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Julia Child (Rosa 'Julia Child'), whole plant
  • Julia Child — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Julia Child — seasonal appearance
  • Julia Child in a garden setting

Julia Child

Rosa 'Julia Child'

Medium · Some experience

About Julia Child

Julia Child is a buttery golden-yellow floribunda rose with a strong licorice-candy fragrance, producing 4-inch old-fashioned rosette blooms in clusters on a compact 3-foot bush. A 2006 AARS winner personally selected by chef Julia Child from Tom Carruth's Weeks Roses breeding trials, it is one of the most popular yellow floribundas in American gardens.

  • Fragrant
  • Disease-resistant
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Full sun
6+ hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to -20°F (-29°C)
USDA hardiness zones 5–10

How to care for Julia Child

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.

N33%P33%K33%
  • Nitrogen · Leaves
  • Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
  • Potassium · Strength
  • Springevery 30 days
  • Summerevery 30 days
  • Fallevery 45 days
Get watering reminders for Julia Child — free on iPhoneDownload on the App Store

At a Glance

  • NativeNorth America
  • Height3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
  • Spread3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
  • Flower colorYellow
  • Foliage colorGreen
  • SoilLoamy, Well-drained
  • LocationsYard

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Deadhead clusters for repeat bloom; prune late winter

Fragrance

STRONG FRAGRANCE

The flowers have a strong licorice-anise 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

Julia Child · Native
  • Native
  • North America

History

Illustrated historical scene for Julia Child

Rosa 'Julia Child' is a butter-yellow floribunda rose bred by Tom Carruth at Weeks Roses, released in 2004 from proprietary parentage. Chef Julia Child personally selected the cultivar from Carruth's seedling rows a few years before her death, and the name was formally licensed by her estate. The clusters of fully double cupped blooms open a rich clear buttery yellow that holds its color in sun without fading to white, carried above glossy dark green foliage on a vigorous, compact, strongly disease-resistant plant.

A strong distinctive licorice and anise fragrance scents the garden. Named in her honor, proceeds support her charitable foundation. 'Julia Child' won the All-America Rose Selections award in 2006 and quickly became one of the best-selling yellow roses in North America, frequently ranked among the easiest yellows for home gardeners to grow well.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

The Julia Child Rose expresses warmth and wit, its buttery gold blooms personally selected by Julia itself to bear its name. Paired with culinary heritage, it stands as a tribute to the American cooking icon who taught generations that good food and joy belong together. It is a rose whose meaning is generous, well-buttered, and unembarrassed about its own pleasure.

  • Warmth and wit — buttery gold personality
  • Culinary heritage — tribute to American cooking icon

Where the Name Comes From

Named for celebrated American chef Julia Child (1912-2004), who personally selected the cultivar before its death.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Buttery yellow blooms release strong sweet licorice scent
  • Old-fashioned rosette blooms long-lasting in summer bouquets
  • Tidy floribunda smothered with golden butter-yellow blooms

Related plants

More Rosa plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Julia Child?

In summer, water about every 3 days; in winter, about every 14 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.

How much light does Julia Child need?

Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Julia Child 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 Julia Child easy to grow?

It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.

When does Julia Child bloom?

It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.

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