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Popcorn
Rosa 'Popcorn'
Easy · Beginner friendlyAbout Popcorn
Popcorn is a classic miniature rose bred by Dennison Morey and introduced in 1973, beloved for its clusters of tiny white semi-double blooms with bright yellow stamens that truly resemble popped popcorn kernels. Growing just 12 to 14 inches tall in a neat rounded shape, it blooms continuously from spring through frost with a light honey fragrance. A perennial favorite mini in American cottage and small-space gardens.
- Fragrant
- Compact
- Container-friendly
- Long-blooming
How to care for Popcorn
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
- Height1–1.5 ft (0.3–0.5 m)
- Spread1–1.5 ft (0.3–0.5 m)
- Flower colorWhite
- Foliage colorGreen
- SoilWell-drained, Loamy, Rich
- LocationsYard · Balcony
Bloom time
BLOOM CYCLE
Peak bloom
May–Sep
Clusters of tiny white popcorn-like blooms, deadhead for continuous repeat
Fragrance
LIGHT FRAGRANCE
The flowers have a light honey 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 'Popcorn' is a white miniature rose bred by American hybridizer Dennison H. Morey, released in 1973 from a cross between the polyantha 'Katharina Zeimet' and the miniature 'Diamond Jewel'. The cultivar produces enormous clusters of twenty to thirty small semi-double blooms, each just 2.5 centimeters across with a cluster of golden stamens at the centre of pure white ruffled petals; the massed effect on the compact 40-centimeter plant does indeed resemble popcorn kernels scattered across the foliage, hence the name. 'Popcorn' blooms continuously from late spring to heavy frost with a light honey scent, and has proved extremely popular for containers, front-of-border plantings, and miniature rose collections.
A sport called 'Gourmet Popcorn' released in 1986 is larger, more vigorous, and has largely replaced the original in commerce. Its sport 'Gourmet Popcorn' (1986) became even more widely grown, but the original Popcorn remains a cherished mini in American rose collections.
Symbolism & meaning
What It Symbolizes
Popcorn Rose offers Simple delight — clusters of tiny white double blooms that look exactly like fresh popcorn scattered cheerfully across a small bush. Its Pure sweetness extends to scent, a soft honey fragrance disproportionate to its tiny scale and modest stature. A miniature rose that takes its job of charming gardeners and children completely seriously.
- Simple delight — whimsical popcorn-like bloom clusters
- Pure sweetness — tiny white honey-scented flowers
Where the Name Comes From
Cultivar name evokes the small rounded white blooms with yellow centers resembling freshly popped popcorn kernels.
Uses & Fun Facts
- Miniature rose with white pompom flowers thrives in pots
- Compact mound covered in tiny double blooms
- Light honey scent close to nose level
Related plants
More Rosa plants
About FaceRosa 'About Face'
Abraham DarbyRosa 'Abraham Darby'
AmericaRosa 'America'
Angel FaceRosa 'Angel Face'
Plants with similar care
Chinese AbeliaAbelia chinensis
Fragrant AbeliaAbelia mosanensis
Large-Flowered AbeliaAbelia uniflora
Glossy AbeliaAbelia x grandiflora
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Popcorn?
In summer, water about every 3 days; in winter, about every 14 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.
How much light does Popcorn need?
Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.
Is Popcorn 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 Popcorn easy to grow?
Yes — it is considered an easy, beginner-friendly plant.
When does Popcorn bloom?
It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.
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