Magnificent 5- to 6-inch pure white blooms bring dramatic scale and classic Hybrid Tea elegance to the garden.
Distinctive greenish buds open into exceptionally large, 50-petal white flowers with licorice fragrance and strong summer heat tolerance.
John F. Kennedy Hybrid Tea Rose makes a dramatic statement with exceptionally large, pure white flowers reaching 5 to 6 inches across. Distinctive greenish buds unfurl into magnificent double blooms filled with up to 50 petals, creating substantial flowers with classic Hybrid Tea elegance. A distinctive licorice fragrance adds another dimension, while long stems make these impressive white roses equally beautiful in the garden and fresh arrangements.
Growing approximately 3 to 5 feet tall, John F. Kennedy develops an upright shrub with dark foliage that provides a striking backdrop for its luminous flowers. Strong summer heat tolerance and repeated flushes from late spring through late fall extend the display through the growing season. Its versatile size works beautifully as a garden focal point, in sunny beds and borders, or in a large patio container.
Why You'll Love It
Exceptionally large pure white blooms reach approximately 5 to 6 inches across
Up to 50 petals create substantial, elegant Hybrid Tea flowers
Distinctive greenish buds add interest before the flowers open
Licorice fragrance gives the blooms a memorable scent
Long stems make the large flowers excellent for cutting
Strong summer heat tolerance supports performance in warm conditions
Repeat flowering provides additional flushes from late spring through late fall
Why This Rose Stands Out
John F. Kennedy stands out for sheer flower presence. While many white roses bring elegance to the garden, its exceptionally large 5- to 6-inch blooms create a more dramatic display. Greenish buds opening into pure white, 50-petal flowers make the transformation especially striking against the plant's dark foliage.
The rose offers more than impressive flower size. Licorice fragrance makes the blooms memorable at close range, long stems make them rewarding for cutting, and strong summer heat tolerance adds practical garden performance. For gardeners seeking a classic white Hybrid Tea with substantial flowers and commanding presence, John F. Kennedy offers a distinctive combination of scale, fragrance, and elegance.
Plant Highlights
Rose Type: Hybrid Tea
Variety: 'BOEgif'
Bloom Color: Pure white
Bloom Size: Approximately 5 to 6 inches
Petal Count: Up to 50 petals
Bud Color: Greenish
Flower Form: Large, double Hybrid Tea blooms
Fragrance Notes: Licorice
Bloom Season: Late spring through late fall
Growth Habit: Upright
Mature Height: Approximately 3 to 5 feet
Mature Width: Approximately 3 to 4 feet
Sun Exposure: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-10
Special Strengths: Large flowers, heat tolerance, repeat flowering, excellent for cutting
Best Garden Uses: Rose beds, mixed borders, specimen plantings, large patio containers, cutting gardens, and fresh arrangements
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes John F. Kennedy Hybrid Tea Rose special? John F. Kennedy is distinguished by exceptionally large, pure white flowers reaching 5 to 6 inches across. Distinctive greenish buds, up to 50 petals, licorice fragrance, long cutting stems, and strong summer heat tolerance add to its appeal.
How large are John F. Kennedy Rose flowers? The blooms reach approximately 5 to 6 inches across, making flower size one of this Hybrid Tea rose's most impressive characteristics. Each double bloom can contain up to 50 petals.
What does John F. Kennedy Rose smell like? John F. Kennedy has a distinctive licorice fragrance. This unusual scent helps differentiate it from other fragrant white Hybrid Tea roses.
Is John F. Kennedy Rose heat tolerant? Yes. John F. Kennedy has strong summer heat tolerance, making it a useful choice for gardeners who want a large-flowered white Hybrid Tea for warmer growing conditions.
Does John F. Kennedy Rose bloom repeatedly? Yes. John F. Kennedy produces repeated flushes of flowers from late spring through late fall.
Is John F. Kennedy a good rose for cutting? Yes. Its exceptionally large white flowers and long stems make John F. Kennedy an excellent choice for fresh-cut arrangements. Its licorice fragrance allows the flowers to bring scent as well as dramatic scale indoors.
Can John F. Kennedy Rose grow in a container? Yes. John F. Kennedy can be grown in a sufficiently large patio container with good drainage and full sun. Its upright habit also works well in traditional rose beds and mixed borders.
Care Tips
Plant in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Water deeply while the rose becomes established and during dry periods. Cut flowers as desired or remove spent blooms to encourage repeat flowering. Feed during the growing season to support vigorous growth and abundant flowers. Prune in spring to remove dead, damaged, or crossing wood and encourage strong new flowering stems.
Grow with Confidence
For more than 150 years, Jackson & Perkins has helped gardeners grow exceptional roses with confidence. Explore our expert resources for planting, care, pruning, seasonal maintenance, and more.
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals that are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Arrived in timely manner
Health plant with great roots
Great planting and caring instructions provided
Venetta from MO
May 16, 2026
Roses Zone 9b/10a
This shopper rated the product 5 out of 5 stars
Thank you for your service. Awesome experience working with you.
I received my Rose order a few months ago, and planted them straightaway. They are beautiful!
I just posted a video on my YouTube channel (Suburban DIY: https://www.youtube.com/@suburbandiy) about the preparation and planting process in zones 9b/10a. Check it out: Desert Rose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjeDXD7mvVA.
Jackson & Perkins (receiving the order and planting) begins at the 8:20 minute mark.
Suburban DIY
Suburban DIY from AZ
May 05, 2026
Perfect delivery!
This shopper rated the product 5 out of 5 stars
It was so exciting to receive my new plants. They were healthy and ready for planting. —can’t wait for them to produce.
My Dad grew roses. It was his hobby for many years. Each season, he ordered new roses from JP. People stopped at our home asking to see and smell them. They were glorious and meticulously cared for. I am hoping I can continue the beauty.
Mary Ann from TX
November 18, 2025
Pretty rose
This shopper rated the product 4 out of 5 stars
I bought this rose earlier this year and I love it..big blooms that smell..my only concern is the blooms have a hint of red around the tips of the petals now..when it first bloomed it was all white…What happened?
Caroline from TX
March 22, 2025
Great expectations!
This shopper rated the product 4 out of 5 stars
Hi! I’m anxiously awaiting the sign of buds appearing on my JFK rose bush. I’m trying to establish a rose garden.
I also purchased a Tropicana and Love rose bushes. Unfortunately when they arrived last week they did not look good. The canes looked dry and the Love bush had black thorns. I quickly placed them in water and planted them the following day. I am praying that they will do well. If they don’t I will be thoroughly disappointed. I reason I selected the three rose bushes I did was for their color and fragrance.
Bare root roses are the most common form of roses for spring and early season planting, and come in two types: grafted and own root.
Grafted roses, sometimes referred to as budded bare root roses, have roots that belong to a different variety of rose than the shoots. While the shoots will grow into the variety of rose you've selected, the root variety has been specially grown and developed for hardiness, improved resistance to common diseases, and improved resistance to certain weather conditions. The roots on any grafted rose you receive are usually already two years old, so they'll establish in your garden more quickly when planted.
Own root roses are grown from rose shoot cuttings and develop their own root system. Unlike grafted roses, both their roots and shoots come from the same variety of plant.
All Jackson & Perkins bare root roses are maintained in a suspended state of growth in our state-of-the-art wet cooler, so they'll be delivered to you with no foliage or blooms. The wet cooler has a uniform storage temperature set just above freezing and uses a fog system to provide consistent humidity of 100%, ensuring the roses remain fully hydrated and don't exit dormancy before leaving our facility. While you might see some variance in size, even within the same variety of bare root rose, all our roses meet the same rigorous standards of quality.
So, not sure which type of bare root rose you should choose? Don't worry, we've got that covered. We've researched which varieties of bare root roses grow better as grafted or own root, and both types can be planted in the early spring months, so just choose the variety of rose you're most interested in and get planting.
Though you might be surprised or intimidated when you receive a box of bare root roses filled with roots and shoots, rest assured, with the proper care, these little bundles will grow into stunning roses.
Container Roses
Container roses are typically available in 2-quart sizes or larger and come with established foliage that may or may not have blooms. While bare root roses should generally be planted in early spring, container roses allow you quite a bit more flexibility in planting time, from spring all the way through fall in many zones. Fall can be a good season to plant container roses because it allows them enough time to establish themselves before cold or freezing temperatures arrive.
Jackson & Perkins World's Finest Roses
The Jackson & Perkins Difference
Jackson & Perkins is one of the most recognized names in the gardening industry. In fact, for decades rose lovers have considered Jackson & Perkins synonymous with great roses. How has Jackson & Perkins earned this reputation? Simple, for over 100 years we have brought our customers the world's finest selection of roses.
Jackson & Perkins became a leader in the world of roses by producing dozens of award-winning roses. Jackson & Perkins has won more All-America Rose Selection awards than any other US company. In addition to the AARS awards, Jackson & Perkins has won numerous other awards, including the coveted Golden Rose of The Hague and the Royal National Rose Society’s President’s International trophy, among others.
From seed to market a new garden rose can take 8 to 10 years to develop. Every year, thousands of seedlings are grown but only a handful are selected to move into the trial phase. During this time, potential new roses are grown and evaluated in different climatic regions of the country. Our rosarians are looking for rose bushes that have stronger disease resistance, vigorous growth habits, and clean healthy foliage. When it comes to blooms, they are looking for improved flower form, unique colors, and strong fragrance.
Today Jackson & Perkins offers over 200 varieties of roses that includes a broad selection of exclusive roses, historical favorites, and innovative genetics from hybridizers around the world. We have two seasons each year for roses. In the spring, we offer bare root rose bushes, bare root 36” trees, 24” patio trees, and container grown roses. Our fall season is all bush roses, and they are available in 2QT and 1GL containers.
Whether you are new to roses or are an experienced rosarian, our online store has rose varieties for you. Our website is packed with information. You will find each rose fully described and lots of articles and videos that will help answer all your questions. Our call center staff have decades of experience and are just a phone call away.
Jackson & Perkins is here to help you in every way on your rose-growing journey. There is no other plant in the garden that comes in more colors, fragrances, shapes, or forms, or performs as many functions than roses do.
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