'Happy Anniversary' Floribunda Roses​

'Happy Anniversary' Rose Bushes

With none of the innuendo of a red rose, Happy Anniversary is a properly grown up salmon pink colour when at its peak. Each stem will produce several of these medium sized, distinctive double flowers that begin as a pale pink and as they mature the petals deepen to a rich salmon pink. At full maturity the boss of golden stamens is finally revealed. Happy Anniversary has a bushy and compact habit so that flowers grow from top to bottom of the plant. It also rejoices in a wonderful scent. A super rose to give as a present And for those who want the innuendo, go for One in a Million for a larger rose, but there is also a lovely patio rose called Sweet Wishes which might also fit the bill.

To pot or not to pot

Happy Anniversary, like many floribundas, is a tolerant rose but does prefer to be in full sun to maximise its floral potential. The habit and size of the rose mean that it can be grown successfully in a large pot, either on its own, or underplanted with white violets or even a ground cover of chamomile. Its distinctive colour works well with acid greens; try underplanting it with foliage plants like Euphorbia oblongata which is much smaller than most other Euphorbia or the unusual Cerinthe purpurascens. Edge a border full of Happy Anniversary with Erigeron karvinskianus or Fleabane and dot some ornamental supports in your border to allow fragrant sweet peas like Lord Nelson or White Frills to clamber on and complement your rose. Roses always look good surrounded by clematis.

Features of Happy Anniversary Roses

• Height: up to 90 cm
• Spread: 60 cm
• Colour: pale to salmon pink
• Shape: double
• Scent: strong and sweet
• Flowering: continuous summer/autumn
• Group: Floribunda

An alternative Happy Anniversary

It may sound wasteful, if not downright cruel, but one of the prettiest ways to decorate a table is to strew rose petals the whole way down the centre. Once you have got over the feeling of infanticide as you strip your beautiful roses of petals, you will find that all floribunda roses have masses of petals per flower and that once scattered they perfume the room and look stunning with a few very simple candles or single flowers in small vases. The petals will survive for a surprisingly long time and you will save hours on arranging ornate vases! Use petals from different coloured roses to amplify the effect.

Give your rose an annual mulch of well rotted manure, and for the first few years water when dry. Prune in late winter to remove crossing, diseased or dead branches. Keep the centre open and take the strongest stems back to 30 cm above soil level retaining lots of buds, and leave the weaker stems a bit longer but take off at least 10 cm or so.