AKAROA – dark pink bedding floribunda rose – pharmaROSA® NEONATAL
Compact floribunda bedding material such as AKAROA gives UK nurseries a predictable base for standard 2–3 L container production, combining upright bushy structure and dense dark-green foliage with tray-rooted own-root supply that is easy to schedule into propagation beds and finished lines; its remontant flowering habit with abundant second flush supports reliable colour blocks in flower beds and edging schemes where retailers expect consistent, season-long display, while moderate hardiness to around -21 °C allows planning for nationwide distribution including sites where winter and wind exposure are common; the vivid dark-pink medium-sized, double, clustered flowers present an attractive, reliable garden look for “standard finished product” assortments, and the own-root form supports long-term renewable stands, lower replacement need and stable quality across production cycles; from Year 1 root establishment through Year 2 framework building to Year 3 full ornamental expression, AKAROA offers a controlled development arc that fits professional wholesale scheduling and stock-building for retail and reseller channels; the cultivar’s reliable garden performance positioning with medium maintenance needs integrates smoothly into UK nursery networks serving bedding, edging and container routes.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 2–3 L retail floribunda bedding line – compact, bush-trained plants on their own roots for standard containers, combining uniform structure and remontant flowering to deliver reliable garden performance – target: branded retail / reseller bedding ranges
- Colour-edged municipal bed rose mix – AKAROA blocks in 2–3 L for edging, using its compact habit and sustained flowering to frame mixed public beds while own-root stands support lower replacement – target: public-realm and contractor supply
- Dark-pink patio floribunda collection – 5–7.5 L terrace containers exploiting dense foliage and vivid dark-pink clusters, with own-root resilience easing logistics and pruning before dispatch – target: garden-centre patio displays
- Thematic “French heritage” rose corner – curated collection planting where AKAROA’s stable colour and compact structure create reliable display, underpinned by own-root sustainability for long-term beds – target: show gardens and thematic rose collections
- Multi-purpose nursery bed stock – own-root propagation beds serving both 2–3 L standard products and occasional cut stems, using hardiness and medium maintenance needs to stabilise stock – target: integrator nursery networks
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose, bed rose group. Registered as MATtanstill, traded as AKAROA Bedding rose MATtanstill. Exhibition categories: flower bed and edging use; no alternative registered names. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Bob Matthews, Matthews Nurseries Ltd, Whanganui, New Zealand. Registration year 2010, introduced 2014 in New Zealand; parentage not provided, bred as a compact floribunda bedding type. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Compact, upright, bushy plant, 75–105 cm high and 65–95 cm spread. Dense, glossy dark green foliage (RHS 137A), moderately thorny shoots. No data on self-cleaning intensity. Suited to bush-trained finished forms. |
| Flower morphology |
Double, medium-sized flowers (1.5–2.75 in) with 26–39 petals, cup-shaped and borne in clusters. Remontant flowering pattern with abundant second flush, oriented to ornamental bedding and edging use. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Vivid dark pink with slight raspberry hue, uniform tone. Buds intense raspberry–coral pink; newly opened blooms warm raspberry-pink with paler outer petals, fading to powdery-cream tones before senescence. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild fragrance with classic rose character, restrained overall scent level. Strongly double, many-petalled form limits pollen access and makes it primarily ornamental rather than a pollinator resource in plantings. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces few, occasional hips; globular to spherical, 8–12 mm diameter. Medium red hip colour (RHS 40A), not a dominant ornamental or production feature in typical bedding or edging applications. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately -21 to -18 °C (H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3). Moderate disease resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust. Average drought tolerance; regular watering required in warm periods. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Primary uses: flower bed, edging, containers and some cut use. Recommended as bush-trained compact plants on a standard container route, 2–3 L target pot. Medium maintenance, with occasional pest and disease control. |
AKAROA Bedding rose MATtanstill offers compact, uniform bush growth and remontant dark-pink flowering on predictable, long-lived own-root stock, supporting stable, low-replacement beds and containers; we invite you to discuss timing, capacity and assortment fit.
