MY DAD – yellow flower bed floribunda rose – Matthews
If You dream of a front garden that feels like a gentle Irish cottage daydream, My Dad is a warm, sun-yellow floribunda that keeps its cheerful clusters coming from early summer well into autumn, even when gardens face steady rain and need help coping with heavy, wet soils through improved drainage. Its bushy, upright habit and dark green, glossy foliage create an easy backdrop for “girly” perennials, while the medium, clean fragrance adds a comforting, rose-spicy note on damp evenings. As an own-root rose it settles in steadily, living for many years with reliable flowering and the quiet reassurance that in the first year it focuses on roots, the second on sturdier shoots, and by the third it reaches full garden character.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden bedding strip |
The bushy, upright habit and 7–10 cm, cup-shaped clusters build a bright yellow ribbon along a path or low wall, giving strong colour from a compact footprint. Simple pruning and occasional plant protection keep it tidy and welcoming for the beginner. |
| Long-season cottage border |
Remontant flowering with an especially abundant second flush means the bed stays lively from early summer into autumn, supporting that soft, lived-in cottage look without needing constant replanting, perfect for the homeowner. |
| Family garden focal shrub |
At 110–150 cm high with glossy dark foliage, one plant can anchor a small lawn island or corner bed, giving structure all year and cheerful colour when in bloom, appealing to the busy urban gardener. |
| Large containers on terraces |
In a 40–50 litre or larger pot, its upright, floribunda habit offers a neat column of colour on patios or small Dublin terraces, with own-root growth ensuring longevity and steady recovery after pruning, ideal for the balcony-focused buyer. |
| Low, informal hedge |
Planted at 50 cm intervals, it forms a loose, flowery boundary that guides movement in the garden without feeling rigid, while uniform sun-yellow blooms create a friendly edge for the family-oriented household. |
| Clay-soil family plots |
Given decent preparation and mulched beds, it performs reliably where Irish gardens often struggle, helping beds cope better with persistent moisture and improving everyday enjoyment even when gardens battle heavy, waterlogged ground, reassuring the cautious planter. |
| Cut flowers for the home |
Very double, 40+ petal blooms on clustered stems give plenty of stems for short indoor arrangements, while the clean, medium-strength rose-spicy scent brings a gentle, homely atmosphere prized by the fragrance-loving customer. |
| Low-input, long-term planting |
As an own-root floribunda, it builds a durable framework that can regenerate from the base after harsh pruning or winter damage, giving many years of stable ornamental value with modest care, suiting the time-poor owner. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Ribbon – Plant a wavy line of MY DAD along a path, weaving between low catmint and pink hardy geraniums for a soft, romantic look – perfect for relaxed cottage-garden enthusiasts.
- Sunny-Screen – Use a double row as a knee-high hedge, backed by Verbena hastata ‘Pink Spires’ for airy height and movement – ideal for families wanting gentle separation without solid fences.
- Pot-Parade – Place a single plant in a 50 litre terracotta pot by the front door, underplant with white lobelia to highlight the yellow blooms – suited to busy urban dwellers with limited space.
- Pastel-Meadow – Combine in a mixed border with Lythrum salicaria and Verbena hastata ‘White Spires’ so the golden roses glow among pink and white spires – appealing to colour-loving beginners.
- Memory-Corner – Create a small seating nook with two or three shrubs around a bench, adding lavender at their feet to blend rose-spicy and herbal scents – thoughtful for those designing a reflective spot.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose, collection “Bedding rose”. Trade name MY DAD – yellow flower bed floribunda rose – Matthews; registered as MATtmaf, commercial group Rósra bhláthchlóis. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Bob Matthews of Matthews Nurseries Ltd, New Zealand, with parentage unknown; introduced in 2018 after a 2017 PVR application and initially distributed by Matthews Nurseries Ltd. |
| Awards and recognition |
Received a Certificate of Merit at the 2018 International Rose Trial in Palmerston North, indicating good garden performance and ornamental quality in independent trials. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub 110–150 cm tall, spreading 70–100 cm, with dense, dark green, glossy foliage and moderate prickliness; suited to beds, low hedges and larger containers in family gardens. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, 7–10 cm, very double, cup-shaped blooms with 40+ petals, borne in clusters; remontant, with an especially abundant second flowering period providing strong seasonal display. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Sun-yellow flowers, RHS 14A outer and 14B inner; buds deep yellow with slight greenish tips, edges lightening to creamy pale yellow as blooms mature, with moderate colour retention over time. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, clean rose-spicy scent that is noticeable without overpowering; suitable for planting near seating areas, entrances or paths where the fragrance can be appreciated at close range. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hips form only occasionally due to very double blooms; when present they are spherical, 8–12 mm in diameter and orange-red, offering modest late-season ornamental interest for the observant gardener. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (USDA zone 6b, RHS H7); disease resistance is moderate to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, so occasional plant protection may be needed in humid seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; recommended spacing 55 cm for masses, 50 cm for hedges, 90 cm as specimen, at 3.2–3.7 plants/m², suitable for beds, parks, pots and cutting. |
MY DAD offers long-season yellow flowering, a comforting rose-spicy scent and durable own-root growth for years of easy enjoyment, making it a thoughtful choice for a relaxed, characterful Irish family garden.
