Irish Eyes Roses

Irish Eyes Floribunda Rose

Irish Eyes is another awful name for a brilliant rose. Given its gold and oranges Tiger Eyes might have been better, but rosa Irish Eyes it is. This is a beautifully scented rose with flowers that start in shades of deep yellow edged with red and then fade to orange. The blooms are small, cupped and double while the plant is vigorous growing to about 3ft 80-90cms but tidy and extremely disease resistant with lovely glossy green leaves. Young leaves and shoots are an attractive reddish-bronze. The flowering period is tremendous with the first buds often breaking in May and the last flowers hanging on until late November or early December in a mild winter.

Irish Eyes is an outstanding all round yellow/orange rose that deservedly was Rose of the Year in 2000. But if a rose of its hue is not for you, then we still have a pretty good selection of roses for you to look at. Alternatively, see our full range of Floribunda roses to buy online.

Great for your garden

Irish Eyes is ideal for growing in a group of 3 in a rose border but it is also a cracking plant for a mixed flower bed and if you are someone who likes 'hot borders' then the yellows, oranges and reds are perfect. It also flowers early enough to be underplanted with tall purple alliums to fantastic effect. This is a stout citizen and is not as fussy as some floribundas about location. It is as hardy and disease resistant as any other rose available today so will easily cope with more exposed and colder locations. Irish Eyes roses just need good light. If you are planting in a rose border, we recommend that you plant in an triangular group with the plants spaced about 60cms (2ft) apart.

Rosa Irish Eyes facts

• Type: Floribunda
• Colour: Golden Yellow with red edges fading to orange.
• Flower shape:Fully double, bowl shaped.
• Fragrance strength: Light
• Final height and spread: 3ft x 2ft
• Flowering season: All summer
• Repeat Flowering: Non-stop
• Disease resistance: Excellent

Did you know

Irish Eyes parents were 'Mr JCB' named after Joseph Cyril Bamford of earth moving machinery fame and Gipsy Dancer. All three were bred by the great Alexander 'Patrick' Dickson of Dicksons Roses in 1999. Patrick sadly died in 2012. He leaves behind many good roses but some of the best include Isn't She Lovely, Tequila Sunrise, Greetings, Valentine Heart and, of course, Irish Eyes.

By Julian de Bosdari