Floribundas
The dominant rose groups of the 20th century were the Floribundas and the Hybrid Teas. While Hybrid Teas were prized for the perfection of their large, individual flowers, Floribundas were bred for their masses of smaller flowers; these combine with their freedom of flowering to give a show of color throughout the season.

Floribundas owe their existence to Dines Poulsen in southern Denmark, who crossed a Polyantha rose with a Hybrid Tea to produce the hardy and free-flowering ‘Rödhätte’ in 1907. At the time this was called a Hybrid Polyantha, or Poulsen rose. Further crosses of the same type followed with bright pink ‘Ellen Poulsen’ appearing in 1911 and ‘Kirsten Poulsen’ and ‘Else Poulsen’ in 1924.

Other breeders produced similar roses by chance, such as ‘Gruß an Aachen’ in 1909, produced by crossing the large, white ‘Frau Karl Druschki’ with the yellow Hybrid Tea ‘Franz Deegen’. Further crosses with Hybrid Teas have produced sprays of larger flowers, more perfectly Hybrid Tea in type, until the distinction between the two groups has become blurred. A new group, the Grandifloras, has been recognized in some countries; here these have been included in the Hybrid Tea section.

Single-flowered Floribundas were very popular in the 1930s, and several of these still hold their own for health and freedom of flowering. ‘Betty Prior’ is still an excellent pink, and ‘Dainty Maid’, ‘Dusky Maiden’, and ‘Lilac Charm’, all raised by Edward Le Grice, are still grown in both North America and Europe. ‘Dainty Maid’ is also significant as one of the parents of ‘Constance Spry’ the first of David Austin’s English Roses.

Because they are generally low growing and very floriferous, Floribundas are ideal for the front of mixed border. Old stems can be pruned well back before growth starts in spring.