Quick Guide: spring, hardy, semi-shade, height:1.8m/6ft, width: 1.5m/5ft

Floribunda roses are derived from the early hybrid teas, and have similar foliage. Whether matt or glossy, there are 7 oval leaflets, sometimes flushed red when young. These roses are very thorny. Flowering twice, in mid summer and early autumn, they bear their 7.Scm/3in wide blooms in large terminal clusters, ,and are good for borders and decorative hedges.

GROWING If conditions are favourable, roses may be planted at any time from late autumn to spring. Rich, loamy soil gives the best results. Prepare the site by digging it over well and mixing in plenty of well-rotted by digging matter. Double-digging is recommended. Make a hole big enough to spread out the roots. Mix a bucketful of peat with a cupful of sterilized bonemeal and place 3 cupfuls of this mixture in each planting hole. Make sure the union of the rootstock and the rose is just below ground level. Give a mulch of partially rotted manure or wcll-rotted compost everyo other spring, and a mulch of leaves (rotted or unrotted) each autumn to conserve moisture.

PROPAGATION Increase by budding

VARIETIES `Iceberg' (above), 1.5m/5ft, large sprays of white, fragrant blooms, good for hedging; 'City of Birmingham', abundant scarlet blooms with wavy petals; `Korresia', sweetly fragrant, golden yellow.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS Aphids, Caterpillars, Sawfly Larvae, Black Spot; die-back; grey mould; rust; powdery mildew