WEKfabpur – dark crimson bedding floribunda rose – Carruth
Compact growth, floribunda bedding performance and reliably remontant flowering make WEKfabpur a solid own-root propagation option where uniform flowering beds and containers are required at scale. The velvety, dark-crimson, almost black-edged blooms with a strong, clove-like fragrance offer clear differentiation for thematic rose gardens and collection plantings. Disease-resistant foliage with low maintenance needs supports predictable quality in nursery propagation beds and standard-container programmes, while the bush-trained structure and dense slightly glossy foliage suit both 2–3 L routes and later up-potting to larger show units. Own-root plants give a long-lived, renewable production base capable of sustaining heavy propagation loads for wholesale ranges and institutional supply. From initial rooting through to full ornamental value, root development in year one, stronger shoot framework in year two and full display potential in year three support reliable capacity planning, while its hardiness profile supports consistent performance even in harsher northern and windy UK sites. The rich colour expression and stable phenology, combined with reliable hardiness, align well with professional programmes focused on reliable garden performance and wholesale-scale, own-root rose production for retail and public-realm channels.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- Dark-crimson bed and edging line – 2–3 L standard containers focused on compact habit and disease resistance for uniform bedding and edging blocks, positioned as reliable garden performance for general retail / reseller distribution.
- Fragrance collection feature pot – 40–50 L specimen containers showcasing strong spicy, clove fragrance and bush-trained form, built from own-root NEONATAL stock for thematic rose garden and collection ranges in premium retail / reseller channels.
- Hardy municipal bedding rose – 2–3 L plants emphasising winter hardiness and low maintenance for public-realm beds and edging, supplied via nursery and integrator networks serving institutional projects through retail / reseller frameworks.
- Award selection showcase series – standard container range highlighting trial awards and dark-crimson, colour-stable blooms, grown from own-root material for bed and specimen use in curated “award-winning” benches at retail / reseller outlets.
- Compact patio and container set – coordinated 2–3 L and 40–50 L formats exploiting compact growth and remontant flowering for patio, terrace and small-garden use, marketed as reliable, low-intervention options via retail / reseller partners.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose, registered as WEKfabpur, marketed under Midnight Blue / Wekfabpur bedding rose WEKfabpur; ARS exhibition name Midnight Blue; commercial bed rose category for garden, park and exhibition use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Thomas F. Carruth in the United States (2004), introduced after 2006 by Weeks Wholesale Rose Grower, Inc.; complex parentage incorporating ‘Sweet Chariot’, ‘Blue Nile’, ‘Stephens’ Big Purple’, ‘International Herald Tribune’ and a R. soulieana hybrid. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised with an Honourable Mention at the Australian National Rose Trial Garden in 2004 and a Gold Medal at the Rose Hills International Rose Trials in the USA in 2006, supporting its use in quality-led professional assortments. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Compact, bush-trained shrub reaching about 80–110 cm in height and 50–70 cm spread, with dense, slightly glossy green foliage (RHS 147A) and sparse prickles, producing a well-filled, coherent canopy suitable for bed and container production. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, medium-sized cup-shaped blooms (about 1.5–2.75 in) carried in clusters, with approximately 13–25 petals; repeat-flowering (remontant) with abundant second flowering, supporting long seasonal display in professional plantings. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Dark-crimson to blackish-purple blooms (RHS 79A, 72A; ARS m) with velvety, near-black edges and a purplish sheen; colour lightens slightly in strong sun yet remains deeper in cooler conditions, with smoky lilac tones developing before fading. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, distinctive spicy fragrance with clear clove-like notes; semi-double flowers offer moderate pollinator attraction, as accessible stamens provide more resources than fully double forms but still result in limited overall insect visitation. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is generally minimal due to semi-double flower form; where present, hips are small, around 0–4 mm diameter, with no significant ornamental or production value recorded for professional rose production schemes. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about –26 to –23 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 4, USDA 5b); described as resistant to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, flowering steadily in warm conditions but requiring regular irrigation during extended drought for best results. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Recommended for flower beds, edging, containers, cut flower use and specimen plantings; low maintenance and good disease resistance support standard container (2–3 L) production from bush-trained stock, with own-root form for professional propagation. |
WEKfabpur offers compact, hardy, award-backed, dark-crimson flowering on own roots, giving predictable, low-maintenance stands with strong fragrance and disease resistance, and can provide a stable long-term propagation base where we can align capacity and scheduling together.
