Rosa x floribunda Taste of Love 'Theo Clevers' - Floribunda Rose

The bush rose Taste of Love 'Theo Clevers' or 'Bozkatafra' is a small, dense bush with extraordinary flowering. From July to October, clusters of pink flowers reminiscent of some old varieties bloom. These roses are made up of many petals, which are appreciated for their appearance and flavour as they are edible. They have a strawberry aroma that works wonders in fruit salads, confectionery, jams, and jellies. Resistant to diseases and easy to grow, this medium-sized rose can be planted alone or in flower beds and can also be grown in a large pot to enhance a terrace or balcony.

The variety 'Theo Clevers' or 'Bozkatafra' is part of the Taste of Love collection, which brings together roses with edible petals that borrow their aroma from different fruits. The genus Rosa is extremely prolific in botanical species and horticultural cultivars. Classified into large groups, roses are enriched with a new range of sensations.

'Theo Clevers' is a recent variety that appeared on the market in 2019, bred by Peter Cox. It forms a dense bush 70 to 80 cm (28 to 32in) in height and about 50 cm (20in) wide, with beautiful foliage composed of dark green leaflets with a slightly shiny surface. This dark vegetation is a perfect background to highlight the beauty of the flowers. The corollas are uniformly and homogeneously pink, with an impressive number of tightly-packed petals: usually between 130 and 140! The flowering starts in July and continues in successive waves until October, producing large clusters called corymbs, clearly visible above the foliage. Measuring approximately 7 cm (3in) in diameter, the flowers exude a pleasant fragrance with notes of strawberry. The petals are also edible and have a strawberry taste. Very floriferous, the rose will not suffer from the generous harvests you make, as new flower buds will form. Just leave enough for the plant to maintain its ornamental value.

The foliage of this rose is highly resistant to diseases, allowing it to be grown organically and fully enjoy its taste qualities! Deciduous, it will shed its leaves in autumn and reappear the following spring.

Theo Clevers rose, with its resemblance to old roses, possesses all the advantages of modern roses: beauty, fragrance, disease resistance... plus a real culinary interest. You can grow it in a container or a large pot on a terrace, so it is within reach, or at the base of an arch where you have trained a clematis, one of the plants that pairs well with roses. Plant it in groups of 3 or 5 in the garden, or integrate it into a flower bed. Plant low perennials like Campanula carpatica, which will spread as a carpet of bluebells in summer. An Iris germanica Gracchus, with its yellow petals dominating cream sepals veined with purple, will extend the flowering period to May and surprise you by blooming again in October, creating a stunning contrast with the roses!

In the kitchen:

Harvest the petals of flowers that are almost fully open but not faded (they quickly lose their aroma), preferably in the morning. Only consume flowers from untreated plants. The petals will keep for 12 to 14 days in the refrigerator at a temperature of 5°C (41°F). You can use them in confectionery, to flavour jellies, jams, fruit salads, prepare syrup, or to flavour drinks. You can also make delicious sorbets, as 'Theo Clever' is named after a renowned Dutch ice cream maker.