September 2001
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Playboy Once you get over the name of this rose, you can really enjoy the vigor and striking color combination of this flamboyant Floribunda. The blooms are almost single, bright orange with a yellow eye opening to reveal attractive golden stamens. They just seem to hang on for days and the color intensifies to scarlet as it ages. It has glossy dark green foliage, which produces a healthy looking bush of ever blooming clusters of large semi-double blossoms. Playboy grows approximately 4 feet tall and has a neat bushy appearance. It thrives in sun but can tolerate a little shade. It grows well in a pot or in the ground. With an ARS rating of 8.2, Playboy should be easy to grow in most areas, although it can be a bit winter tender and needs extra protection. Probably one of its best features is its disease resistance. It's not uncommon to see this Floribunda on the prize winner's table at a rose show. Playboy is currently ranked number two in exhibition Floribunda's. Playboy was hybridized by Cocker in northern Scotland in the 1970s and introduced in 1976. It's parentage is City of Leeds x (Chanelle x Piccadilly). It was awarded the Portland Gold Medal in 1989, which distinguishes it among the very best roses of the world in the last 50 years. It is commonly confused for another rose bred by Cocker named Cheerio, although they are two totally different roses. Most visitors to my garden are intrigued by the unusual color and form of Playboy. I highly recommend Playboy, as it is truly one of my favorites. Come on, don't hold its name against it, and give Playboy a try!
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