Rose 'Absolutely Fabulous' (Floribunda)
A magnificent award-winning floribunda rose that produces spectacular clusters of medium-sized, fully double blooms in buttery golden yellow, combining exceptional disease resistance with a distinctive liquorice fragrance and outstanding garden performance throughout the growing season.
Headlines
- Plant Type: Hardy deciduous floribunda rose
- Eventual Height: ~70cm to 90cm
- Eventual Spread: 50cm diameter head
- Flowering Period: June to November
- Flower Colour: Buttery golden yellow
- Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -20 to -15 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H6)
- Growth Habit: Compact, rounded, strong-growing
- Flower Type: Medium-sized, fully double, bowl-shaped blooms in clusters
- Awards: Rose of the Year 2010, RHS Award of Garden Merit
Overview
Rose 'Absolutely Fabulous' is a truly outstanding floribunda rose that exemplifies modern rose breeding excellence, winning the prestigious Rose of the Year award in 2010. This distinguished variety produces magnificent clusters of medium-sized, bowl-shaped blooms in rich buttery golden yellow, creating spectacular colour displays that provide continuous garden interest. The most striking feature is its exceptional combination of superb disease resistance with distinctive liquorice fragrance, complemented by old-fashioned flower form that brings vintage charm to modern gardens. With excellent health, compact rounded growth habit, and continuous repeat flowering performance from June to September, this rose represents one of the finest examples of contemporary floribunda roses for modern gardens. The RHS Award of Garden Merit confirms its exceptional reliability and outstanding garden performance.
Key Features
The outstanding appeal of 'Absolutely Fabulous' lies in its abundant clusters of medium-sized, fully double blooms that showcase perfect old-fashioned bowl-shaped form with substantial visual impact. Each bloom displays rich buttery golden yellow colouring that remains unfading throughout the flower's life, creating consistent colour displays that add warmth and sophistication to the garden. The blooms release a wonderfully distinctive liquorice fragrance that adds a unique sensory dimension to the garden experience. The classic floribunda cluster flowering combined with compact growth habit, superb disease resistance, and unusual fragrance makes this rose suitable for a wide range of garden applications, from formal rose gardens to mixed borders and container cultivation.
Growth Characteristics
This floribunda rose displays a naturally compact, rounded growth habit that makes it exceptionally suitable for traditional rose garden applications and formal displays. The plant develops into a strong, well-proportioned head above the standard stem with excellent branching structure and robust performance. The compact yet vigorous-growing nature ensures reliable flowering whilst maintaining an attractive, manageable size perfect for modern gardens. The uniform growth habit makes it ideal for formal rose gardens, bedding schemes, or positioning where its spectacular beauty and unique fragrance can be fully appreciated. The strong stems provide excellent support for the clustered blooms, making this variety particularly suitable for cutting garden applications.
Flowering Performance
From June through to September, 'Absolutely Fabulous' delivers an exceptional flowering display that continues consistently throughout the growing season. The plant produces magnificent clusters of medium-sized, bowl-shaped blooms held in impressive groupings, creating substantial visual impact with each flush of flowering. The flowers showcase rich buttery golden yellow colouring with old-fashioned charm, creating ongoing visual interest and timeless elegance. The repeat-flowering nature ensures continuous colour throughout the growing season, with the abundant clustered blooms providing a spectacular display that captures attention with its vibrant golden tones and distinctive liquorice fragrance. The long flowering period extends well into autumn, providing valuable late-season colour and fragrance.
Growing Conditions
'Absolutely Fabulous' thrives in full sun positions with fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal flowering performance and colour development. The rose adapts well to various soil types including acid, alkaline, and neutral conditions, providing adequate drainage is maintained. For best results, plant in fertile, well-drained soil that has been improved with organic matter, ensuring consistent moisture throughout the growing season. The rose benefits from good air circulation around the foliage, which helps maintain the superb disease resistance that characterises this variety. It performs best in sheltered positions whilst tolerating various exposures.
Hardiness and Disease Resistance
This rose demonstrates exceptional hardiness suitable for growing throughout the UK, being fully hardy (H6 rating) and showing excellent tolerance of typical British weather conditions. One of the most notable features of 'Absolutely Fabulous' is its superb disease resistance, which significantly reduces maintenance requirements and ensures healthy growth throughout the season. The healthy, glossy, dark green foliage remains attractive and vigorous, with outstanding natural resistance to common rose diseases including black spot, rust, and mildew. This exceptional disease resistance makes it an excellent choice for organic gardening approaches and eliminates the need for chemical interventions, making it particularly suitable for busy gardeners seeking low-maintenance excellence.
Care and Maintenance
'Absolutely Fabulous' requires standard floribunda rose care to maintain optimal health and flowering performance. Apply a balanced fertiliser and mulch in late winter or early spring, followed by another application of balanced fertiliser in early summer to support continuous flowering. Regular watering during dry periods, particularly in the first year after planting, helps establish strong root systems. The superb disease resistance means this variety requires minimal intervention, making it an easy-care option for busy gardeners. Deadheading regularly throughout the summer encourages continued flowering, whilst proper pruning following pruning group 15 guidelines maintains the compact shape and promotes vigorous new growth.
Garden Applications
'Absolutely Fabulous' excels in formal rose gardens where its compact floribunda form and vibrant golden yellow colouring create stunning focal points. The uniform growth habit makes it ideal for rose borders and formal bedding schemes, whilst the buttery yellow flowers suit both contemporary and traditional garden settings perfectly. The manageable size makes it excellent for positioning in mixed borders where the distinctive liquorice fragrance can be appreciated and the vibrant colour can be admired. The rose works beautifully as a specimen plant or in groups, creating impressive displays that combine visual drama with exceptional fragrance. The strong stems and clustered blooms make it particularly suitable for cutting gardens, providing elegant flowers for indoor arrangements.
Container Growing
The compact growth habit and superb disease resistance make 'Absolutely Fabulous' exceptionally well-suited to container cultivation. The rose thrives in large containers on patios, balconies, and areas where soil conditions are challenging, making it perfect for urban gardening situations. Choose a container at least 50cm wide and deep with adequate drainage holes, and use high-quality multipurpose compost enriched with slow-release fertiliser. Container-grown specimens require more frequent watering and feeding than those planted in the ground, but the compact habit means they remain manageable whilst delivering exceptional flowering performance and distinctive fragrance throughout the season.
Seasonal Interest
Throughout the growing season, 'Absolutely Fabulous' provides continuous interest that evolves beautifully with the months. Spring brings the emergence of fresh, healthy, glossy dark green foliage and the first flower buds, building anticipation for the main flowering display. The extended flowering season from June to September ensures months of colour and distinctive fragrance, with the buttery golden yellow blooms creating vibrant displays that showcase remarkable consistency. The healthy foliage remains attractive throughout the season, providing an excellent backdrop for the golden clustered flowers. Even in winter, the strong branching structure provides architectural interest whilst promising another year of spectacular flowering.
Cutting and Floral Arrangements
The medium-sized, fully double blooms with strong stems make 'Absolutely Fabulous' exceptional for cutting and indoor arrangements. The rich buttery golden yellow colour works beautifully with a wide range of other flowers and foliage, whilst the distinctive liquorice fragrance adds a unique dimension to indoor displays. The classic old-fashioned bowl-shaped form adds elegance and sophistication to arrangements, making them particularly suitable for special occasions and gifts. The sturdy stems provide excellent support for the clustered blooms, ensuring good vase life and professional-quality arrangements. The vibrant golden colouring and unique fragrance add memorable appeal to arrangements.
Fragrance Profile
The wonderfully distinctive liquorice fragrance of 'Absolutely Fabulous' provides an exceptional and unique sensory experience in the garden. This unusual scent emanates from the clustered blooms and carries well in the garden, creating a pleasant fragrance that perfectly complements the visual beauty of the golden yellow flowers. The distinctive liquorice fragrance profile makes this rose particularly memorable and sets it apart from conventional rose fragrances. The scent is robust enough to be appreciated from a distance whilst remaining pleasant and intriguing up close, making it ideal for positioning near seating areas, pathways, or windows where the unique fragrance can be enjoyed.
Wildlife Value
The abundant, accessible blooms provide valuable nectar sources for bees and other pollinators throughout the extended flowering season. The continuous blooming habit from June to November makes this rose an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly gardens, supporting local pollinator populations throughout the growing season. The distinctive fragrance serves as an attractant for beneficial insects, contributing to a healthy garden ecosystem. The cluster flowering habit provides multiple nectar sources in close proximity, making it particularly valuable for pollinators. The repeat-flowering nature ensures that wildlife benefits extend throughout the growing season, making this rose a valuable addition to pollinator-friendly garden schemes.
Companion Planting
The rich buttery golden yellow colours of 'Absolutely Fabulous' provide excellent opportunities for companion planting with a wide range of garden plants. The warm golden tones work beautifully with blue and purple flowers, creating vibrant complementary displays. The rose pairs exceptionally well with silver and grey foliage plants, creating sophisticated combinations that enhance the golden colouring. Orange and red flowers provide warm harmonious tones, whilst white flowers create fresh, clean contrasts. The compact habit makes it suitable for planting with herbaceous perennials, creating dynamic mixed borders that provide interest throughout the growing season.
Award Recognition and Heritage
'Absolutely Fabulous' has received both the prestigious Rose of the Year award in 2010 and the RHS Award of Garden Merit, providing confidence in its exceptional garden performance and outstanding qualities. These coveted awards are given only to roses that demonstrate excellent performance in garden conditions, outstanding constitution, and reliable flowering. The dual award recognition confirms that this variety has been thoroughly tested and proven in garden conditions, making it a reliable choice for gardeners seeking proven excellence. The award status marks this variety as one of exceptional merit, combining vibrant beauty, unique fragrance, and reliable garden performance that meets the highest standards.
Celebrity Heritage and Alternative Names
Originally bred by Tom Carruth in 2004 and named after the famous chef Julia Child in the United States, this rose was renamed 'Absolutely Fabulous' in the UK after the popular television show. This celebrity heritage adds interest and conversation value to the rose, whilst the international recognition confirms its exceptional qualities across different climates and growing conditions. The association with culinary excellence through Julia Child's name reflects the rich, buttery colouring that made this rose famous.
Unique Liquorice Fragrance
The most distinctive feature of 'Absolutely Fabulous' is its unusual liquorice fragrance, which sets it apart from all other roses and makes it instantly recognisable. This unique scent profile adds novelty and interest to the garden, ensuring that this rose is remembered long after the visual display has faded. The distinctive fragrance makes it particularly suitable for fragrance gardens and sensory displays where unusual scents are appreciated and celebrated.
Unfading Colour Excellence
The exceptional colour-holding ability of 'Absolutely Fabulous' ensures that the rich buttery golden yellow remains vibrant throughout the flower's life cycle. Unlike many yellow roses that fade quickly, this variety maintains its spectacular colour intensity from bud to petal drop, ensuring consistent garden display and excellent value for garden space. This colour stability makes it particularly suitable for formal displays where consistent appearance is important.
Why Choose 'Absolutely Fabulous'?
Rose 'Absolutely Fabulous' represents the perfect combination of award-winning excellence, unique fragrance, and exceptional garden performance. The medium-sized, fully double blooms with their rich buttery golden yellow colouring provide continuous cluster flowering displays from June through to November, whilst the superb disease resistance ensures healthy growth with minimal maintenance. The compact, rounded growth habit makes it suitable for gardens of all sizes, from formal rose gardens to mixed borders and container cultivation. Whether grown for its spectacular golden blooms, distinctive liquorice fragrance, or as a stunning award-winning rose, this Rose of the Year winner offers outstanding value and enduring beauty that will provide years of gardening pleasure and memorable sensory experiences.
Reasons to Buy Roses from Jacksons Nurseries
(1) ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot
Buy with confidence from the only online rose grower rated ‘Excellent’ 4.9* on Trustpilot. We have been a trusted supplier of roses for 3 generations. We take pride in growing our own roses in the field before potting them up, allowing for meticulous quality control to sale.
(2) Best Prices Guaranteed – Direct from the Grower
Save £££s by buying direct from a grower you can trust. We’ve already price checked all of our roses against competitors so you don’t have to. We are so confident we offer the best value, if you find a rose of the same type and grade elsewhere, we’ll beat it by 10%.
(3) 12 Month Plants Guarantee
We offer a 12 month guarantee on every plant that you buy from us that we have classified as Fully Hardy. If a plant you've bought from us fails in the first year, we will either replace it or refund you. See our satisfaction guarantee page for more details and conditions.
(4) Third generation family-owned nursery specialising in roses
Jackson’s Nurseries is a 3rd generation family owned business which has been growing roses for over 60 years. Roses have always been our specialty, as you can see from the colourful array of blooms in the background to the old family photo below. Today, we offer over 200 different varieties of floribundas, hybrid teas, patio, shrub and David Austin roses. Our roses are initially grown in the field before being potted up for website dispatch.
(5) Grown at altitude to produce strong, healthy plants
Our North Staffordshire nursery is situated at 250 metres above sea level, producing strong, hardy plants that will thrive in your garden. Our nursery sits on clay, so you can be sure our roses can handle heavy soil too.
(6) Help & Advice and Aftercare
We are help to help you with any help and advice you need in choosing, planting and growing your roses before, during and after your purchase from us. The help and advice section of our website has extensive information, see below some examples of articles you may find useful:
- Different types of roses and what they each mean
- Guide to climbing roses
- Guide to floribunda roses
- Guide to hybrid tea roses
- How to plant a climbing rose
- How to grow hybrid tea roses
How our roses are supplied through the seasons
All our roses are cultivated in an open field and are carefully dug up when the weather is optimal, typically in October or November. While other nurseries supply roses bare root, once our field-grown roses have been potted up we supply them freshly potted. This better protects the roots and helps keep them moist in transit, ensuring your roses arrive as healthy as when they left our nursery. So don’t be alarmed if the compost comes away from the roots when you remove them from the pot.
The roses can remain in their pots over the winter, as long as they are properly watered and fed, but it's best to plant them out as soon as possible. If you do plant them straight away make sure the planting mix is prepared first, hold the root close to the top of the hole as you tip the pot upside down and try to keep as much compost as possible from falling away. They will already be pruned, so no additional pruning is needed except for trimming any dead tips. Regular pruning can start in late winter, the year after planting.
Rose Types
Hybrid Tea Roses (HT)
Hybrid Tea roses are probably the most popular group of roses, available in both bush and standard form they have long flower stems and shapely blooms. Blooms are typically medium to large in size, with many petals which form a distinct central cone.
Floribunda Roses (FL)
Floribunda roses bears its flowers in clusters or trusses, with several blooms open at time in each truss. A popular choice the Floribunda rose group is unrivalled for colour, reliability and longevity as a bedding display however the flower form in generally inferior to the Hybrid Tea.
Patio Roses (PATIO)
Patio roses were introduced in the 1980’s and the group now contains several popular varieties. Generally low-growing roses that were once grouped with the Floribuna group but have now been put in their own group of compact versions. Usually growing about 50cm high they make excellent plants for patio containers or at the front of borders.
Climbing Roses (CLM)
Climbing roses as the name suggests are the perfect choice for covering a wall or screen. Often grouped together with Ramblers, Climbers tend to have stiffer stems, larger flowers but smaller trusses than Ramblers.
Rambling Roses (RAM)
Rambling roses are often grouped with Climbing Roses but the ramblers tend to have a more pliable stems that can be used to run along the soil to use as groundcover or can be used to make weeping standards.
Miniature Roses (MINI)
Miniature roses have increased in popularity in recent years due to their versatility, even grown indoors as temporary pot plants that grow to a maximum height of 40cm. An ideal choice for planting in tubs, edging beds and rockeries.
English Roses (ENG)
Often referred to as Austin or David Austin Roses, English roses are hybrids of old English roses and more modern varieties bread by David Austin to provide the best of both, mixing old rose shapes and scents with more modern colour range, compact habits and repeat flowering.
Planting Advice
Roses like a generous root space, so dig a deep hole approximately twice as wide as the current root system, preferably adding composted organic matter to the soil. Never plant into frozen soil – in winter, await a frost-free period. Carefully remove the pot and gently tease the roots apart to spread them around the hole. Position the plant so that the ‘bud point’ (the place where the shoots emerge from, where the cultivated rose was grafted onto the rootstock) is at soil level. Replace the soil, firming it down gently, then water copiously. Ideally, a general purpose fertiliser should be applied to the surrounding soil as a top dressing. We also highly recommend the use of Rose Rootgrow, which provides a friendly fungus that prevents ‘rose replant syndrome’.
Buying our Roses
Pot Size
Most of our roses are supplied in a 4 litre pot although this may vary slightly depending on rose variety. If the size of pot differes significatly from 4 litres then we will make this clear somewhere on the product page.
Seasonality
Our roses are grown outdoors and as such are subject to seasonal changes. As we sell potted stock throughout the year your rose may not arrive and look like you expect it to. If you are uncertain how your rose will arrive (especially if buying for a gift) then we suggest you contact us prior to making a purchase.
Freshly Potted
Each year a new batch of roses is potted up ready for the following season. Once potted (usually November/December time) they go on sale as 'Freshly Potted'. If you purchase a freshly potted rose and plant it soon after you will find that when removing the rose from the pot there will be a lot of loose soil as the roots will not have had time to grow and bind the compost.
Pruned/Cut Back
In autumn the majority of our roses have finished flowering and begin to look untidy, at this point we prune them quite hard in preparation for the following season. We continue to sell roses throughout the year, when a rose has been pruned in such a way we will identify it has being so. If you are not sure what to expect then please ask prior to making a purchase. Some garden centres/supermarkets sell stock that has been grown abroad or in poly-tunnels so they look 'picture perfect' out of season, while this is ideal for a gift they are short lived once planted.
Aftercare
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