Rockin' Robin is a hybrid shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae) bred by Tom Carruth of the United States and introduced by Weeks Wholesale Rose Grower in 1997. Parentage is Bonica 82 x Roller Coaster. This shrub will grow 4-5 feet tall and wide in a bushy, spreading form. Plant in full sun to light shade in amended, well-drained, moist garden soil. Prune in the winter to remove dead or damaged canes and to shape. Blooms on old wood. The unique flowers have white, pink and red strips, are 2-3 inches across with 26-40 petals and a mild apple fragrance. They grow in small clusters and appear continuously throughout the season. The small leaves are semi-glossy and leathery on stems with prickles. Use this shrub in the border, as an accent or specimen or in small groups in the cutting or cottage garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for black spot, powdery mildew and rust. See pests of roses to the left. Deer will browse roses.
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 nicheRosa 'Duet'Rosa Ketchup & Mustard® 'WEKzazette'Rosa Sweet Juliet® 'AUSleap'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Rose; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Glossy green leathery leaves.
Flower color
Pink; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Red, white and pink stripes on a 2-3 inch flower with 26-40 petals and a mild apple fragrance. Blooms nearly continuously in summer.
Bloom time
Summer
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
Green stems with prickles
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Attracts
Bees
Landscape Use
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden
Design feature
Accent; Small groups; Specimen
Garden tags
#rose #shrub #accent #cutting garden #specimen #red and white flowers #variegated #long bloom season #border #fragrant flowers #cottage garden #shrub border #shrub rose