 litre container with quality compost and regular watering, its upright habit and dense foliage create a vertical accent on balconies or paved spaces, bringing rose‑garden drama where there is no open soil for balcony‑owners |
| Well‑drained bed in wetter regions |
In beds where You have improved drainage and airflow, the plant responds with stronger growth and repeat flowering, giving reliable display even in a wet, Atlantic‑influenced climate with frequent rain and heavy soil conditions for Irish‑gardeners |
Decorating ideas
- Striped Cottage Border – Combine Rock & Roll™ with Erysimum cheiri and soft blue catmint for a colourful, romantic strip along a path – for cottage‑style enthusiasts who enjoy vivid, painterly planting.
- Patio Scent Corner – Place one plant in a 40–50 litre pot beside a bench, underplanted with trailing thyme, to create an evening relaxation spot filled with fragrance – for busy professionals unwinding outdoors.
- Front Door Welcome – Flank the entrance path with a short row of these roses and low box edging to frame the doorway – for homeowners who want instant kerb appeal with a clear focal feature.
- Family Cutting Patch – Dedicate a small sunny square to Rock & Roll™ and easy annuals for ready‑to‑pick bouquets – for families who like bringing home‑grown flowers indoors.
- Modern Mixed Bed – Pair this upright rose with ornamental grasses and a compact hydrangea for contrast between stripes, plumes and mopheads – for design‑conscious gardeners seeking a bold, contemporary look.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Grandiflora bed rose registered as WEKgobnez, marketed as Rock & Roll™. Trade name Wekgobnez Bedding rose WEKgobnez. American Rose Society exhibition category cut flower and exhibition grandiflora. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tom Carruth, Weeks Wholesale Rose Grower, Inc. Parentage ‘George Burns’ × ‘New Zealand’. Introduced and registered in 2007, breeding completed in the United States in 2006. |
| Growth and structure |
Upright grandiflora shrub, about 120–160 cm tall with 75–110 cm spread. Dense, dark green, glossy foliage, moderately thorny canes. Suits specimen use, hedging, and structured flowerbeds in average‑sized gardens. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, cup‑shaped blooms, typically solitary on stems. Petal count around 26–39 gives a full, traditional form. Strongly remontant, with abundant second flowering when well fed and regularly deadheaded. |
| Colour and phenology |
Striking red‑white striped effect: vivid cherry‑red base with irregular cream‑white streaks and spots. Colour contrast strongest in cooler conditions; in heat the striping softens and fades towards raspberry and creamy tones. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strongly scented rose with a clear, noticeable perfume around the plant. Exact fragrance notes are not documented, but intensity is sufficient for cutting and for enjoying near seating or frequently used garden paths. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Occasionally forms small, spherical red hips around 12–18 mm in diameter. Decorative rather than abundant, appearing mainly when flowers are not deadheaded and adding seasonal interest late in the year. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C, USDA zone 6b, RHS H7, Swedish zone 3. Requires regular spraying and good cultural care, being moderately susceptible to powdery mildew and black spot and very prone to rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun to light partial shade in fertile, well‑drained soil. Maintain consistent watering in dry periods, feed during the season, and provide regular plant protection. Own‑root plants benefit from patient establishment and steady pruning. |
Rock & Roll™ offers dramatic striped flowers, strong fragrance and upright structure on a resilient own-root plant that matures into a long-lived feature; an excellent choice if You would like a distinctive, characterful rose.
