Introduction & History

Few roses have captured the hearts of gardeners with a name as memorable as 'Sexy Rexy,' a floribunda introduced by the legendary Sam McGredy IV in 1984. This New Zealand-bred beauty quickly became one of the most acclaimed floribundas of the twentieth century, winning accolades worldwide for its extraordinary profusion of perfectly formed, soft pink blooms that smother the bush from late spring through autumn. The clusters are so dense and abundant that the foliage beneath can barely be seen at peak bloom, creating a breathtaking mound of pink perfection. What makes Sexy Rexy notable is the hybrid-tea-quality form of each individual bloom within the cluster, a rare achievement in floribunda breeding that earned it the prestigious Royal National Rose Society President's International Trophy and numerous gold medals.

Breeding History

Bred by Sam McGredy IV in New Zealand and introduced in 1984 under the registration name 'MACrexy.' The parentage is 'Seaspray' crossed with 'Dreaming,' combining excellent cluster-flowering genetics with refined bloom form. Sexy Rexy won the RNRS President's International Trophy in 1984, the New Zealand Rose of the Year, and has collected gold medals at trials in Belfast, The Hague, and numerous other international competitions. It was inducted into the Rose Hall of Fame contenders list and remains one of McGredy's most celebrated introductions, exemplifying his philosophy that a floribunda should produce exhibition-quality blooms in generous sprays.

Flower Form & Fragrance

Blooms are medium-sized, 6-8 cm across, carried in large clusters of 5-15 flowers. Each bloom contains 35-40 petals arranged in a classic cupped to flat rosette form that reveals a perfectly quartered center as it opens fully. The color is a warm medium pink, consistent and non-fading even in strong sun. The fragrance is mild and sweet, not overpowering but pleasant when blooms are gathered in quantity. Flowers have excellent substance and rain resistance, holding their form well in wet weather.

Garden Design & Uses

Sexy Rexy excels as a bedding rose, planted in groups of three or more for maximum visual impact. Its uniform growth habit makes it ideal for formal borders, low hedging along pathways, or as a foreground planting in mixed borders. Companions include lavender, catmint, salvia, and silver-foliaged artemisia. It works beautifully in cottage garden schemes alongside delphiniums and foxgloves. Mass plantings create a stunning carpet of pink, making it a favorite for public gardens and park displays.

Growth Habit & Hardiness

Compact, bushy, and well-branched, reaching 75-100 cm tall with a spread of 60-75 cm. The growth is remarkably uniform, creating a tidy, rounded habit without the legginess common in many floribundas. Foliage is medium green, semi-glossy, and produced in abundance. Thorns are moderate in number and medium-sized. New growth emerges with a slight bronze tint before maturing to green. The plant is vigorous without being rampant, maintaining its shape throughout the season with minimal intervention.

Climate & Hardiness

Hardy in USDA zones 5b through 9b. Sexy Rexy performs well across a wide range of climates, from cool maritime regions to warm inland areas. It has good heat tolerance but produces the finest blooms in moderate temperatures. Cold tolerance is reliable to -23C with proper winter mulching. Rain tolerance is above average for a floribunda, with blooms resisting balling better than most pink varieties. Performs exceptionally well in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Northwest.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Planting & Container Growing

Plant in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0-6.5. Space plants 50-60 cm apart for bedding displays. Dig a planting hole twice the width of the root ball and deep enough so the bud union sits at or just below soil level in cold climates. Amend heavy clay with compost and grit. Apply a 5-8 cm layer of organic mulch, keeping it away from the stem. Water deeply at planting and maintain consistent moisture during establishment.

Container Growing

Feasibility rating: Good. Use a container at least 45 cm wide and deep. A mix of 60% quality potting compost, 20% loam, and 20% perlite works well. Water when the top 3 cm of soil is dry, typically every 2-3 days in summer. Feed fortnightly with liquid rose fertilizer during the growing season. Repot every 2-3 years, refreshing the soil mix. Container-grown plants may be slightly smaller but still produce excellent bloom displays.

Seasonal Care & Pruning

Spring: Prune to 30-40 cm, removing dead and crossing branches. Apply balanced rose fertilizer and fresh mulch. Summer: Deadhead spent clusters promptly to encourage repeat blooming. Water deeply during dry spells and apply liquid feed every two weeks. Watch for aphids on new growth. Autumn: Reduce feeding from late summer. Allow final blooms to set hips if desired. Apply potassium-rich feed to harden wood. Winter: In zones 5-6, mound soil 15-20 cm around the base after the first hard frost. Remove mounding in early spring.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Planting too close together, restricting air circulation and promoting fungal disease. 2. Neglecting deadheading, which significantly reduces repeat bloom frequency. 3. Over-pruning in spring, removing too many flowering laterals that produce the signature large clusters. 4. Ignoring black spot prevention in humid climates, as this variety has moderate susceptibility. 5. Failing to feed regularly, as the prolific blooming depletes soil nutrients faster than less productive varieties.

Propagation

Propagation by budding onto rootstock is the commercial method, with Rosa laxa and Dr. Huey being common rootstocks. Softwood cuttings taken in late spring have a moderate success rate of around 50-60%. Semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer also work. Cuttings root in 6-8 weeks under mist. Seed propagation is not recommended as offspring will not come true. Difficulty rating: Moderate. Own-root plants perform well once established but establish more slowly than budded plants.

Diseases & Pests

Moderate susceptibility to black spot, particularly in humid climates. Preventive fungicide applications from spring are recommended in problem areas. Powdery mildew can appear in late summer during warm, dry days with cool nights. Rust is generally not a significant problem. Aphids target new growth in spring and should be controlled early. Japanese beetles may damage blooms in affected regions. Spider mites can be problematic in hot, dry conditions. Overall disease resistance is average for a floribunda of its era.

Cut Flowers & Exhibition

Cut when the first buds in the cluster begin to open, showing color but not fully unfurled. Cut stems 30-40 cm long in early morning, placing immediately in tepid water with floral preservative. Remove lower leaves below the waterline. Vase life is 5-7 days. The clusters make generous, full arrangements without needing many stems. Re-cut stems every two days and refresh water to maximize display time.

Collector & Exhibition Notes

An excellent exhibition floribunda for the spray classes at rose shows. Prepare by thinning clusters to 5-7 well-spaced blooms for optimal presentation. The hybrid-tea-quality form of individual blooms makes it competitive. Time cutting for shows when blooms are half to three-quarters open. This is a classic variety that judges know well. While widely available, it remains a benchmark floribunda that serious collectors include in their gardens. Availability is good through specialist nurseries worldwide.

Comparison with Similar Roses

Compared to 'Iceberg,' Sexy Rexy offers better bloom form and a warmer pink color but somewhat less disease resistance. Against 'The Fairy,' Sexy Rexy produces much larger, more refined blooms with better exhibition potential, though The Fairy is more disease-resistant and shade-tolerant. Versus 'Pink Abundance,' Sexy Rexy has superior flower quality and a more upright habit, but Pink Abundance offers slightly better continuous bloom.

Heritage & Conservation

As a relatively modern cultivar from 1984, Sexy Rexy is widely available commercially and not at conservation risk. It is preserved in numerous public rose gardens worldwide, including the Auckland Botanic Gardens in New Zealand. The variety is maintained in several heritage rose collections and is considered an important benchmark in the history of floribunda breeding.

Cultural Significance

Sexy Rexy's provocative name drew attention and controversy when introduced, with some rose societies initially refusing to list it under its registered name. Despite this, the rose quickly proved its worth on merit alone. It has become a standard reference variety in rose breeding, setting the bar for floribunda bloom quality. The rose represents Sam McGredy's New Zealand breeding program's golden era and is frequently cited in rosarian literature as the ideal floribunda form.

Frequently Asked Questions