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John F. Kennedy
Rosa 'John F. Kennedy'
Medium · Some experienceAbout John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy is a pure white hybrid tea rose producing 5 to 6 inch classic high-centered blooms with a mild licorice fragrance on strong stems. Growing 4 to 5 feet tall, this 1965 introduction honors President Kennedy and remains one of the most popular white commemorative roses in American gardens.
- Cut-flower
How to care for John F. Kennedy
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
- Height4–6 ft (1.2–1.8 m)
- Spread2–3 ft (0.6–0.9 m)
- Flower colorWhite, Cream
- Foliage colorGreen
- SoilLoamy, Well-drained, Rich
- LocationsYard
Bloom time
BLOOM CYCLE
Peak bloom
May–Sep
Deadhead for repeat bloom; prune late winter
Fragrance
STRONG FRAGRANCE
The flowers have a strong sweet tea-rose 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 'John F. Kennedy' is a pure white hybrid tea rose bred by American hybridizer Eugene S. Boerner at Jackson & Perkins, released in 1965 from a cross of an unnamed seedling and 'White Queen'. Boerner, who had bred many famous American roses, worked with the Kennedy family to select and name the cultivar in memory of the assassinated president. The large shapely buds are faintly greenish in color, opening slowly to pure white high-centered blooms up to thirteen centimeters across with forty to fifty petals, carried on upright strong-stemmed plants.
A strong sweet tea-rose fragrance complements the pristine color. Light feeders who prefer warm climates, 'John F. Kennedy' has been widely planted in memorial gardens, civic plantings, and American cemeteries for sixty years.
Eugene Boerner at Jackson & Perkins and introduced in 1965, two years after the president's assassination. Chosen and approved by the Kennedy family as a tribute to the late president, it set a standard for pure white hybrid tea roses in America.
Symbolism & meaning
What It Symbolizes
The John F. Kennedy Rose can symbolize honour and remembrance, its pure white blossoms offered as a memorial to a beloved American president. One layer is honour, the choice of a stately, well-formed hybrid tea to bear the name of a public figure, and the second is remembrance, the long association of white roses with tribute and grief. To plant this rose is to keep a small civic memorial in the personal garden, a flower whose every bloom carries a quiet date.
- Honor — memorial to a beloved American president
- Remembrance — pure white for tribute
Where the Name Comes From
Named in 1965 in memory of President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) after his assassination.
Uses & Fun Facts
- White hybrid tea with sweet licorice rose perfume
- Long-stemmed white blooms cut for formal arrangements
- Pure white high-centered hybrid tea blooms
Related plants
More Rosa plants
About FaceRosa 'About Face'
Abraham DarbyRosa 'Abraham Darby'
AmericaRosa 'America'
Angel FaceRosa 'Angel Face'
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Frequently asked questions
How often should I water John F. Kennedy?
In summer, water about every 3 days; in winter, about every 14 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.
How much light does John F. Kennedy need?
Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.
Is John F. Kennedy 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 John F. Kennedy easy to grow?
It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.
When does John F. Kennedy bloom?
It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.
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