PICASSO™ – red-white bedding floribunda rose – McGredy
Like a brushstroke of art in your cottage border, PICASSO™ settles quickly as an own‑root shrub and rewards you with reliable, cluster after cluster of red‑and‑white blooms that feel made for afternoon tea corners and storybook seating nooks. This compact, bushy floribunda is easy to place in small to medium family gardens, coping well with blustery weather in exposed, breezy plots by the coast. Its good disease resistance keeps care pleasantly simple, while regular summer repeats ensure a colourful show from beds, borders or informal hedging with very little fuss. Over time the own‑root structure builds a naturally long‑lived, stable plant that can regenerate from the base, helping it stay balanced in shape, healthy in foliage and consistently ornamental in the family garden.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Front-of-border bedding in a family cottage garden |
Compact height and bushy habit make PICASSO™ ideal for the front of mixed borders, where its patterned blooms read clearly from the path without overwhelming other plants; low maintenance and good disease resistance keep work light for busy gardeners |
| Small to medium flower beds near patios or seating |
Cluster-flowered stems create concentrated splashes of colour close to terraces and benches, echoing a cheerful teatime atmosphere while requiring only straightforward pruning and deadheading; an easy way to give impact to beginner gardeners |
| Informal low hedge along a path or driveway |
Bushy, moderately thorny growth and regular repeat flowering allow PICASSO™ to form a low, decorative hedge that gently defines paths without becoming oppressive, offering reliable structure and privacy for traditional-style homeowners |
| Mass planting in front gardens and urban spaces |
Recommended planting distances make it well suited to rhythmical mass plantings where repeating blocks of patterned blooms create a strong visual statement, yet the plants remain manageable and resilient for low-maintenance planners |
| Mixed cottage-style border with perennials and shrubs |
Its distinctive red-and-white flowers pair easily with soft perennials and small shrubs, adding a painterly highlight that knits together kitchen-garden and ornamental areas; repeat flowering supports a long season for cottage-garden lovers |
| Raised beds on heavier or poorly drained soils |
Planting in raised beds helps this own-root floribunda develop a strong framework and dependable flowering even where soil is heavier, while the robust structure offers good anchoring and long service life for practical homeowners |
| Large containers of 40–50 litres or more |
In generously sized containers the compact, bushy habit remains stable and attractive, allowing PICASSO™ to decorate sunny patios or roof terraces with artistic blooms, with simple annual pruning and top-dressing suiting urban garden owners |
| Long-term feature plant in a family front garden |
As an own-root rose it gradually builds a durable framework, regenerating from the base when needed and holding its ornamental value for many years, providing a reassuringly lasting focal point for family-focused buyers |
Styling ideas
- Painter’s-Border – Combine PICASSO™ with soft pink foxgloves, white campanulas and pale geraniums to frame a cottage path – ideal for romantic cottage-garden enthusiasts
- Teatime-Nook – Plant in a trio beside a bench, underplanted with lavender and thyme around a gravel seating area – perfect for homeowners creating a cosy afternoon-tea corner
- Kitchen-Edge – Thread PICASSO™ along the edge of a kitchen garden with chives, sage and low box to link vegetables and ornamentals – suited to practical country-garden keepers
- Coastal-Ribbon – Use repeating groups along a front fence with sea holly and hardy grasses for colour in breezier gardens – good for gardeners in exposed or seaside locations
- Patio-Gallery – Grow in a 50-litre terracotta pot with trailing Nepeta and white lobelia to create an eye-catching living artwork – designed for small-plot and balcony gardeners
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose, registered as MACpic, marketed as PICASSO™ Hand-painted roses MACpic; ARS exhibition name Picasso; cluster-flowered exhibition floribunda type for beds and borders. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Samuel Darragh McGredy IV (McGredy Roses International, New Zealand); ‘Marlena’ × (‘Evelyn Fison’ × (‘Orange Sweetheart’ × ‘Frühlingsmorgen’)); bred mid-1960s, introduced and registered in 1971. |
| Awards and recognition |
RNRS Certificate of Merit (United Kingdom, 1970); Special Prize Belfast (Northern Ireland, 1970); New Zealand Rose Society Gold Star of the South Pacific (1973), confirming long-standing garden merit. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, moderately thorny shrub about 65–85 cm high and 50–75 cm wide, with moderately dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage; forms a compact, rounded outline suitable for bedding and low hedging. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cup-shaped blooms opening fairly flat in small clusters; about 13–20 petals per flower, with small flower size and reliable remontant behaviour giving a good second flush in summer. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Cherry-red petals with white base and pink-red streaks; buds deep cherry-red; as flowers open, red tones soften to pink and white zones cream, while the hand-painted striping remains distinctly visible. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Fragrance is mild and only subtly noticeable at close range, adding a light scent without overwhelming seating areas; pollinator appeal is moderate due to semi-double form and accessible stamens. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rosehip set is usually low because of the semi-double bloom form; where present, expect small, spherical orange-red hips around 6–10 mm diameter, adding a discreet autumn accent. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated H7, hardy approximately to −21 to −18 °C (USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3); resistant to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; moderate heat and drought tolerance, needs regular watering in dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny sites; for beds plant about 40 cm apart (denser for hedging); square planting 5.7 plants/m² or 6.5 plants/m² hexagonal; low maintenance, routine feeding and pruning keep plants performing well. |
PICASSO™ brings distinctive patterned flowers, easy-care bedding performance and long-term own-root resilience to family gardens, making it a cultured choice for those planning a relaxed, romantic planting scheme.
