Rosa x floribunda Off-Load 'Mattmaf'

The 'Off-Load' Rose, remarkably floriferous, offers throughout the season an abundance of roses of a absolutely radiant golden yellow that exhale a beautiful fragrance with spicy notes. The striking colour of this flowering is well highlighted by shiny, dense foliage that is disease-resistant. This robust and highly recurrent variety is easy to maintain. Its compact habit is suitable for both borders and container cultivation. These qualities have earned this rose the prestigious Silver Star of the City of Palmerston North award in New Zealand.

The 'Off-Load' Rose ('Mattmaf') is a beautiful variety created by the New Zealand breeder Bob Matthews. The plant forms, in a few years, a erect, bushy shrub, with thorny stems, reaching an average height of 65 cm (26in) with a spread of 50 cm (20in), adorned with very healthy foliage, divided into large, toothed leaflets of a glossy dark green. Its flowering is highly recurrent, starting in May-June depending on the region, blooming again in the middle of summer if the soil remains moist, and ending in October. Its double corollas (45 to 50 petals) are medium-sized, gathered in generous clusters that cover the foliage well. The tightly closed buds open into round cups, in a gradient of very bright yellow. Their rose fragrance reveals spicy notes, which are more noticeable in hot and calm weather. The deciduous foliage falls in autumn.

Cluster-flowered roses can be used to create beautiful small hedges, planted mixed along the edge of the terrace or in small shrub borders. Combine them with Japanese spireas, dwarf weigelas, caryopteris, and peonies, for example. They are good companions for panicle phlox and tall baby's breath. The modest size of this 'Off-Load' rose fits well in all gardens, even small ones, or in a large pot to decorate the balcony or terrace. Its uses are varied, depending on each gardener's desires: in a rose bed, planted in groups of 3 to 5 plants, or in a large border. It will blend well with light and easy-to-grow plants such as perennial geraniums (Geranium 'Blue Cloud', 'Anne Folkard', 'Nimbus', 'Orion'), bellflowers (lactiflora, rapunculoides), catmints, cornflowers, foxgloves, phlox etc. Its flowers can be used to create elegant bouquets that will delicately perfume the house.