MY DAD – yellow floribunda bedding rose
Imagine your London front garden after rain: a narrow path edged with balance, the air scented with a clean rose-spicy fragrance and bright sun-yellow blooms that catch every shaft of light. ‘My Dad’ forms a bushy, upright structure with dark, glossy foliage, giving reliable shape in small, busy family spaces while coping well with blustery showers and heavier soils where improved drainage is needed. As an own-root rose, it offers reassuring longevity and quiet resilience, settling in steadily so that roots establish in the first year, shoots build in the second, and by the third year you enjoy its full ornamental value with minimal fuss.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Front-garden bedding strip |
Dense, upright plants give a neat, formal line of vivid yellow along a short path, ideal for London-style terraced fronts where space is tight yet you still want a defined, low-maintenance edge for busy beginners. |
| Mixed perennial border |
The bushy habit and repeat clusters sit comfortably among perennials such as lavender, sage or nepeta, adding structure without overwhelming smaller gardens and offering a dependable backbone for family gardeners. |
| Feature container (40–50 L+) |
A single plant in a large pot becomes a compact focal point by the front door, its defined outline and glossy leaves staying tidy between flushes and simplifying care for urban balcony-owners. |
| Season-long colour focus |
Abundant remontant flowering gives repeated waves of large, double blooms, keeping a small plot lively from early summer into autumn with little more than light deadheading for time-poor homeowners. |
| Rain-aware urban planting |
Suited to typical UK conditions where rain and wind are frequent, it performs well in improved heavy clay or chalky soils that drain freely, making it a sound choice for climate-conscious city gardeners. |
| Low-input family garden rose |
Moderate disease resistance and an own-root base mean that, once established, the shrub maintains its form with modest intervention, supporting a relaxed approach to plant protection for casual hobbyists. |
| Long-term garden framework |
On its own roots the plant regenerates reliably from the base, avoiding issues with rootstock suckers and helping the shrub keep its shape and flowering character over many years for future-focused owners. |
| Lightly-scented seating area |
The medium-strength, clean rose-spicy perfume is noticeable yet not overpowering, creating a gentle sensory backdrop near benches or patios that suits fragrance-sensitive relaxation-seekers. |
Styling ideas
- Terrace-Edge Glow – repeat ‘My Dad’ in a single front border row, underplant with low nepeta for soft blue contrast and use gravel to aid drainage – ideal for compact terraced-house fronts.
- Yellow-Courtyard Pot – plant one rose in a 50–60 L clay pot with water-retentive, peat-free compost, and underplant with creeping thyme – perfect for small paved courtyards.
- Sunset-Mix Border – weave ‘My Dad’ between purple salvia and lavender for structure and complementary colour – suited to family gardens needing simple, robust planting.
- Calm-Seating Nook – place two or three shrubs near a bench, backed by airy grasses, to frame a quiet, fragrant corner – good for those seeking a low-effort relaxation space.
- Neighbour-Friendly Welcome – line the front path with ‘My Dad’ and white verbena spires to create a bright, tidy approach – appealing to homeowners wanting an easy-care, smart frontage.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose; registered as MATtmaf. Current trade name: My Dad Bedding rose MATtmaf. Belongs to the bedding rose collection, mainly for ornamental bed and exhibition floribunda use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Bob Matthews of Matthews Nurseries Ltd., New Zealand, with parentage not recorded. Registered in 2017 and introduced in 2018, following PVR application prior to wider garden release. |
| Awards and recognition |
Received a Certificate of Merit at the International Rose Trial in Palmerston North in 2018, indicating reliable performance and ornamental quality under independent trial garden conditions. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub to around 110–150 cm high and 70–100 cm wide, with dense, dark green, glossy foliage and moderate prickles, forming a well-filled, structural presence in beds or larger containers. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double, cup-shaped clusters with 40+ petals per bloom. Remontant with notably strong second flush, on cluster-flowering stems suitable for display in beds or for short-stemmed cutting. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Initially a vivid, warm sun-yellow; outer petals RHS 14A, inner 14B. Blooms pale gradually to light creamy yellow at the edges, with colour retention moderate and an overall bright, cheerful effect. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, clean rose-spicy scent that is noticeable at close quarters without being overpowering, adding a refined olfactory dimension to paths, entrances and seating areas in smaller gardens. |
| Hip characteristics |
Due to its very double flowers, hips appear only occasionally; small, spherical, typically 8–12 mm across and orange-red, offering limited ornamental contribution and minimal self-seeding risk. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Moderate resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust. Hardy to approximately –21 to –18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3), providing dependable overwintering in most UK garden situations. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; suitable for beds, parks, larger pots and cutting. Space at 50–90 cm depending on use, with moderate maintenance and occasional plant protection as needed. |
MY DAD offers vibrant long-season yellow colour, a stable bushy form and enduring own-root reliability, making it a thoughtful, easy-care choice for your next family garden planting.
