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© T.Kiya from Japan, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA) · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
Rosa 'Bolero' is a compact floribunda rose reaching 30-40 inches (75-100 cm) tall and 30-36 inches (75-90 cm) wide on a rounded, densely branched framework. Compound leaves bear 5-7 elliptic leaflets 1.5-2.5 inches (4-6 cm) long, deep green with a semi-glossy surface and a slight bronze tint on emerging growth. Flowers are double, 3.5-4 inches (9-10 cm) across with 80-100 petals in a quartered cupped form, opening creamy white with a soft pink-tinged center and aging to pure white as they fade; carried in clusters of 3-5 from late spring through first frost. Strong fruity fragrance with notes of citrus, lychee, and tropical fruits carries 3-5 feet (90-150 cm) from the plant in still air. Bloom flushes occur in 5-6 week cycles in zones 5-9, with 1-2 week pauses; individual flowers last 4-6 days before petal shatter. Stems carry sparse hooked prickles 2-4 mm long. Resistance to black spot and powdery mildew is moderate to high; both diseases can develop in humid conditions with poor air circulation. Lifespan in landscape settings runs 12-18 years on a well-drained site. Bloom volume drops 30-40% in part shade compared to full sun, and petals brown faster after rainfall in cool periods.
Native Range
Rosa 'Bolero' is a hybrid cultivar developed by Meilland International in France and introduced commercially in 2004. It has no native range; ancestry traces to modern romantica-class shrub rose breeding lines selected for old-rose flower form combined with modern repeat-bloom and disease resistance.Suggested Uses
Planted near walkways, patios, and outdoor seating areas at 30-36 inch (75-90 cm) spacing where the fragrance can be noticed. Used in mixed perennial borders and white-themed garden beds with companion plantings of lavender, salvia, or boxwood. Container plantings require pots of at least 7 gallons (26 L) with daily summer watering; container specimens are shorter-lived than in-ground plants by 2-3 years.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2'6" - 3'4"
Width/Spread2'6" - 3'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Blooms continuously from late May through first hard frost in zones 5-7 and from April through November in zones 8-9. Flushes occur in 5-6 week cycles with 1-2 week pauses between flushes; individual cupped flowers last 4-6 days before petal shatter. Fragrance is most pronounced in morning hours and on warm humid days; intensity drops at temperatures above 95°F (35°C). Petal browning after summer thunderstorms can shorten flush duration by several days in zones 6-8.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
creamy white with pink-tinged center, fading to pure whiteFoliage Description
deep green, semi-glossy with bronze new growthGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Water deeply once weekly during establishment in the absence of rain, applying about 1 inch (2.5 cm) at the root zone. Mature plants tolerate 2-3 weeks without rain in zones 5-7 but flower less in extended drought. Black spot can develop in humid eastern climates when foliage stays wet overnight; affected leaves yellow and drop, with severe infection reducing canopy by 30-50%. Japanese beetles feed on flowers from late June through July in eastern North America. Fertilizer is applied twice per season: at bud break with a balanced slow-release formula, then again after the first bloom flush. A 2-3 inch (5-7.5 cm) layer of organic mulch applied in spring maintains soil moisture and reduces splash transmission of fungal disease.Pruning
Canes are cut to 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) above ground in late winter or early spring before bud break, with dead and crossing wood removed at the same time. Spent flower clusters can be cut back to the first 5-leaflet leaf to maintain a tidy appearance and shorten the rebloom cycle by 5-7 days. Suckers from below the graft union are removed as they emerge in plants on rootstock. After 4-5 years, one in three of the oldest canes is cut to ground level to renew the framework.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winterearly spring
Maintenance Level
moderateContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 7 gallons