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

Sexy Rexy

Rosa 'Sexy Rexy'

Medium · Some experience

About Sexy Rexy

Sexy Rexy is a top-tier light pink floribunda rose producing large sprays of 3-inch fully double rosette blooms on a 3 to 4 foot bush. Mildly fragrant with excellent disease resistance, this 1989 New Zealand-bred rose was inducted into the World Rose Hall of Fame in 2006 and remains a benchmark pink floribunda in American gardens.

  • Disease-resistant
  • Long-blooming
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Full sun
6+ hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to -20°F (-29°C)
USDA hardiness zones 5–9

How to care for Sexy Rexy

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
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At a Glance

  • NativeAustralasia
  • Height3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
  • Spread2–3 ft (0.6–0.9 m)
  • Flower colorPink
  • Foliage colorGreen
  • SoilWell-drained, Loamy, Rich
  • 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

LIGHT FRAGRANCE

The flowers have a light spicy 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

Sexy Rexy · Native
  • Native
  • Australasia

History

Illustrated historical scene for Sexy Rexy

Rosa 'Sexy Rexy' is a medium pink floribunda rose bred by Sam McGredy IV in New Zealand, released in 1984 from a cross between 'Seaspray' and 'Dreaming'. The name, a tribute to New Zealand breeder Rex Gourlay, caught publishers by surprise but the cultivar's performance silenced any quibbles: huge sprays of twenty to thirty camellia-like blooms per cluster, each flat and many-petalled in clear medium pink, cover the compact plant continuously through the season. 'Sexy Rexy' won the New Zealand Gold Star, Auckland Gold Medal, Portland Gold Medal, Glasgow Gold Medal, and was inducted into the World Federation of Rose Societies Hall of Fame in 2006, making it one of the most decorated floribundas in history.

Light spicy fragrance; disease-resistant and cold-hardy. The playful name caused publishing controversy but did not prevent it becoming one of the most widely-grown pink floribundas in American and international gardens.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

Sexy Rexy is Enduring pink grace — a New Zealand-bred floribunda whose massive sprays of camellia-shaped blooms earned it a place in the World Rose Hall of Fame. Its Profuse beauty is almost theatrical, with so many blossoms per cluster that each cane bows under the weight. A rose whose performance never quite seems finished.

  • Enduring grace — Hall of Fame pink floribunda
  • Profuse beauty — massive flower sprays

Where the Name Comes From

Named 'Sexy Rexy' playfully by breeder Sam McGredy IV, reportedly for a friend.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Profuse pink floribunda flowers in large showy clusters
  • Sprays of camellia-like blooms for bouquets
  • Vigorous bushy habit suits flowering border edges

Related plants

More Rosa plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Sexy Rexy?

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

How much light does Sexy Rexy need?

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

Is Sexy Rexy 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 Sexy Rexy easy to grow?

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

When does Sexy Rexy bloom?

It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.

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