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About Face
Rosa 'About Face'
Medium · Some experienceAbout About Face
About Face is a unique bicolor grandiflora rose with reverse-colored petals, showing bright orange on petal backs and golden-yellow on petal fronts. Producing 4-inch blooms on 5 to 6 foot stems, this 2005 AARS winner bred by Tom Carruth features an eye-catching color reversal that sets it apart in American rose gardens.
- Disease-resistant
- Long-blooming
How to care for About Face
Watering
- Springevery 5 days
- Summerevery 3 days
- Fallevery 7 days
- Winterevery 14 days
Soil · Rich & loamy
- Top dressingBark mulch15%
- Main mixRich loam + compost 3:170%
- DrainageGravel15%
Use fully finished compost — fresh compost burns roots.
FERTILIZER
Balanced Feed 14-14-14
An even feed covers all three needs at once, keeping leaves, roots and blooms moving together with nothing pushed out of balance.
- Nitrogen · Leaves
- Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
- Potassium · Strength
- Springevery 30 days
- Summerevery 30 days
- Fallevery 45 days
At a Glance
- NativeNorth America
- Height5–7 ft (1.5–2.1 m)
- Spread3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
- Flower colorOrange, Yellow
- Foliage colorGreen
- SoilRich, Loamy, Well-drained
- LocationsYard
Bloom time
BLOOM CYCLE
Peak bloom
May–Sep
Deadhead for repeat bloom; prune late winter
Fragrance
MODERATE FRAGRANCE
The flowers have an apple-spice scent.
Toxicity
Humans Slight
Unknown toxic principle
Slight
- Stem
- Contact
EXPOSURE Touching stems.
EFFECT Pricks from thorns.
NOTE Not toxic; thorns cause mechanical injury.
Safe
EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.
EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.
NOTE Listed as non-toxic for dogs; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.
Safe
EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.
EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.
NOTE Listed as non-toxic for cats; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.
Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
DISTRIBUTION
- Native
- North America
History
Rosa 'About Face' is a bicoloured bronzy-orange grandiflora rose bred by Tom Carruth at Weeks Roses in Upland, California, released in 2005. The cultivar's distinctive feature is reverse coloring: petal undersides are a rich bronzy-orange almost russet in tone, while petal insides are a lighter golden-orange, so long pointed buds appear russet-bronze and open slowly to show the lighter interior. Carruth bred the cultivar to give exhibitors a strikingly different coloring in the grandiflora class.
Tall upright vigorous plants produce blooms on exceptionally long stems, and the glossy foliage resists disease well. Moderate apple-spice fragrance.
'About Face' won the All-America Rose Selections award in 2005, the first Weeks bicolour to take the top honor since the 1970s, and remains a sought-after exhibition rose. Bred by Tom Carruth at Weeks Roses and introduced in 2005, winning AARS the same year. Named for its surprising color reversal where petal backs are brighter than fronts, a rare trait that breaks conventional rose color expectations.
Symbolism & meaning
What It Symbolizes
The 'About Face' Rose lives up to its name with unexpected beauty — its grandiflora petals reverse the usual color order, with bright orange-red faces and yellow undersides, surprising the eye with each opening bloom. Surprise is the heart of its meaning: a rose that quietly turns convention around, asking the viewer to look twice. To grow it is to invite a small daily reversal of expectation into the garden.
- Unexpected beauty — reversed petal coloring
- Surprise — bright reverse colors
Where the Name Comes From
Named 'About Face' for the military command, playing on the reversed colors of petal backs and fronts.
Uses & Fun Facts
- Long-stemmed bicolor blooms prized for floral arrangements
- Bronze-and-yellow grandiflora rose for sunny formal beds
Related plants
More Rosa plants
Abraham DarbyRosa 'Abraham Darby'
AmericaRosa 'America'
Angel FaceRosa 'Angel Face'
At LastRosa 'At Last'
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Frequently asked questions
How often should I water About Face?
In summer, water about every 3 days; in winter, about every 14 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.
How much light does About Face need?
Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.
Is About Face toxic to cats or dogs?
Pets Safe (Dogs Safe · Cats Safe) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
Is About Face easy to grow?
It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.
When does About Face bloom?
It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.
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