Floribunda rose (Rosa 'Wekplapic' BETTY BOOP)
Discover Rosa 'Wekplapic' BETTY BOOP, a showy Floribunda rose, perfect for hedges, blooming ivory yellow with red edges from May to frost.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP is a highly desirable Floribunda rose, recognized for its vigorous, bushy, and upright growth habit reaching 3 to 5 feet tall. This cultivar stands out with its unique semi-double blooms, which feature an ivory yellow base beautifully edged in cherry red, making it a true focal point in any garden setting. As a 1999 AARS winner, this variety delivers continuous color from late spring until the first frost, offering reliable performance in many climates across USDA Zones 4 through 9.
Valued for its strong landscape presence, Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP performs exceptionally well when used formally as a hedge or informally in borders and cottage gardens. Its clustered blooms provide consistent visual interest throughout the season, contrasting nicely with its glossy green foliage that emerges reddish in spring. Gardeners should aim for full sun exposure to maximize the flowering potential and disease resistance of this popular Floribunda rose.
This specific variety, bearing the varietal denomination ‘WEKplapic’, offers a balance of beauty and relative ease of care, classifying it as a medium-maintenance shrub. Following proper cultural instructions ensures this attractive rose rewards the gardener with abundant, showy clusters. Consider adding Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP to your planting scheme for reliable, season-long color.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Rosaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 3-5 ft
- Spread: 3-4 ft
- Bloom Time: May to frost
- Bloom Description: Ivory yellow with red petal edges
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
The ideal time to establish your Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP is when conditions are mild, ensuring the plant has time to establish root systems before extreme heat or cold. These Floribunda roses thrive when planted in well-drained garden loams that are slightly acidic, receiving consistent medium moisture. While they tolerate some light shade, planting in full sun is strongly recommended for the best bloom production and superior disease resistance for this variety.
Consistent watering is key to healthy growth; water deeply, preferably in the mornings, and avoid spraying the foliage to minimize fungal issues. Good air circulation is essential, which aids in disease control, especially in humid environments. Applying a summer mulch 2-3 inches deep will help regulate soil temperature, conserve moisture, and suppress weeds around the base of the Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP.
Regular deadheading—the removal of spent flowers—will actively encourage repeat blooming all season long. For gardeners in colder regions within the hardiness range, providing winter protection to the crowns of the plant may be necessary. Annual pruning, typically done in late winter back to 12-18 inches from the ground, helps maintain the desired size and shape for optimal flowering performance of this spectacular Floribunda rose.
Landscape Uses
The versatility of Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP makes it a stellar choice across various landscape designs. Its upright, bushy habit, reaching medium height, lends itself perfectly to being used as a formal or informal hedge, providing structure and continuous floral interest along property lines or walkways. Furthermore, these roses shine when planted in small groups or used as accents within mixed perennial borders or traditional cottage gardens.
When designing with this rose, consider companion plants that share similar light and water needs while offering visual contrast. Low-growing lavender or silvery foliage plants can accentuate the unique ivory and red edges of the blooms. Because it is recommended for foundations planting, ensure adequate space is left for air circulation around the base of the shrub to support the health of your Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP.
For a classic rose garden setting, plant in masses to create impact, especially since these floribundas produce clusters of flowers rather than single stems characteristic of Hybrid Teas. While it is a stunning outdoor landscape plant, its growth habit also makes it a strong candidate for larger container plantings where its color show can be enjoyed up close.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
Noteworthy Characteristics
Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP is categorized within the larger genus noted for having prickly stems and deciduous foliage; however, Floribundas distinguish themselves by producing clusters of flowers, unlike the single blooms of Hybrid Teas. This particular cultivar is celebrated for its flat to cupped, semi-double flowers reaching up to 4 inches in diameter with striking cherry-red petal edges over ivory yellow. New foliage emerges reddish before maturing to a glossy green, and notably, the plant does not produce hips in the autumn, keeping the focus solely on the late-season blooms.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
Like most roses, the Floribunda rose Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP is vulnerable to several common fungal diseases, primarily black spot, powdery mildew, and rust. Controlling these issues begins with excellent cultural practices, such as watering the base of the plant deeply and in the morning, allowing foliage to dry quickly. For gardeners operating in humid climates, preventative fungicide applications throughout the growing season are often required to minimize disease impact.
Insect pests that frequently bother roses include aphids, spider mites, leafhoppers, and scale. Inspecting the foliage regularly, especially the undersides of leaves and new growth, helps catch infestations early. Encouraging beneficial insects or using targeted, appropriate treatments based on local extension service recommendations is the best defense against these common rose problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Floribunda rose Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP suitable for?
This Floribunda rose is hardy and suitable for USDA Zones 4 through 9.
How large does Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP grow?
This variety typically matures to a height between 3 and 5 feet, with a spread ranging from 3 to 4 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP need?
For optimal health, flowering, and disease resistance, Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP requires full sun exposure daily.
When does Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP bloom?
This rose begins blooming in May and continues producing its ivory yellow flowers with red petal edges consistently until the first frost arrives.
Conclusion
Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP is an exceptional Floribunda rose, offering a vibrant, showy display of unique bicolored blooms throughout the long growing season. Its manageable size and suitability as a hedge or border specimen make it a garden workhorse. Before planting, ensure your chosen location provides full sun and check that the local USDA hardiness zone aligns with zones 4-9 for best success with this AARS winner.
Companion Planting for Floribunda Roses
Selecting the right neighbors enhances the beauty and aids in the disease management of your roses. Plants that prefer sharp drainage and similar sun exposure work best alongside Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP. Consider groundcovers like creeping thyme or creeping phlox, which can cover the soil surface, minimizing soil splash onto the lower leaves, which helps reduce the risk of black spot infection.
For height contrast in a border setting, upright spiky perennials such as Salvia or tall ornamental grasses provide an excellent structural foil to the rounded form of the Floribunda rose. Avoid planting woody shrubs too closely, as this restricts the necessary air circulation vital for keeping the foliage of the Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP healthy and dry.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring cleanup is crucial; remove all dead leaves accumulated over winter around the base of the plant before new growth emerges to prevent the overwintering of fungal spores. As temperatures warm, begin your preventative spray program if you have experienced black spot or mildew issues in previous years. Summer is dedicated to regular deep watering, fertilization every 4-6 weeks (after initial bloom sets), and consistent deadheading to maximize flower production.
In the late fall, after the first few hard frosts have signaled dormancy, clear away all fallen leaves one last time—a critical step often overlooked in winter preparation. If required by your local climate, apply mulch or burlap wrapping around the crown area to protect the base before the ground freezes solid, ensuring your lovely Rosa ‘Wekplapic’ BETTY BOOP survives the cold months intact.
