DICK CLARK™ – cream-yellow with red-edged petals bedding grandiflora rose
Imagine afternoon tea beneath an arbour, framed by romantic blooms of DICK CLARK™, where each flower opens in a storybook blend of cream-yellow petals edged in cherry red that deepen to burgundy in summer light. This tall, bushy grandiflora lends a cottage feeling to ordinary family plots, yet remains surprisingly manageable for those who want beauty without endlessly fiddly chores. As an own-root rose it builds long-term resilience and can quietly regenerate from its base, ideal where strong winds and heavy showers sweep through exposed gardens near the coast. Over time it forms a stable, glossy green backdrop whose medium, cupped blooms provide season-long drama and a sweet, spicy fragrance, settling into the garden picture as a dependable centrepiece for years to come.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Feature rose in a small front garden bed |
The bushy, upright habit and mid-height stature allow DICK CLARK™ to act as a natural focal point without overwhelming a modest space, giving strong garden presence from the pavement or drive. Its own-root vigour supports a long, stable life, suiting busy homeowners |
| Romantic cottage-style mixed border |
The cream-yellow flowers with cherry-red edges echo classic cottage borders and blend well with foxgloves and other pastel perennials, creating a layered, “girly” countryside look. Repeat flowering keeps colour coming through the season for cottage-garden lovers |
| Season-long colour anchor in the family garden |
Reliable remontant flowering and good colour retention mean this rose offers a dependable flush of blooms after the first peak, helping the garden look cared-for even when time for maintenance is limited, which suits time-poor families |
| Lightly formal flowering hedge or boundary line |
Planted at the recommended spacing, its dense, glossy foliage knits into a cohesive line and the medium-sized, cupped blooms add rhythm along a path or fence, creating a structured yet romantic boundary that appeals to traditionalists |
| Specimen rose in a large container on a terrace |
In a 40–50 litre container, the upright, bushy shape becomes a vertical accent beside seating or by a doorway, delivering fragrance and colour close to eye level while remaining practical to manage for urban balcony-gardeners |
| Cut flowers for informal indoor arrangements |
The double, medium-sized blooms on good stems suit relaxed jug or vase arrangements, carrying a clearly noticeable sweet, spicy aroma that brings the storybook garden mood indoors for home entertainers |
| Reliable choice for mixed planting on challenging soils |
As an own-root plant it establishes steadily even where drainage and exposure are less than ideal, gradually developing roots, then top growth, then full ornamental performance, remaining reliable for practical gardeners |
| Showpiece rose for enthusiasts who still like easy care |
As a decorated American grandiflora with exhibition credentials, it offers pedigree while keeping maintenance reasonable, with only moderate deadheading and pest checks needed, making it attractive to aspiring collectors |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Archway – Train DICK CLARK™ near a simple metal arch, underplant with foxgloves and catmint for a soft, romantic tunnel leading to the kitchen garden – ideal for cottage-garden lovers
- Front-Garden Welcome – Position one or three plants by the path with low lavender edging; the bi-coloured blooms provide a warm, elegant welcome – perfect for family homes
- Tea-Terrace Pot – Grow a single plant in a 50 litre clay pot beside outdoor seating, pairing with trailing thyme and violas – suited to urban terrace owners
- Storybook Hedge – Create a loose flowering hedge along a picket fence, interspersed with white campanula for a nostalgic countryside feel – appealing to traditional romantics
- Evening Scent Corner – Combine with pale pink shrub roses and white foxgloves near a bench so the sweet, spicy fragrance is enjoyed at dusk – good for quiet contemplative gardeners
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
DICK CLARK™ bedding grandiflora rose, registered as WEKfunk; American Rose Society exhibition name: Dick Clark; grandiflora–floribunda type within the bed rose commercial group. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in the United States by Christian Bédard and Tom Carruth from ‘Fourth of July’ × unknown seedling; introduced by Weeks Roses in 2011, registered in 2009. |
| Awards and recognition |
All-America Rose Selections (AARS) winner 2011 and American Rose Society Members’ Choice 2015, reflecting consistent garden performance and broad enthusiast approval. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub reaching about 140–180 cm high and 80–120 cm wide, with dense, glossy dark green foliage and moderate prickliness, forming a substantial garden presence. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized, double, cupped blooms with approximately 26–39 petals, mostly borne singly; remontant with abundant first and second flushes given routine deadheading. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Cream-yellow base with bright cherry-red margins; ARS RB, RHS 155B and 46A; tones darken in heat and lighten in cooler weather, but strong fading is uncommon across the season. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, clearly noticeable scent combining sweet and spicy notes; ornamental value is primary, with dense petalling meaning flowers are less attractive to pollinators. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hips form sparsely; occasional small spherical hips 10–14 mm across may develop, coloured vivid red (RHS 40A), but do not usually dominate the plant’s appearance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 4, USDA 5b); disease resistance is moderate for black spot, mildew and rust, with heat tolerance good if watered in dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best at 60–70 cm spacing in beds or hedges; prefers well-prepared soil with regular watering in drought and occasional pest control; suitable for partial shade and cutting. |
DICK CLARK™ offers romantic bi-coloured blooms, a bushy, space-efficient habit and rewarding repeat flowering on a durable own-root framework; an excellent choice if you want long-term impact from a single, versatile rose.
