Rosa 'Bonica' - Standard Rose - 90/100cm

The Rose 'Bonica', awarded multiple times, is an excellent variety that combines the charm of old-fashioned roses, the floribundancy of modern roses, and robust health. It lends itself well to being trained as a standard, allowing the gardener to fully enjoy its bouquets of flowers in shades of pink, from deep pink Neyron to soft pink, at eye level. With its impeccable tree-like silhouette, this grand romantic deserves a special place in the garden or even in a container on the balcony!

Standard roses are created by grafting a particular rose variety, such as Bonica, onto an upright stem of a different rose species, namely Rosa laxa or R. multiflora. This graft is made at a certain height, typically at 50-60 cm (20-24 inches) above the ground. In regions with very low temperatures, it may be necessary to protect the rootstock during winter.

The Bonica rose (Meidomonac) is classified in the group of polyantha roses, with its flowers gathered in clusters. Grafted as a standard, it forms a rounded and dense crown. The plant blooms abundantly and continuously from June until frost. Its cup-shaped roses are 6 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) wide and open in an old-fashioned manner. Its foliage, composed of toothed and shiny leaflets of fairly light green, is resistant to rose diseases. For this reason, Bonica has been awarded the highly selective ADR label, given by the German Federation of Rose Breeders. This designation is only granted to varieties that have passed the strictest tests in the world. The plants are tested simultaneously at 10 locations in various soil and climate conditions for several years. The tests cover hardiness, perennial character, and flowering without the use of any pesticides.

Bonica was also awarded the American AARS and was voted "Favourite Rose Worldwide" in 2003.

Bred by J Mouchotte for Meilland (France) in 1981.