40% off
Rosa It's A Wonderful Life ('Dictwix') (PBR) | Floribunda Bush Rose
Rose of the Year 2022 - rose It’s A Wonderful Life (floribunda)
Awarded the coveted accolade 'Rose of the Year 2022', Rosa It's A Wonderful Life produces a succession of long-lasting, lightly...
4 litre pot
available to order from autumn
1
Delivery options
Plant description
Awarded the coveted accolade 'Rose of the Year 2022', Rosa It's A Wonderful Life produces a succession of long-lasting, lightly scented flowers on robust and disease-resistant plants, which have lustrous green foliage and a relatively upright habit. Each fully-petalled bloom can grow up to 10cm (4in) across, and as they are a blend of pink, orange and peach, (the intensity of which can change according to temperature), they will fit effortlessly into many different colour schemes. It offers months of colour to borders or larger pots, and the flowers will also last well when cut for the vase.
All our roses are grown in an open field and then dug up when the weather conditions are right in October or November. Some suppliers send out their roses as 'bare root' plants (i.e. without pots or compost), but we pot ours up as it helps to keep the roots hydrated and in good condition. As they are dormant throughout the winter, they will not produce any new roots until spring, so don't be surprised if the compost falls away from the roots when you take them out of their pots.
The roses can be kept in their pots throughout the winter provided they are kept well fed and watered, however ideally they should be planted out as soon as possible. They will already have been cut back so no further pruning will be required, apart from snipping off any tips that have died back. Routine pruning can begin in late winter the year after planting.
All our roses are grown in an open field and then dug up when the weather conditions are right in October or November. Some suppliers send out their roses as 'bare root' plants (i.e. without pots or compost), but we pot ours up as it helps to keep the roots hydrated and in good condition. As they are dormant throughout the winter, they will not produce any new roots until spring, so don't be surprised if the compost falls away from the roots when you take them out of their pots.
The roses can be kept in their pots throughout the winter provided they are kept well fed and watered, however ideally they should be planted out as soon as possible. They will already have been cut back so no further pruning will be required, apart from snipping off any tips that have died back. Routine pruning can begin in late winter the year after planting.
Eventual height & spread
Flowering period
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Plant features
Position
Full sun
Rate of growth
Average
Soil
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness
Fully hardy
How to care for Rosa It’s A Wonderful Life ('Dictwix') (PBR):
If planting in winter, choose a frost-free spell when the soil is not frozen. Roses are quite deep-rooted plants so dig a deep hole roughly twice as wide as the plant's roots and mix in a generous amount of composted organic matter. A top-dressing of a general purpose fertiliser can be worked into the surrounding soil and we also recommend using Rose Rootgrow at this stage to encourage better root development. This is particularly important when planting into a bed where roses have previously been grown as Rose Rootgrow is said to combat rose sickness (aka replant disease).
Remove the plants from their pots and gently spread out the roots before placing them in the centre of the hole. Try to ensure that the 'bud union' (the point where the cultivated rose has been grafted onto the rootstock, and from where the shoots emerge) is at soil level. You can judge this quite easily by laying something flat, like a spade handle or bamboo cane, across the top of the hole. When they are at the right height, back-fill the hole, firming the soil down gently before watering the plant well.
Water generously until well established, and apply a specialist rose fertiliser (following the manufacturer's instructions) each spring. They will also benefit from a generous mulch of composted farmyard manure in spring, but make sure this is kept away from the stems.
While wearing tough gloves, prune in late winter or early spring, removing any dead, damaged or weak-looking stems completely. Floribunda roses flower best on strong new growth, so shorten the remaining stems by about one-third to one-half, cutting just above an outward-facing bud. This encourages a tidy, open shape and plenty of flowering shoots. Deadhead faded blooms regularly through the summer to promote repeat flowering and keep the plant looking tidy.
Unlike hybrid tea roses, floribundas don’t need very hard pruning or regular removal of older stems — just focus on maintaining a balanced, healthy framework and removing any congested or crossing growth as needed.
Remove the plants from their pots and gently spread out the roots before placing them in the centre of the hole. Try to ensure that the 'bud union' (the point where the cultivated rose has been grafted onto the rootstock, and from where the shoots emerge) is at soil level. You can judge this quite easily by laying something flat, like a spade handle or bamboo cane, across the top of the hole. When they are at the right height, back-fill the hole, firming the soil down gently before watering the plant well.
Water generously until well established, and apply a specialist rose fertiliser (following the manufacturer's instructions) each spring. They will also benefit from a generous mulch of composted farmyard manure in spring, but make sure this is kept away from the stems.
While wearing tough gloves, prune in late winter or early spring, removing any dead, damaged or weak-looking stems completely. Floribunda roses flower best on strong new growth, so shorten the remaining stems by about one-third to one-half, cutting just above an outward-facing bud. This encourages a tidy, open shape and plenty of flowering shoots. Deadhead faded blooms regularly through the summer to promote repeat flowering and keep the plant looking tidy.
Unlike hybrid tea roses, floribundas don’t need very hard pruning or regular removal of older stems — just focus on maintaining a balanced, healthy framework and removing any congested or crossing growth as needed.
Please note:
This rose is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
Warning
Humans/Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten
