Pristine white blooms and exceptional citrus fragrance make Pope John Paul II a remarkable white Hybrid Tea Rose.
Introduced by Jackson & Perkins in 2008, with large 5-inch blooms, approximately 50 petals, vigorous repeat flowering, and excellent disease resistance.
Pope John Paul II Hybrid Tea Rose combines pristine white flowers with exceptional citrus fragrance in an elegant rose that appeals to nearly every sense. Large 5-inch blooms open from pointed buds to reveal approximately 50 beautifully arranged pure white petals, carried on long stems above glossy dark green foliage. Vigorous repeat flowering and excellent disease resistance add dependable garden performance to its extraordinary fragrance and classic Hybrid Tea beauty.
Bred by renowned rose hybridizer Dr. Keith Zary and introduced by Jackson & Perkins in 2008, Pope John Paul II has become a signature white rose in our collection. The variety was also selected for planting in the Vatican Gardens in honor of Pope John Paul II. Whether grown as an elegant garden focal point or planted for cutting, it offers a memorable combination of luminous white flowers, powerful fragrance, and reliable performance.
Why You'll Love It
Large 5-inch blooms in luminous pure white
Approximately 50 petals create elegant, classic Hybrid Tea flowers
Exceptionally strong citrus fragrance with fresh lemon notes
Repeat flowering provides multiple flushes from late spring through late fall
Excellent disease resistance supports healthy, glossy dark green foliage
Long stems make the fragrant white flowers excellent for cutting
Introduced by Jackson & Perkins in 2008
Why This Rose Stands Out
White roses can be beautiful but understated. Pope John Paul II offers something more memorable by pairing luminous white Hybrid Tea flowers with remarkably powerful citrus fragrance. The contrast of pristine blooms against glossy dark green foliage creates an elegant garden presence, while the fresh lemon-scented perfume makes the flowers especially rewarding when planted near patios, walkways, and other places where their fragrance can be enjoyed.
Jackson & Perkins introduced Pope John Paul II in 2008 after it was bred by Dr. Keith Zary. Its combination of flower quality, fragrance, vigorous growth, repeat bloom, and disease resistance gives this rose substance beyond its beauty. Its selection for planting in the Vatican Gardens adds a meaningful connection to the pontiff whose name it carries.
Plant Highlights
Rose Type: Hybrid Tea
Introduction: Introduced by Jackson & Perkins in 2008
Breeder: Dr. Keith Zary
Variety: 'JACsegra'
Bloom Color: Pure white
Bloom Size: Approximately 5 inches
Petal Count: Approximately 50 petals
Flower Form: Double, classic Hybrid Tea form
Fragrance Strength: Exceptionally strong
Fragrance Notes: Citrus with fresh lemon notes
Bloom Season: Late spring through late fall
Growth Habit: Upright
Mature Height: Approximately 4 to 5 feet
Mature Width: Approximately 3 to 4 feet
Sun Exposure: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Disease Resistance: Excellent
Best Garden Uses: Rose gardens, specimen plantings, mixed borders, cutting gardens, and focal landscape plantings
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Pope John Paul II Hybrid Tea Rose special? Pope John Paul II combines large, pure white Hybrid Tea flowers with exceptionally strong citrus fragrance, vigorous repeat flowering, and excellent disease resistance. It offers fragrance, flower quality, and dependable garden performance in one elegant white rose.
How fragrant is Pope John Paul II Rose? Fragrance is one of this rose's defining qualities. The blooms have an exceptionally strong citrus fragrance with fresh lemon notes, making it an excellent choice for gardeners specifically seeking a highly fragrant white rose.
How large are Pope John Paul II Rose flowers? The pure white blooms reach approximately 5 inches across and contain about 50 petals, creating large, substantial flowers with classic Hybrid Tea form.
Is Pope John Paul II Rose disease resistant? Yes. Excellent disease resistance is one of the variety's important garden-performance qualities, complementing its vigorous growth and repeat flowering.
Is Pope John Paul II a good rose for cutting? Yes. Large, elegantly formed flowers on long stems make Pope John Paul II an excellent rose for fresh arrangements, while its powerful citrus fragrance brings another dimension to indoor bouquets.
Was Pope John Paul II Rose planted at the Vatican? Yes. Pope John Paul II Rose was selected for planting in the Vatican Gardens in honor of Pope John Paul II.
Care Tips
Plant in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Water deeply while the rose becomes established and during dry periods. Remove spent flowers to encourage repeat blooming, and feed during the growing season to support healthy growth and abundant flowers. Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead or damaged wood, maintain its upright shape, and encourage vigorous new growth.
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.
My Pope John Paul II slowly died. IT never thrived. I kept hoping despite as all my other roses from Heirloom and David Austin were blooming. I reached out to Jackson & Perkins for advice but never heard back. Plant will go in garbage
L. From California from CA
June 06, 2026
John Paul Rose
This shopper rated the product 1 out of 5 stars
Received potted rose in mail. Most of the dirt was in the box and not in the pot. Very small plant. Very disappointed.
Teresa from MI
May 23, 2026
Waiting to Bloom
This shopper rated the product 5 out of 5 stars
Super excited. I’ve got buds and can’t wait for flowers. Just planted 2 mos ago. I got a stick with roots. Soaked for 24 hours. Talked to my stick and planted it. Can’t wait!
Sharon Birmingham from NC
December 26, 2025
Disappointed
This shopper rated the product 2 out of 5 stars
I purchased two of these gorgeous roses a couple years ago with the roses failing to live through the winter. I live in Michigan, zone 6B, and live in town with the roses being protected so I was badly disappointed when the roses did not live through the winter. These are such pretty roses and have never had a rose that failed to live through the winter. I have been gardening for seventy years.
Lois from MI
September 30, 2025
Gorgeous rose…
This shopper rated the product 5 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this rose for5 years now in Fishers, IN, zone 6. It’s beautiful, disease resistant, extremely fragrant, long blooming. It always has blooms from mid May through most of October.
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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