Malibu

Where to plant. As a specimen at the back of the bed (due to its 150–185 cm height), in a mixed border with warm perennials; for cutting — long stems of 50–60 cm are good for bouquets; not suited to the front of the border because of its height.

Climate. To −23 °C — all of Ukraine with moderate winter cover; the south without cover.

Care. Classic HT — spring pruning to 30–40 cm; removing spent flowers encourages new flushes; seasonal protection against black spot (recommended in American gardens).

Name. 'Malibu' — after the Californian beach town of Malibu on the Pacific coast, known for its spectacular sunsets. The bloom's palette closely imitates a sunset over Malibu: a pink sky turns to gold, then to coral-orange and finally to deep cream. This is a 'one rose, one view' — a rare case where a variety literally evokes a specific geographic place.

Breeding. Bred by Dr. Keith W. Zary at Jackson & Perkins (USA), bred and released on the market in 2009. Code JACsammy. Parentage not disclosed (a trade secret of J&P). Dr. Zary is the same breeder who produced Dream Weaver (JACpicl, 1997, climbing floribunda) — in our catalogue this is his 2nd work.

Significance. A modern Californian HT of the 2010s with a characteristic multi-tone palette — a typical style of twenty-first-century American breeding. HOMONYM: there is a separate cut-flower variety called Malibu (dark pink with a cream reverse, greenhouse-grown in Kenya/Ecuador, sold through Rio Roses, Eagle-Link Flowers, Asiri) — the breeder is not publicly named, probably Dümmen/Olij. In our catalogue this is the garden HT Zary/J&P 2009. The spicy fragrance (cinnamon + clove) is a rare note for an HT; it is usually associated with shrub roses (such as Cottage Rose, Constance Spry).