The 2025 Name the Rose Contest

Every gardener knows that a rose carries emotion, memory, and meaning. This year we invited gardeners nationwide to help us name our next exclusive introduction, and the response was inspiring: 4,753 entries poured in.

The winning name, "Ruffled Romance," was submitted by Adriana C. of Valley Village, California. Her inspiration? "The rose's golden, blush‑peach petals reminded me of a sunset painted with love and warmth."

Why does this matter to you, the rose gardener? Because you are doing more than buying a plant, you're participating in a living legacy of the Jackson & Perkins rose‑breeding tradition, one that spans more than 150 years of innovation, selection and naming artistry.

RESERVE RUFFLED ROMANCE FOR SPRING SHIPPING

Why This Contest Resonates with True Rose Gardeners

1. Participation in a Heritage

Jackson & Perkins has built its reputation on creating roses that are not only beautiful, but reliable. While the naming of each variety might feel like the final flourish, it's the culmination of decades of hybridizing, testing and refining. As a gardener, taking part in naming gives you a voice in that process.

2. A Rose With Story and Soul

"Ruffled Romance" evokes texture, layering, color transition and as a gardener you know that the best roses do more than bloom once and fade. They offer season‑after‑season interest, color nuance and form that invites attention. The winning name reflects and acknowledges those qualities.

3. Connection With Other Gardeners

Nearly five thousand people offered creative suggestions. That volume speaks not just to interest in a contest, but to a shared love of roses and the meaningful experience of watching petals unfurl, selecting a spot in the garden, nurturing the plant, and seeing it thrive.

4. A Commitment to Quality

While the naming contest is fun and creative, behind it is serious horticulture: testing for vigor, disease resistance, climate adaptability, all hallmarks of the Jackson & Perkins promise. (For example, our recent roses were recognized as winners in the American Garden Rose Selections program, demonstrating our ongoing care for performance in the garden.

5. Be First to Cultivate the New Rose

Winning the contest carried with it more than the name‑credit: Adriana will receive the first official "Ruffled Romance" rose, and gardeners everywhere will have the opportunity to pre‑order the variety ahead of its full release in spring 2026.

What Gardeners Should Know About "Ruffled Romance"

While we cannot yet share every horticultural detail (it remains an introduction in progress), here are key take‑aways and tips to consider:

• The rose features ruffled golden petals that fade into peach and blush tones, a dynamic coloration that lends the name real meaning.
• Because it is an introduction, anticipate that it will arrive in garden‑ready form when it ships in spring 2026. That gives you time to plan your site, prepare soil, and design around it.
• For optimal performance: as with all Jackson & Perkins roses, choose a site with at least 6 hours of sunlight (more if you're in a cooler/less‑sunny region), good airflow to reduce disease pressure, and fertile, well‑draining soil.
• Since the rose is brand–new and comes from our breeding program, expect that it will benefit from the same rigorous selection for disease resistance and vigor that defines our offerings.
• Consider the tone of the name, "Ruffled Romance," suggests a somewhat formal or memorable spot in the garden: perhaps a border where the bloom is seen up close, or a special place where you can appreciate the subtle color shifts and texture of the ruffled petals.

How You Can Get Involved

• Pre‑order the rose now so you're ready when spring 2026 shipping begins.
• Share the story: Tell fellow gardeners or include in your garden journal how you chose the site, how the bloom performed, how it fit into your rose collection.
• Follow along: Keep an eye on our blog and social channels for updates about the rose's performance in trial gardens and any early grower feedback.
• Plan the future: Use the time before its arrival to prepare its planting spot. Cultivate the soil, amend with compost, adjust pH if needed (ideal rose soil pH is around 6.0–6.5), ensure good drainage, and lay out companion plants (think perennials, shrubs or seasonal fillers) that will frame the rose once planted.

Why Naming Matters (and Why It Matters To You)

In the world of roses, the name is part of the rose's identity. A fine rose may bloom splendidly for decades, but the name is what we say aloud when we show it to someone, write it in our garden journal, or refer to it in conversation. By opening this contest to gardeners, Jackson & Perkins extends an invitation: you become part of that identity‑building.

When you eventually plant "Ruffled Romance," you'll know not only how it grows but how its name came to be. You'll have the story behind it and perhaps feel a stronger connection every time you walk past its blooms.

Thank you for being part of the Jackson & Perkins community and if you entered the contest, thank you for your creativity and passion. Together we continue a legacy of roses that perform beautifully, hold meaning, and bring joy to the garden season after season.

Grower’s Preview: Preparing for Ruffled Romance, the 2026 Rose Release

Ruffled Romance, the newest exclusive rose from Jackson & Perkins, is set to make its garden debut in Spring 2026. With softly ruffled petals in warm golds, peaches, and blush tones, this rose embodies beauty with depth, and was named by a fellow gardener through our 2025 Name-the-Rose Contest.

Now is the perfect time to begin preparing your garden so this rose arrives to a site ready for success.

Choose the Right Spot

Location matters when it comes to growing roses that thrive for seasons to come. Begin by selecting a site with:

• Full Sun: At least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, preferably with morning exposure.
• Good Drainage: Roses dislike standing water. If your soil tends to hold moisture, consider building a raised bed or amending with organic matter to improve structure.
• Airflow: Avoid cramped corners. Roses benefit from good air circulation to help minimize disease pressure.
• Room to Grow: Allow space between Ruffled Romance and other plants for mature spread. This rose will reach an approximate height of three-feet with a width of three-feet also. A perfect size for gardens and containers.

Soil Preparation Tips

Preparing soil in advance helps your rose establish quickly come spring. Over the winter months, you can:

• Test and Adjust pH: Aim for slightly acidic soil, between 6.0 and 6.5.
• Add Compost: Incorporate compost or aged manure to boost microbial life and improve texture.
• Work the Soil: Loosen the planting area to a depth of 12–18 inches to encourage strong root growth.
• Mulch in Early Spring: Before planting, top with mulch to help conserve moisture and reduce weed pressure once the rose is in place.

Companion Plants to Consider

Ruffled Romance brings a romantic color palette to the garden, pairing beautifully with:

• Lavender, catmint, or Russian sage for cooling contrast
• Deep-hued foliage like dark-leaved heuchera or ornamental grasses for drama
• Soft whites and creams from daisies, foxgloves, or delphinium for an elegant blend
• Structured evergreens such as dwarf boxwoodor yew for year-round form

Design with bloom timing and maintenance needs in mind—roses are long bloomers, so choose companions that won’t overwhelm or compete.

What to Expect from Ruffled Romance

This rose has been bred with Jackson & Perkins high standards in mind:

• Ruffled, color-shifting blooms that evolve with light and temperature
• Repeat flowering over the season
• Vigorous, balanced growth
• Strong disease resistance

By reserving now, you'll be among the first to plant this unique variety in Spring 2026.

RESERVE RUFFLED ROMANCE FOR SPRING SHIPPING

Get Ready to Welcome Ruffled Romance

Pre-ordering secures your place in line for one of our most anticipated introductions. Use this season to ready the soil, refine your garden plan, and imagine where Ruffled Romance will take center stage in your spring display.