Rose Dick Clark

‘Dick Clark’ is a vigorous Grandiflora rose with an unusually changeable combination of creamy ivory, cherry pink, crimson and burgundy. Its long, dark buds open into classically shaped flowers whose pale central areas become increasingly suffused with red as the blooms mature and receive strong light, so that flowers of markedly different coloration may occur simultaneously on the same plant. The effect is heightened by glossy dark-green foliage, strong stems suitable for cutting, abundant repeat flowering and a tall, well-branched habit. A perfect choice for gardeners wanting both exhibition-style bloom and a large landscape plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Rose ‘Dick Clark’ is a modern Grandiflora rose bred in the United States by Tom Carruth and Christian Bédard for Weeks Roses and is famous for its unusual cream-and-cherry coloration developing toward burgundy, abundant flowers borne on useful cutting stems, and a tall, upright, moderately spreading plant habit. A mature plant of this rose variety makes a picturesque background or middle-to-back border rose, can form an informal flowering screen, and is especially valuable as a cut rose.

FLOWERING

Rose ‘Dick Clark’ is a repeat flowering variety, the flowering occurs in a repeated flushes from late spring or early summer until autumn. In favorable climates individual flushes overlap sufficiently to give an almost continuous impression, whereas in colder continental climates the rose is likely to show a pronounced first flush followed by successive flowering separated by periods of vegetative regrowth.

The flowering effect is particularly dynamic because different stages of colour development remain on the plant together. Dark buds, newly opened cream-and-cherry flowers, increasingly crimson half opened blooms and heavily burgundy-flushed older flowers create a multicoloured appearance even though all originate from the same cultivar. Regular removal of spent flowers generally encourages quicker repeat and keeps this relatively tall shrub visually neat.

Flower bud:

The buds are among the more elegant features of ‘Dick Clark’. They are quite long, pointed and refined. Before the calyx separates, buds measure approximately 1.5 - 2.2 cm (0.6 - 0.9 in) long and 1.2 - 1.7 cm (0.5 - 0.7 in) wide, with a pointed to somewhat ovoid shape. As the petals begin to emerge they enlarge the bud to approximately 2.1 - 2.7 cm (0.8 - 1.1 in) long and 1.7 - 2.2 cm (0.7 - 0.9 in) wide. The sepals are medium green in colour, often strongly suffused on the exposed side with dark red-purple pigmentation. Once the petals become visible, they show black-red tones, and beneath the deep red flushing lies a warmer yellow-cream base that becomes more obvious during opening.

Sepals are approximately 2.5 - 3.2 cm (1.0 - 1.3 in) long and 0.7 - 1.0 cm (0.3 - 0.4 in) wide and have lanceolate shape. They bear foliaceous appendages, hairs and some stipitate glands, with the inner surfaces finely woolly or tomentose. The peduncle is normally erect, approximately 3.3 - 5.7 cm (1.3 - 2.2 in) long and 0.3 - 0.5 cm (0.12 - 0.20 in) thick, generally smooth apart from sparse hairs and glands. The bud opens in a controlled spiral, initially retaining a high-centred shape before relaxing as the flower matures.

Bloom:

The flowers of rose variety ‘Dick Clark’ are large, the fully opened flowers approximately are 8 - 10.6 cm (3.1 - 4.2 in) in diameter. Under favorable climate and growing conditions the individual blooms may be larger, closer to 10 - 12 cm (4 - 5 in) in diameter, particularly in cool weather and on well-established plants. In terms of the Grandiflora class therefore they are considered medium-large to large, with size strongly influenced by temperature and culture. The largest flowers are generally obtained in cooler conditions. In practical gardens this means spring and autumn flowers can be especially impressive, while summer blooms may open and age more rapidly.

The flowers are double, with petals count varying within 25 to 30 petals range or more. When half-open the flower has a high-centred shape, with the petals tightly spiralled or cupped and their edges beginning to reflex. Fully opened blooms become more openly cupped; the petals loosen, develop gentle undulation and reflex outwardly. Thus the flower begins with a formal exhibition-like high-centered silhouette and becomes softer and more cupped with age.

The colour of its flowers is exceptionally variable. Just opened inner petals are principally cream, ivory or pale yellow with cherry-red streaking and a pronounced red to dark burgundy blush toward their margins. The outer petals can be more strongly suffused. Over approximately the first several days, rose-red and crimson pigmentation spreads across increasingly large areas of the petals, particularly under bright light. Mature flowers may consequently appear burgundy or dark red with only residual creamy areas. No two blooms necessarily present precisely the same balance of colours.

Flowers are normally borne singly but may also occur in small clusters of two to four blooms together on the flowering stem. Single blooms on strong stems emphasize the Hybrid Tea like flower form and are excellent for cutting, while small clusters increase the ornamental density of the shrub. The flowering stems range very widely, approximately from 18 to 72 cm (7 - 28 in) in length, confirming the cultivar's capacity to produce substantial cutting stems.

The flower life is approximately four to five days on the plant, with a similar duration as a cut flower at ordinary indoor temperatures. Actual longevity naturally varies with heat, humidity and stage of cutting. Petals tend to fall relatively cleanly from the receptacle once the flower is spent.

Petals:

The petals are moderately substantial and of medium thickness, an important characteristic in maintaining the flower's form for a longer time. Their upper surfaces range from satiny to somewhat velvety, especially toward the darker margins, while the underside is slightly shinier. Individual petals measure approximately 2.9 - 5.2 cm (1.1 - 2.0 in) long and 2.9 - 5.7 cm (1.1 - 2.2 in) wide.

The outer and inner petals are broadly obovate to almost rounded, with rounded apices and entire margins. They are not heavily frilled, although the combination of reflexing edges, slight rolling and increasing undulation gives mature blooms considerable movement. Petaloids, when present, are narrower and more irregular, approximately 2.4 - 2.9 cm (1 in) long and about 1.1 - 1.7 cm (0.5 in) wide.

The petal colour transformation is one of the cultivar's defining traits. Creamy basal and central areas can persist longest on protected inner petals, while exposed surfaces become progressively suffused with cherry, crimson and burgundy. Rather than fading simply toward paler tones, the bloom often visually darkens as it ages. This unusual direction of colour development is fundamental to the cultivar's ornamental identity.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of rose ‘Dick Clark’ is slight, with Tea and Fruity notes, with warm cinnamon or sweet-spicy quality. The aroma of this rose is occasionally clearly noticeable under favorable conditions, with Tea, Fruit and spicy nuances. Fragrance intensity appears variable with temperature, time of day and the individual bloom.

Reproductive parts:

Flowers have numerous stamens, averaging about 150 per flower, arranged regularly around the pistils with a few intermingled among petaloids. The filaments are approximately 0.4 - 1.5 cm long, yellowish and sometimes reddish-suffused. Anthers are moderately large for the class and mature at approximately the same time; pollen production was described as moderately abundant.

Approximately 105 pistils are typically present in flowers on average. Styles are thin, somewhat uneven, about 0.4 - 0.8 cm long and loosely grouped. Ovaries are enclosed within the calyx. Typically the rose hips (fruits) are not observed under normal growing conditions.

PLANT

Rose variety ‘Dick Clark’ is classified as a Grandiflora rose and sometimes regarded as Modern shrub rose, horticulturally occupying the ground between the large, individually refined flowers of Hybrid Tea roses and the freer flowering, cluster-bearing character traditionally associated with Floribundas. This rose has a powerful and vigorous growth character, forming upright, moderately spreading and quite large plants.

The mature and well-established plants of this rose are capable of growing to approximately 180 - 200 cm () high by 90 - 105 cm () wide. More typically they form medium-tall, broadly rounded and bushy plants, commonly around 150 - 165 cm (5 - 5½ ft) in height and about 60 - 90 cm (2 - 3 ft) in width, demonstrating how culture and pruning influence ultimate dimensions. Such variation is normal for a vigorous modern rose and reflects climate, rootstock, pruning, soil and length of growing season. In fertile soil and climates with a long growing season, a more substantial plant should be expected.

For best flowering ‘Dick Clark’ should receive a place in full sun, ideally at least six hours of direct light, in fertile, humus-enriched but freely drained soil. Regular deep watering is preferable to repeated shallow irrigation. Mulching helps maintain even root moisture and reduces temperature fluctuations. The cultivar's dramatic colour responds strongly to sunlight, yet excessively hot conditions can shorten flower life; cooler weather tends to produce the largest, most formally shaped blooms.

Pruning follows the general practice for vigorous Grandiflora and Hybrid Tea roses. In late winter or early spring, dead, damaged, weak and badly crossing wood should be removed first. Healthy main canes can then be shortened sufficiently to stimulate strong new flowering shoots while preserving the naturally tall form of the plant. Severe annual reduction to a very low framework is unnecessary unless required by climate or rejuvenation. In cold districts winter-damaged tips should be cut back to sound green tissue after the danger of severe frost has passed.

Because the flowers are carried on substantial stems, ‘Dick Clark’ is excellent for cutting. In the landscape it is effective as a specimen, in groups, toward the middle or rear of a mixed border, or as an informal seasonal screen. Allowing adequate space around the plant is important for both proportion and air circulation.

Foliage:

The foliage is abundant and large, mature five-leaflet leaves measure approximately 8.9 - 14.3 cm (3.5 - 5.6 in) long and 7.2 - 12.8 cm (2.8 - 5.0 in) wide. Texture is moderately leathery to somewhat thick. The upper surfaces are quite glossy, whereas the undersides are matte. The mature foliage is deep to dark green. Young growth emerges brighter green with noticeable bronze, red or purplish suffusion, giving the developing shoots additional ornamental interest. The combination of deep, highly polished mature leaves with the pale-and-burgundy flowers is one of the cultivar's strongest visual contrasts.

Leaflets:

Compound leaves of this rose typically have 5 leaflets, with variation from 3 to 7, including the terminal leaflet. The terminal leaflet is approximately 4.1 - 7.7 cm (1.6 - 3.0 in) long and 2.7 - 5.1 cm (1.1 - 2.0 in) wide. It is ovate, usually with an acute apex, occasionally somewhat blunter, a rounded base and a serrated margin, the type or serration is single and medium sized. The venation pattern is pinnate and typical of modern hybrid roses, with the central midrib clearly defined.

The rachis is moderately rough and distinctly grooved on its upper surface. Sparse hairs and stipulate glands occur along the groove, while the underside may carry small prickles. Petioles measure approximately 0.8 - 1.6 cm (0.3 - 0.6 in) and are similarly grooved and lightly armed with prickles. Stipules are approximately 0.9 - 1.5 cm long, moderately broad, and terminate in elongated points that tend to project outward.

Wood:

The plant produces strong, upright main canes with enough lateral branching to develop a broad, furnished shrub. The main canes are moderately thick for the class, approximately 1.5 - 2.1 cm (0.6 - 0.8 in) in diameter at their broadest point. Older major stems are green to yellow-green when young and mature through firmer greenish-brown tones, while new shoots commonly carry conspicuous red-purple suffusion. Vigorous basal renewal every year is recommended because the finest blooms are produced on strong current-season flowering wood. The substantial cane structure also explains the cultivar's usefulness for cutting.

Prickles:

Major stems bear many large prickles. These are approximately 0.7 - 1.1 cm (0.3–0.4 in) long, angled slightly downward and arise from relatively short, broad oval bases. Their colour on mature stems is tan to brownish, sometimes with grey or muted purple tones.

Branches usually carry fewer large prickles than the oldest main canes. These are approximately 0.6 - 0.8 cm long and similarly shaped. New shoots also possess some large prickles, often reddish or purple-suffused while young. Gloves are advisable during pruning and harvesting, particularly when reaching into the densely branched centre of a mature plant.

Small prickles:

The main canes, branches and young shoots carry a few smaller prickles similar in general shape and colour to the larger ones. Additional small prickles occur along the underside of the rachis and petiole. They are not sufficiently numerous to dominate the plant's appearance, but the cultivar cannot be described as sparsely armed or nearly prickless.

Disease resistance and stress tolerance:

Rose variety ‘Dick Clark’ has above-average resistance to powdery mildew and rust compared with other Grandiflora roses. Black spot performance is less of an issue, as the glossy foliage is generally disease resistant, and its AARS performance also indicates useful garden vigor across diverse trial locations, but it would be inappropriate to interpret these observations as immunity. In humid climates with high black-spot pressure, good air circulation, removal of diseased fallen foliage, soil-level irrigation and sensible spacing remain advisable.

This rose is recommended for growing in climates similar to USDA Zones 5 - 9, and USDA Zone 5 is a reasonable practical lower-zone indication for established plants in a suitable site, but winter protection around the crown is prudent in severe continental climates and where freeze-thaw cycles are frequent.

Rose ‘Dick Clark’ has a useful tolerance of summer heat, although the most impressive flower size and colour occurs in cooler weather. Drought tolerance should not be exaggerated: a large, repeat-flowering Grandiflora performs best with consistent soil moisture.

The trade name ‘Dick Clark’ honors the American radio and television host and producer Richard “Dick” Clark (1929 - 2012), one of the best-known figures in twentieth-century American popular entertainment. Clark became especially associated with music through his long tenure on American Bandstand and with annual television celebrations through Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. The naming was therefore particularly appropriate for a rose introduced during an AARS season whose winners were presented with a musical-entertainment theme.

The rose was named and introduced while Clark was still living. Its public launch included prominent promotion around the 2011 season, and the variety appeared in connection with the New Year's Day Rose Parade in Pasadena. Contemporary accounts record Clark expressing pleasure at having the rose named for him.

‘Dick Clark’ received the All-America Rose Selections (AARS) award for 2011. The announcement identified it as one of two AARS winners for that season and followed two years of evaluation across the AARS network of trial gardens in the United States. Its selection recognized the combination of distinctive flowers, vigor and practical garden performance rather than flower colour alone.

In 2015, the American Rose Society awarded ‘Dick Clark’ the Members’ Choice Award. This distinction is based on garden evaluations submitted through the ARS Roses in Review program and is intended to recognize a comparatively recent introduction receiving outstanding ratings from rose growers. ‘Dick Clark’ is listed by the ARS as the 2015 Members’ Choice recipient in the Grandiflora class.

No ADR certificate, RHS Award of Garden Merit, Australian National Rose Trial award or other major international trial distinction for ‘Dick Clark’ was awarded up to this date.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘WEKfunk’ / 'Dick Clark' in the United States by Tom Carruth and Christian Bédard for Weeks Wholesale Rose Grower, Inc. by crossing the Climbing rose variety ‘Fourth of July’ with the unnamed seedling.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The Grandiflora class is a comparatively young chapter in the long history of cultivated roses. The term was established in American horticulture in 1954. ‘WEKfunk’ / 'Dick Clark' belongs to the expressive, high-colour American Grandiflora tradition in which the bloom serves both as an individual exhibition-quality object and as part of an imposing landscape shrub. The cultivar was introduced at a time when North American rose breeding increasingly emphasized not only flower form and colour but garden vigor and disease performance. Its 2011 AARS recognition is significant in that context. AARS candidates were evaluated in multiple gardens and climates before selection, so ‘Dick Clark’ was not promoted solely on the novelty of its colouring. Its subsequent 2015 American Rose Society Members’ Choice recognition further indicates that the cultivar retained practical appeal after introduction and was appreciated by growers beyond the original trial program.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

‘WEKfunk’ / ‘Dick Clark’ is a tall, vigorous, repeat-flowering Grandiflora whose strongest identity lies in the combination of formal, high-centred opening flowers with dramatically evolving colour. This rose variety incorporated the following unique combination of characteristics:

  unusual cream flowers edged, streaked and progressively suffused with cherry red to deep burgundy;

  large, classically formed flowers opening from long, dark, pointed buds on strong cutting stems;

  abundant repeat flowering, with blooms produced singly and occasionally in small clusters;

  tall, vigorous, fully branched growth complemented by glossy dark-green foliage;

  above-average resistance to powdery mildew and rust.

The propagation methods suitable for the rose cultivar ‘Dick Clark’ include asexual propagation by cuttings, budding and grafting. Budding and grafting were successfully carried out on Rosa ‘Dr. Huey’, while own-root plants produced from cuttings are also horticulturally feasible. For home cultivation, correctly timed softwood, semi-ripe or hardwood cuttings may be used where permitted and practical; commercial production commonly relies on budding or grafting to a regionally appropriate rootstock.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The seed parent of ‘WEKfunk’ / ‘Dick Clark’ is ‘Fourth of July’, a Tom Carruth Climbing rose introduced by Weeks Roses in 1999. It is fundamentally different in plant architecture: it produces long climbing canes commonly reaching several metres, whereas ‘Dick Clark’ forms a self-supporting, upright Grandiflora approximately 150 - 200 cm tall under favorable conditions. Flower morphology also changed dramatically between generations. ‘Fourth of July’ bears semi-double blooms, generally around 8 - 12 petals , which are informal and brightly striped or flecked red and white, usually in relatively generous clusters. ‘Dick Clark’, by contrast, produces a double, more formal flower with approximately 20 - 22 true petals plus petaloids, opening high-centred before becoming cupped.

The pollen parent of ‘Dick Clark’ is officially recorded only as an unknown seedling, so a formal comparison with that parent cannot be made.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

A particularly meaningful commercially available comparison for ‘Dick Clark’ is the French Hybrid Tea rose ‘Bolchoi’ (‘MEIzuzes’), bred by Alain Meilland and introduced by Meilland in 1996. Although the two cultivars belong to somewhat different horticultural classes, they share a remarkably similar ornamental idea: a large, formally shaped flower in which a pale yellow or creamy ground contrasts with increasingly prominent red pigmentation. In both roses the colour is not visually static, and the balance between the lighter centre and the red outer portions changes substantially as the flower expands. This gives both cultivars the dramatic, theatrical quality characteristic of the most successful modern bicoloured exhibition roses.

The principal distinction lies in the underlying colour palette. ‘Bolchoi’ begins with a distinctly warm, gold-yellow ground edged and bordered with currant-red to scarlet. As the flower opens, the red can become increasingly dominant, while remnants of yellow or gold remain visible toward the reverse, base or less exposed portions of the petals. The resulting effect is warm and fiery, with a clear yellow-and-red contrast. ‘Dick Clark’ is cooler and more complex. Its opening petals are cream to pale ivory-yellow rather than rich gold, with cherry-red edging, streaking and irregular flushing. Under light, particularly as the flower ages, this cherry pigmentation spreads and deepens through crimson to burgundy, so that an older bloom may become almost predominantly dark red. ‘Dick Clark’ consequently passes through a broader sequence from cream and cherry to wine-red or burgundy, whereas ‘Bolchoi’ retains a stronger impression of golden yellow interacting with brilliant red.

Flower size and fullness also separate them. ‘Bolchoi’ produces very large flowers of approximately 13 cm (5 in) diameter, with around 37 - 45 petals , the flowers are consequently fuller and more substantial, developing from a classical bud into a broad, richly petalled bloom with reflexing outer petals. ‘Dick Clark’ is somewhat lighter in construction. Its opening flower is conspicuously high-centred and spiralled, becoming increasingly cupped and reflexed with age. The result is a flower that appears somewhat more elongated and elegant in the early stages, whereas ‘Bolchoi’ develops greater mass and fullness at maturity.

The difference in fragrance is pronounced. ‘Bolchoi’ is one of the notably scented modern bicoloured Hybrid Teas, Meilland describing its perfume as powerful and specifically evocative of the May rose. Its fragrance is an important part of the cultivar's horticultural identity and was sufficiently distinguished to receive a perfume prize at the Le Roeulx rose trials. ‘Dick Clark’, in comparison, has a slight to moderate, with Tea, Fruit and sometimes warm spicy nuances.

Plant architecture provides an equally important difference. ‘Bolchoi’ is essentially a compact to medium-sized Hybrid Tea bush, generally about 75 - 90 cm (30 - 35 in) tall, with dense dark-green foliage and flowers borne principally singly on the stems. ‘Dick Clark’ develops into a considerably larger Grandiflora, approximately 150 - 165 cm (5 - 5.5 ft) tall, its habit is upright but broadly rounded and well branched, with conspicuously long cutting stems. Flowers may occur singly or in small clusters, giving the mature shrub greater vertical presence and a more substantial landscape effect than ‘Bolchoi’.

Placed side by side, the distinction can be summarized as one between warm, richly perfumed fullness and cooler, evolving colour drama. ‘Bolchoi’ offers larger and more densely petalled golden-yellow flowers dramatically bordered and suffused with bright red, accompanied by a powerful fragrance on a comparatively compact plant. ‘Dick Clark’ offers a taller and more vigorous Grandiflora architecture, somewhat less heavily petalled flowers, longer stems, and a particularly striking progression from creamy ivory and cherry pink toward crimson and deep burgundy.

USDA 6

USDA Zone 6 - hardiness guide