grandiflora

plural grandifloras

1. A rose of the Grandiflora class of roses created in the middle of the 20th century as backcrosses of hybrid teas and floribundas that fit neither category.

   “[…] The creation of the Grandiflora rose marks another significant milestone in horticultural progress, and opens new avenues for the use and enjoyment of roses both in the garden and in the home”.

   1954, Telegraph Delivery Spirit, volume 21, page 68

   3 more examples

   Many countries still refuse to recognize “grandiflora” as a legitimate name, largely on the ground that it seems to imply that the individual blooms are unusually large, whereas most grandifloras have somewhat smaller blooms than the larger hybrid teas.

   1974, Roland A. Browne, The Rose-lover’s Guide: A Practical Handbook on Rose Growing, Atheneum Press, →ISBN, page 12

   ✓ Climbing sports: These climbers — generally named after their original variety, such as ‘Climbing Queen Elizabeth’ from the famous, pink grandiflora — result from unusually vigorous canes that grow from popular hybrid teas, grandifloras, shrubs, and floribundas.

   2003, “Book III: Roses. Chapter 3: A Rose by Any Other Name.”, in the editors at the National Gardening Association and Bob Beckstrom, Karan Davis Cutler, Kathleen Fisher, Phillip Giroux, Judy Glattstein, Mike MacCaskey, Bill Marken, Charlie Nardozzi, Sally Roth, Marcia Tatroe, Lance Walheim, and Anna Whitman, editors, Gardening All-in-One for Dummies, Wiley Publishing, Inc., →ISBN, Collecting Climbing Roses. So many climbers, so little time, page 242

   Our grandiflora stands 7 ft. tall on thornless stems, adorned with massive clusters of fragrant, 4-in., clear pink blossoms whose ruffled edges are tinged with a darker pink. Without a doubt, ‘Queen Elizabeth’ deserves to be the reigning monarch of grandifloras. Grandifloras blend well with other perennials and shrubs.

   2013, Bruce Asakawa, Sharon Asakawa, “Roses”, in California: Getting Started Garden Guide, Cool Springs Press, →ISBN, Grandiflora, page 125