Route 66™ Bedding rose WEKmorfis – pharmaROSA® NEONATAL
Route 66™ colour fragrance remontant compact resistance collection NEONATAL own-root material of Route 66™ gives professional producers a compact, bushy, dark-foliaged shrub that supports efficient standard-container production in 2–3 L, with low maintenance and reliable, remontant garden performance as a retail-ready bedding shrub offer. The distinctive velvety purple-and-white eye effect, strong clove fragrance and good self-cleaning habit make it a strong option for thematic rose gardens and show collections, particularly for UK projects where winter and wind resilience across northern regions is important for predictable stocking. As an own-root base for nursery beds or container systems, it integrates smoothly into high-volume propagation, moving from root development in Year 1, structural shoot formation in Year 2 and full ornamental impact by Year 3 for repeat sale cycles.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- Route 66™ 2–3 L retail bedding shrub – Compact, bush-trained own-root plants in 2–3 L standard containers, leveraging remontant flowering and low maintenance for dependable garden bedding performance – target audience/channel: retail garden centres and DIY resellers
- Fragrance highlight shrub line – A shrub range built around powerful, spicy clove fragrance, supplied in uniform 2–3 L pots from NEONATAL own-root base material for consistent repeat sales – target audience/channel: premium fragrance-themed benches at nurseries and specialist retailers
- Urban park and streetscape series – Route 66™ positioned as a low-input, disease-resistant, hardy shrub for beds and urban green spaces, produced in 2–3 L containers for easy specification and planting – target audience/channel: public-realm and landscape contractors via wholesalers
- Thematic purple-collection assortment – Use the dramatic dark-purple and white-eye contrast in curated colour collections, with own-root propagation supporting long-term collection continuity in 2–3 L formats – target audience/channel: show gardens, heritage gardens and collection-focused nurseries
- Propagation mother-block starter packs – NEONATAL trays grown on to uniform bush-trained 2–3 L shrubs as reliable mother plants, exploiting good self-cleaning and vigour for cutting production – target audience/channel: propagation nurseries and integrator systems
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Modern shrub / bed rose marketed as Route 66™ Bedding rose WEKmorfis, with ARS exhibition name Route 66 and registered cultivar name WEKmorfis for professional reference and stock management. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tom Carruth (USA, 2001) for Weeks Wholesale Rose Grower, Inc, registered 2002 and introduced 2003, with a complex parentage combining Sweet Chariot, Blue Nile, Purple Splendour and other lines. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised in exhibition circles with Best Modern Shrub Exhibit at the Santa Fe Rose Society Show in 2002, supporting its suitability for collectors, themed rose gardens and presentation-focused planting schemes. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy shrub habit, 100–140 cm high with 75–110 cm spread, dense dark green glossy foliage and moderate prickliness, forming compact, full-bodied plants suitable for standard containers and bed planting schemes. |
| Flower morphology |
Single to semi-double clustered blooms, 5–12 petals, flat form and medium size (approximately 1.5–2.75 in), remontant with abundant second flush and good self-cleaning, as most spent flowers drop naturally. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Closed buds nearly black-purple, opening to velvety dark-purple with a vivid white eye; colour lightens to rosy-purple with a creamy centre, with good retention and prominent golden stamens at full bloom for contrast. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Noted for a powerful, distinctive spicy, clove-like fragrance, giving a clear olfactory feature in shrub and bedding contexts, although pollinator attraction is limited due to flower form and partial stamen concealment. |
| Hip characteristics |
Limited hip set expected; when formed, hips are small (about 7–9 mm), spherical and orange-red, with production reduced by the flower form and repeat blooming, so hips are a minor ornamental consideration. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (USDA 6b, RHS H7, Swedish Zone 3), resistant to powdery mildew and rust, with medium black spot resistance, supporting reduced intervention in many UK production contexts. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Recommended for flowerbeds, parks, solitary and urban spaces, with low maintenance requirements, minimal pruning and watering, and a standard 2–3 L container route from bush-trained NEONATAL own-root material. |
Route 66™ Bedding rose WEKmorfis offers compact bushy growth, remontant fragrant colour impact and reliable winter-hardy resistance on an own-root base that stabilises stands and planning, making it a practical candidate for scheduling and capacity discussions.
