Rosa Special Child ('Taniripsa') | Bush Rose
Rose Special Child (syn. Aspirin rose)
Soft colour that changes as the flowers open is one of the real charms of this compact rose. Pale pink buds gradually unfurl into creamy-white to silvery blush-pink blooms, giving the clusters a gently varied appearance rather than one flat colour. Rosa ‘Special Child’ (syn.‘Taniripsa’), also known as a repeat-flowering Floribunda that keeps producing fresh flowers through summer and into autumn.
The well-shaped blooms appear generously in clusters above glossy, mid-green foliage, creating a neat, full-looking plant even at a relatively modest size. Reaching around 80cm (2ft 7in) tall, its short, bushy habit makes it particularly useful towards the front of borders or wherever a more compact bush rose is needed.
There is a light floral fragrance, so scent is subtle rather than dominant. Good disease resistance adds to its easy-going nature, while repeat flowering means ‘Special Child’ continues to earn its place long after its first flush has faded.
Recognised with the RHS Award of Garden Merit, this is a dependable choice for a compact, repeat-flowering rose with soft colouring and a tidy habit. Its combination of creamy-white flowers, blush-pink tones and healthy foliage also makes it easy to mix with a wide range of planting styles.
All our roses are grown in an open field and then dug up when the weather conditions are right in October or November. Some suppliers send out their roses as 'bare root' plants (i.e. without pots or compost), but we pot ours up as it helps to keep the roots hydrated and in good condition. As they are dormant throughout the winter, they will not produce any new roots until spring, so don't be surprised if the compost falls away from the roots when you take them out of their pots.
The roses can be kept in their pots throughout the winter provided they are kept well fed and watered, however ideally they should be planted out as soon as possible. They will already have been cut back so no further pruning will be required, apart from snipping off any tips that have died back. Routine pruning can begin in late winter the year after planting.
The well-shaped blooms appear generously in clusters above glossy, mid-green foliage, creating a neat, full-looking plant even at a relatively modest size. Reaching around 80cm (2ft 7in) tall, its short, bushy habit makes it particularly useful towards the front of borders or wherever a more compact bush rose is needed.
There is a light floral fragrance, so scent is subtle rather than dominant. Good disease resistance adds to its easy-going nature, while repeat flowering means ‘Special Child’ continues to earn its place long after its first flush has faded.
Recognised with the RHS Award of Garden Merit, this is a dependable choice for a compact, repeat-flowering rose with soft colouring and a tidy habit. Its combination of creamy-white flowers, blush-pink tones and healthy foliage also makes it easy to mix with a wide range of planting styles.
All our roses are grown in an open field and then dug up when the weather conditions are right in October or November. Some suppliers send out their roses as 'bare root' plants (i.e. without pots or compost), but we pot ours up as it helps to keep the roots hydrated and in good condition. As they are dormant throughout the winter, they will not produce any new roots until spring, so don't be surprised if the compost falls away from the roots when you take them out of their pots.
The roses can be kept in their pots throughout the winter provided they are kept well fed and watered, however ideally they should be planted out as soon as possible. They will already have been cut back so no further pruning will be required, apart from snipping off any tips that have died back. Routine pruning can begin in late winter the year after planting.
How to care for Rosa Special Child ('Taniripsa'):
If planting in winter, choose a frost-free spell when the soil is not frozen. Roses are quite deep-rooted plants so dig a deep hole roughly twice as wide as the plant's roots and mix in a generous amount of composted organic matter. A top-dressing of a general purpose fertiliser can be worked into the surrounding soil and we also recommend using Rose Rootgrow at this stage to encourage better root development. This is particularly important when planting into a bed where roses have previously been grown as Rose Rootgrow is said to combat rose sickness (aka replant disease).
Remove the plants from their pots and gently spread out the roots before placing them in the centre of the hole. Try to ensure that the 'bud union' (the point where the cultivated rose has been grafted onto the rootstock, and from where the shoots emerge) is at soil level. You can judge this quite easily by laying something flat, like a spade handle or bamboo cane, across the top of the hole. When they are at the right height, back-fill the hole, firming the soil down gently before watering the plant well.
Water generously until well established, and apply a specialist rose fertiliser (following the manufacturer's instructions) each spring. They will also benefit from a generous mulch of composted farmyard manure in spring, but make sure this is kept away from the stems. Allow space between plants to encourage good air circulation, which helps prevent fungal problems such as black spot and mildew.
While wearing tough gloves, prune in late winter or early spring, removing any dead, damaged or weak-looking stems completely. Floribunda roses flower best on strong new growth, so shorten the remaining stems by about one-third to one-half, cutting just above an outward-facing bud. This encourages a tidy, open shape and plenty of flowering shoots. Deadhead faded blooms regularly through the summer to promote repeat flowering and keep the plant looking tidy.
Unlike hybrid tea roses, floribundas don’t need very hard pruning or regular removal of older stems — just focus on maintaining a balanced, healthy framework and removing any congested or crossing growth as needed.
Remove the plants from their pots and gently spread out the roots before placing them in the centre of the hole. Try to ensure that the 'bud union' (the point where the cultivated rose has been grafted onto the rootstock, and from where the shoots emerge) is at soil level. You can judge this quite easily by laying something flat, like a spade handle or bamboo cane, across the top of the hole. When they are at the right height, back-fill the hole, firming the soil down gently before watering the plant well.
Water generously until well established, and apply a specialist rose fertiliser (following the manufacturer's instructions) each spring. They will also benefit from a generous mulch of composted farmyard manure in spring, but make sure this is kept away from the stems. Allow space between plants to encourage good air circulation, which helps prevent fungal problems such as black spot and mildew.
While wearing tough gloves, prune in late winter or early spring, removing any dead, damaged or weak-looking stems completely. Floribunda roses flower best on strong new growth, so shorten the remaining stems by about one-third to one-half, cutting just above an outward-facing bud. This encourages a tidy, open shape and plenty of flowering shoots. Deadhead faded blooms regularly through the summer to promote repeat flowering and keep the plant looking tidy.
Unlike hybrid tea roses, floribundas don’t need very hard pruning or regular removal of older stems — just focus on maintaining a balanced, healthy framework and removing any congested or crossing growth as needed.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.8m
Eventual spread:
0.6m
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This rose is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
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Humans/Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten
