The Gourmet Popcorn is a small shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae) and was discovered by Luis Desamero in 1986 as a sport of 'Popcorn'. Weeks Roses introduced the vigorous shrub in 1988. The Gourmet Popcorn grows up to 3 feet high to 3.5 feet wide. It can be planted in 3 gallon or larger containers and repotted every 2 to 3 years. It is a fast grower which can last up to 30 years. Plant in any soil type which does not have standing water, but preferably in neutral soil that is loamy or sandy. It will tolerate partial sun, but grows quicker with more blooms in full sun. The crown should be planted at soil level. Protect the upright bush from spring frost and high winds. In spring, remove old, dead, or diseased wood and prune the canes back by one-third and even further in colder climates. The small semi-double to double white flowers with a buttery yellow center bloom from mid-June through the fall frost. The fragrance is a mild honey scent. The Gourmet Popcorn rose is disease-resistant. The showy solitary flowers form large clusters that can be used as cutting flowers. It is tolerant of urban pollution. Place them in beds or borders, containers, and hanging baskets. Plant it as a specimen or several together like a ground cover. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Very disease resistant. See pests of roses to the left. Deer will browse roses. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Rosa .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheBuddleja Lo & Behold® 'Blue Chip Jr.'Rosa Flower Carpet® GroupRosa Minnie Pearl™ 'SAVahowdy'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Rose
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 2 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Cascading; Multi-stemmed; Weeping
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are large, dark green and semi-glossy.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup; Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The small white semi-double to double flowers are borne solitary or in small clusters from June until the first frost. The prolific blooms have 8 - 28 petals with yellow stamens.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Green stems with prickles
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Attracts
Bees
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets; Patio; Small Space; Walkways
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; English Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting; Small groups; Specimen
Garden tags
#deciduous shrub #border front #white flowers #full sun tolerant #shrub rose #English garden #cutting garden #patio #mass planting #cottage garden #hanging baskets #small spaces #groundcover #container plant #repeat flowering