WHITE MAGIC™ – white bedding floribunda rose - Warriner
Professional own-root propagation of WHITE MAGIC™ offers compact, bush-trained material ideal for 2–3 L standard containers and reliable bedding floribunda production. Its dense, glossy foliage and cluster-flowering habit deliver uniform, high-impact white planting surfaces suited to thematic and show-garden style collections where cultivar identity must remain stable over the long term. Remontant, large, snow-white clusters provide repeat colour suitable for retail-focussed “reliable garden performance” assortments, while own-root longevity supports predictable renewal and low replacement in nursery propagation beds and wholesale stock. In typical UK nursery conditions, growers can rely on steady flowering and moderate heat tolerance, helpful where summers are warm yet manageable with irrigation during extended dry periods, ensuring continuity for container production and edging schemes. The development pattern is straightforward for planning: roots to establish in year one, structural shoots building in year two, and full ornamental value expressed from year three under a consistent plant-protection regime. Although disease tolerance is low and plant protection needs are high, this predictable response allows disciplined nurseries to maintain quality standards, protecting the cultivar’s premium presentation and exhibition potential. Uniform cluster flowering, self-cleaning at a moderate level, and controlled height and spread all simplify crop scheduling for commercial wholesale networks and integrator systems. Own-root NEONATAL cuttings underpin volume programmes, supporting consistent bedding lines and cut-spray output for partners who prioritise dependable, white floribunda ranges across the UK’s diverse regional climates, including more exposed northern sites with robust winter tolerance.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- Compact 2–3 L bedding floribunda line – own-root, bush-trained plants finished in 2–3 L standard containers, highlighting compact habit and repeat white cluster flowering as a reliable garden performance line – target audience/channel: retail/reseller
- White edging series for thematic gardens – dense, low, glossy-foliaged plants supplied in trays for bed and edging projects, using uniform snow-white clusters and stable own-root identity for curated rose collections – target audience/channel: municipal and institutional project suppliers
- Exhibition floribunda spray selection – carefully graded liners grown on for show-quality sprays, capitalising on historic exhibition success and uniform snow-white blooms in dedicated floribunda assortments – target audience/channel: specialist rose nurseries and collectors’ outlets
- Own-root propagation stock blocks – NEONATAL cuttings established in nursery beds as renewable mother stands, leveraging own-root longevity and compact, easily assessed structure for liner production – target audience/channel: wholesale propagation and nursery networks
- Medium/large container display whites – plants grown into 40–50 litre and similar decorative containers for entrances and showcase beds, using remontant snow-white clusters and durable own-root structure – target audience/channel: garden centres and public-realm contractors
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose, registered as JACare, traded as White Magic™ Bedding rose JACare, with American Rose Society exhibition name Class Act, classified as floribunda spray and exhibition floribunda. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by William A. Warriner at Jackson & Perkins Co., USA, from ‘Sun Flare’ × (‘Merci’ × ‘Fabergé’); bred and registered in 1987 and introduced commercially in 1989 by Jackson & Perkins. |
| Awards and recognition |
Notable recognition includes Bagatelle (Paris) 2nd prize 1986, All-America Rose Selections winner 1989, Portland Gold Medal 1989, New Zealand Gold Star of the South Pacific 1990, and multiple show spray awards. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Compact, bush-trained growth reaching about 60–85 cm high and 40–60 cm wide, with dense, glossy, dark green foliage and moderate prickliness, forming tidy, medium-sized bedding plants suitable for containers and flower beds. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, cup-shaped flowers, 2.75–3.95 inches across, remontant with plentiful second flush, produced in cluster-flowered sprays, bearing approximately 26–39 petals with moderately self-cleaning spent blooms. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Pure snow-white flowers with silky sheen; buds pointed and vivid white, petals opalescent to pearlescent; ARS code w, RHS 155C outer and 155D inner; colour overall stable, only slightly cream-toned on outer petals before fading. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Fragrance strength is mild and discreet, with no detailed scent character available; primary ornamental interest lies in the visual purity and consistency of the white blooms rather than strong perfume for end users. |
| Hip characteristics |
Limited hip formation is expected because of the densely double flowers; when present, hips are small, spherical, orange-red, around 6–10 mm in diameter, and generally of minor ornamental or production significance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Very susceptible to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, requiring regular plant protection; moderately tolerant of summer heat but needs irrigation in prolonged drought; winter hardy to about -21 – -18 °C, corresponding to RHS H7 and USDA zone 6b. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suitable for flower beds, edging, containers and cut sprays; best grown as bush-trained, compact plants in standard container routes, typically 2–3 litre pots, under high-maintenance regimes with systematic crop protection programmes. |
WHITE MAGIC™ offers compact, cluster-flowering white bedding performance on durable own-root plants, providing predictable, renewable stock and stable ornamental value; it is a practical option where professional programmes justify discussing volumes and scheduling.
