Introduction & History

There are roses that whisper and roses that shout, and then there is 'About Face,' a grandiflora that does both simultaneously. Bred by Tom Carruth and introduced by Weeks Roses in 2005, this AARS winner dazzles with bicolor blooms that shift between rich bronze-orange on the petal faces and deep golden-yellow on the reverses, creating a shimmering, constantly changing display as each flower opens and matures. The effect is theatrical, as if every bloom were lit from within by late afternoon sun. Growing on vigorous, upright bushes reaching 120-150 cm, 'About Face' combines the stately presence of a grandiflora with the arresting color complexity normally found only in hand-tinted botanical illustrations. It is a rose for gardeners who want their borders to stop visitors in their tracks, a bold statement that beauty is most compelling when it refuses to be predictable.

Breeding History

'About Face' was bred by Tom Carruth, the celebrated hybridizer at Weeks Roses in Upland, California, and introduced commercially in 2005. It won the prestigious All-America Rose Selections (AARS) award in 2005, evidence of its outstanding garden performance across diverse trial locations. The parentage involves complex grandiflora breeding lines, with Carruth drawing on his deep expertise in developing bold, unconventional colors. The cultivar name captures the dramatic reversal of color between the petal face and reverse, a feature that gives the bush a dynamic, ever-changing appearance as blooms unfurl. Carruth is also known for breeding other award-winning unconventional roses, and 'About Face' represents one of his most commercially successful introductions.

Flower Form & Fragrance

'About Face' produces large, high-centered double blooms with 26-40 petals, each flower reaching 10-13 cm across. The most striking feature is the bicolor effect: the petal face is a warm bronze-orange to coppery gold, while the reverse is a bright, rich yellow. As blooms open and reflex, both colors display simultaneously, creating a shimmering, iridescent quality. Flowers are borne singly and in small clusters on long, strong stems ideal for cutting. The fragrance is moderate, with pleasant fruity and apple-like notes that are detectable at a comfortable distance. Blooms hold their form well before opening fully into attractive, ruffled rosettes.

Garden Design & Uses

'About Face' makes a commanding specimen or accent plant in mixed borders, where its warm bronze and gold tones create rich autumn-like harmony even in midsummer. Plant with deep purple companions like salvia 'Caradonna,' heuchera 'Palace Purple,' or bronze fennel to intensify the warm color palette. It pairs beautifully with ornamental grasses such as Pennisetum 'Rubrum' and looks stunning against a backdrop of dark evergreen hedging. Use in groups of 3 for maximum impact in larger borders. Its tall, upright habit makes it effective at the back of a mixed rose bed, rising above lower-growing floribundas and shrub roses.

Growth Habit & Hardiness

'About Face' grows as a vigorous, upright bush reaching 120-150 cm tall with a spread of 90-120 cm. Growth is strong and well-branched, producing sturdy canes that support the large blooms without drooping. Foliage is dark green, semi-glossy to glossy, with good density and moderate disease resistance. Leaves are composed of 5-7 serrated leaflets with a slight bronze tint on new growth that complements the flower color. Thorn density is moderate, with medium-sized, slightly curved prickles. The plant is typically grown on grafted rootstock (Dr. Huey or Fortuniana depending on region) and produces vigorous basal breaks that renew the bush annually.

Climate & Hardiness

'About Face' is rated for USDA zones 5-10, performing best in zones 6-9 where warm days and cool nights intensify its bicolor effect. In hot, arid climates (zone 10), the orange tones may bleach somewhat, though the overall effect remains attractive. Cold hardiness is moderate; in zone 5, winter protection through mounding mulch over the bud union is recommended. The rose handles heat well and produces excellent color in warm Mediterranean and subtropical climates. Rain tolerance is moderate, with large blooms occasionally balling in prolonged wet weather.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Planting & Container Growing

Plant in full sun (minimum 6 hours, 8 preferred) in rich, well-drained soil amended with generous compost. Preferred pH is 6.0-6.5. Dig a hole 45 cm wide and deep, create a cone of amended soil at the bottom, and spread roots over it. In zones 5-6, plant with the bud union 5 cm below soil level; in zones 8-10, at or slightly above soil level. Space plants 90-100 cm apart. Mulch with 8-10 cm of organic material. Water deeply at planting and maintain consistent moisture through establishment.

Container Growing

'About Face' can be grown in containers but requires a large vessel due to its vigorous growth. Use a minimum 50-litre container with drainage holes. Fill with a premium potting mix blended with 20% compost and slow-release fertilizer. Water when the top 3-4 cm of soil dries out, which may be daily in summer heat. Feed every two weeks with liquid rose fertilizer during the growing season. In zones 5-6, protect containers over winter by wrapping with insulation or moving to an unheated garage. Feasibility rating: 3/5.

Seasonal Care & Pruning

Spring: Prune to 3-5 strong outward-facing canes at 30-40 cm height once forsythia blooms. Apply granular rose fertilizer, fresh mulch, and begin a preventative fungicide program. Summer: Water deeply 2-3 times weekly. Deadhead promptly to encourage the next bloom cycle every 6 weeks. Feed monthly with balanced rose fertilizer. Monitor for Japanese beetles and aphids. Autumn: Apply final feeding with a low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertilizer in September. Stop deadheading by late October to allow hips to form and signal dormancy. Winter: In zones 5-6, mound 20-25 cm of mulch or soil over the bud union after the first hard frost. Remove in spring once forsythia blooms.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Planting in partial shade, which weakens the bicolor effect and reduces bloom production significantly. 2. Neglecting to deadhead spent blooms, which slows rebloom cycles on this vigorous grandiflora. 3. Under-fertilizing, since the large blooms and vigorous growth demand regular feeding. 4. Ignoring fungal prevention in humid climates where the foliage may develop black spot. 5. Pruning too lightly in spring, which results in tall, leggy plants with blooms only at the top.

Propagation

'About Face' is a patented cultivar (USPPAF at time of introduction), and propagation for sale is prohibited without license. For personal use, softwood cuttings taken in early summer from semi-ripe wood root with moderate success. Take 12-15 cm cuttings, remove lower leaves and all flower buds, dip in rooting hormone, and root in perlite/vermiculite under mist. Budding onto Dr. Huey or Rosa multiflora rootstock is the commercial standard. Seed propagation produces variable offspring and will not reproduce the cultivar faithfully. Difficulty rating: Moderate.

Diseases & Pests

'About Face' has moderate disease resistance that benefits from a preventative care program. Black spot is the primary concern, particularly in humid summer climates; regular fungicide applications (alternating active ingredients) help maintain clean foliage. Powdery mildew may appear in autumn when warm days and cool nights create ideal conditions. Rust is occasionally seen in Pacific Northwest climates. Common pests include aphids on new growth in spring, Japanese beetles in eastern regions, thrips that can damage opening buds, and spider mites during hot, dry periods. Good air circulation and garden hygiene reduce most disease pressure.

Cut Flowers & Exhibition

'About Face' is an outstanding cut flower with its large, high-centered blooms and long, sturdy stems. Cut when buds are just beginning to open, showing color in the outer petals. Harvest in early morning with stems 40-60 cm long. Strip lower foliage, recut stems at an angle under water, and condition in warm water with floral preservative for two hours before arranging. The bicolor effect is mesmerizing in arrangements, shifting as light angle changes. Vase life is 7-10 days.

Collector & Exhibition Notes

'About Face' is a strong exhibition rose in the grandiflora classes, where its large, high-centered blooms with clean bicolor markings attract judges' attention. For show, select blooms at the half-to-two-thirds open stage with symmetrical petal placement. Groom by removing guard petals and using a soft brush to clean any spray residue. The bicolor effect is best displayed under cool morning light. The AARS award adds prestige. Among collectors, it is valued as one of Carruth's signature achievements in unconventional color breeding, representing a high point in modern grandiflora development.

Comparison with Similar Roses

Compared to 'Honey Perfume' (floribunda), 'About Face' offers more dramatic bicoloring and larger individual blooms but produces fewer flowers per cluster. Against 'Strike It Rich' (another Carruth/Zary grandiflora), 'About Face' has more pronounced bicolor contrast, while 'Strike It Rich' is deeper gold-orange throughout. Versus 'Octoberfest' (grandiflora), both share warm autumnal tones, but 'About Face' has a more refined bloom form and superior exhibition qualities.

Heritage & Conservation

'About Face' is a relatively recent introduction that remains widely available commercially, so immediate conservation concerns are minimal. However, as a patented AARS winner from the Weeks Roses program, it represents an important data point in the history of American rose breeding. Maintaining it in rose heritage collections alongside other Carruth creations documents the evolution of color breeding in the early 21st century. The variety is preserved in several public rose gardens and AARS demonstration gardens across the United States.

Cultural Significance

'About Face' represents a milestone in the quest for novel color in modern roses. Tom Carruth's work at Weeks Roses pushed the boundaries of what gardeners expected from grandifloras, proving that bold, unconventional colors could also deliver top garden performance. Its AARS award validated the shift toward more adventurous coloring in mainstream rose breeding. The name itself has entered the vocabulary of rose enthusiasts as shorthand for the dramatic bicolor petal-face-versus-reverse effect, influencing how subsequent bicolor roses are described and marketed.

Frequently Asked Questions