STRANGE BREW – red-yellow bedding floribunda rose - Matthews
Bring a touch of storybook romance to a real family garden with Strange Brew, a floribunda whose unusual brown‑orange blooms glow against dark foliage and create a cosy, afternoon‑tea atmosphere along paths, fences or a cottage‑style kitchen garden. This upright, medium‑maintenance shrub offers dependable repeat flowering from summer onwards, especially when planted in well‑drained soil that can cope even where coastal winds and heavy weather regularly test garden borders. As an own‑root plant, it develops steadily into a stable, long‑lived feature that can regenerate from its base and maintain its shape and colour impact with modest care. In larger containers of at least 40–50 litres it builds an intimate focal point near seating, while in beds and low hedges it knits naturally into the mixed planting of a traditional English cottage scheme. Over time, its semi‑double, open blooms provide partial pollinator interest and a gentle, fruity‑spicy fragrance, while moderate height and spread make it easy to combine with herbs, perennials and low shrubs for that “girly”, romantic look you can enjoy without complicated tasks as its own‑root strength supports a long, reliable garden presence.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Feature rose in a small to medium family flowerbed |
The upright habit and mid‑sized clusters allow Strange Brew to stand out as a focal shrub without overwhelming a typical family border, while own‑root longevity means it matures into a reliable, permanent feature for busy homeowners who want lasting structure and colour for beginners. |
| Cottage-style mixed border with herbs and perennials |
The unusual burnt orange to ochre-yellow blooms weave beautifully among herbs, salvias or lavender cotton, giving a romantic, “girly” cottage feel with repeat flushes that keep borders interesting across the season, suiting those who prefer traditional charm with manageable care for cottage. |
| Low informal hedge along paths, drives or boundaries |
Planted at hedge spacing, the medium height and moderately dense foliage form a soft, flowering line that frames lawns and paths without creating a solid screen, ideal for family gardens needing gentle separation rather than tall barriers for families. |
| Mass planting in front gardens and communal areas |
In groups at bedding distances, the distinctive rusty orange to cinnamon-yellow colour blend gives strong visual impact from the street, while own‑root stability and medium disease resistance support long-term bedding schemes with relatively few interventions for homeowners. |
| Statement container rose near seating or on terraces |
When grown in large 40–50 litre pots, its upright form, semi‑double flowers and mild fragrance create an intimate, eye-level display that suits patios and urban terraces where you want a romantic focus without committing to large borders for urbanites. |
| Specimen shrub in a rural kitchen or cutting garden |
As a single specimen, Strange Brew’s warm, unusual colouring blends well with vegetables and cottage annuals, and the own‑root plant responds well to seasonal pruning styles, supporting informal arrangements and light cutting for vases for gardeners. |
| Pollinator-friendly corner with informal planting |
The semi-double, open flower form exposes stamens that can be accessed by insects, making it a partially pollinator-friendly choice when mixed with perennials and herbs, suited to those wanting wildlife value alongside ornament for wildlife. |
| Raised beds or improved soils in exposed gardens |
In raised or well-drained beds, this medium-maintenance rose copes better with challenging spots, offering repeat colour and form even in gardens where frequent rain and wind quickly test planting choices, appealing to practical planners seeking dependable structure for planners. |
Styling ideas
- Rustic hedge – Plant a loose line along a path with lavender cotton and evergreen candytuft to soften edges and provide a warm, glowing backbone – ideal for families wanting gentle structure.
- Kitchen corner – Combine Strange Brew with herbs, runner beans and cottage annuals in a sunny bed to echo traditional farmhouse gardens – perfect for rural cooks and allotment-style growers.
- Patio focus – One plant in a 50‑litre terracotta pot by a bench becomes a cosy tea-time companion, its mild scent and rich colour close at hand – suited to busy urbanites with limited space.
- Copper drift – Mass-plant in a front border with tawny grasses and white verbena for a contemporary take on cottage style – appealing to design-conscious homeowners who like soft drama.
- Storybook mix – Thread Strange Brew through pastel roses and perennial clumps to create a layered, romantic border that looks established over time – for romantics who favour gentle, evolving gardens.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose registered as MATtbre, marketed as Strange Brew Bedding rose MATtbre; ARS exhibition name Strange Brew for floribunda and shrub rose classes. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Bob Matthews, Matthews Nurseries Ltd., New Zealand; introduced in the United Kingdom by C & K Jones around 2012, with parentage not publicly documented. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright shrub reaching about 130–170 cm in height and 85–115 cm spread, moderately thorny, with slightly glossy, dark green foliage that emerges reddish and forms a medium-density canopy. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cup-shaped blooms with around 13–25 petals, medium flower size in clustered inflorescences, remontant with a generous second flush when deadheaded to encourage repeat display. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep burnt orange to rust-brown outer petals with ochre-yellow inner tones; colour may lighten to creamy, cinnamon yellow with copper-red edges in strong sun as blooms age and fade. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mildly scented with a fruity, spicy character; fragrance is noticeable at close range rather than at a distance, complementing its role near seating and paths rather than as a powerful scent rose. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces moderate quantities of small, spherical hips, typically 6–10 mm in diameter, turning red as they mature and offering subtle late-season interest where spent flowers are left untrimmed. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Medium resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3) with moderate tolerance of heat and drought if watered in dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny positions for mass bedding, hedging or specimens at 60–110 cm spacing; prefers well-drained soil, regular deadheading, and timely watering during prolonged dry periods to sustain flowering. |
STRANGE BREW offers unusual warm colouring, repeat flowering and adaptable hedging or specimen use on a durable own-root framework, making it a thoughtful choice for gardeners seeking long-lived romance with manageable care.
