Standard Rose Cherry Bonica - 90cm/3ft | 25cm Pot

Cherry Bonica (MEIpeporia) is an award-winning landscape rose admired for its vibrant cherry-red flowers, exceptional disease resistance and long flowering season. Grown as a standard rose, this beautiful variety creates an attractive flowering canopy above a clear stem, bringing colour and structure to garden beds, pathways and decorative pots.

Its luminous cherry-red blooms are filled with petals and produced in generous clusters, creating a colourful display against the foliage. The flowers appear continuously from late spring through to late autumn, providing months of colour throughout the warmer seasons.

Originally developed as a compact shrub rose, Cherry Bonica forms an attractive, bushy flowering head when grown as a standard. Its naturally compact growth habit makes it particularly appealing for formal garden designs, courtyard planting and areas where a more structured appearance is desired.

One of its standout characteristics is its excellent disease resistance and hardy nature, making it a practical choice for gardeners wanting beautiful roses without intensive maintenance.

Cherry Bonica is particularly effective when planted in pairs beside pathways or garden entrances, where its rounded flowering canopy creates a balanced, attractive display. It also works beautifully as a feature in mixed garden beds, surrounded by low-growing perennials or seasonal flowering plants.

Its impressive garden performance has been recognised nationally, receiving a Bronze Medal at the 2017 Australian National Rose Trial Garden Awards.

In Melbourne gardens, Cherry Bonica performs best in a sunny position with fertile, well-drained soil. Its combination of continuous flowering, compact growth and strong disease resistance makes it an appealing choice for both traditional and contemporary landscapes.

Care & Growing Tips
Cherry Bonica grows best in a full-sun position, ideally receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Plant in fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost or organic matter. When growing in a decorative pot, choose a large, stable container with adequate drainage and use a quality premium potting mix.

Standard roses require a sturdy supporting stake to protect the main stem and graft union from wind damage. Secure the stem with suitable soft ties, allowing room for natural growth. Position the stake carefully to avoid damaging the root system, and check ties regularly as the plant develops.

Water regularly during establishment, then deeply during extended dry periods, particularly throughout Melbourne's warmer months. Container-grown standard roses may require more frequent watering during hot weather. Apply organic mulch around the base to help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature, keeping mulch clear of the stem.

Feed established roses with a suitable rose fertiliser from late August, following the Rose Society of Victoria's seasonal recommendations for Melbourne. Continue feeding as directed throughout the growing season to support healthy foliage and repeat flowering. For newly planted bare-root roses, delay fertilising until late November or early December to allow the root system to establish.

Prune established plants during July in Melbourne, or August in colder, frost-prone areas. Remove dead, damaged and crossing branches from the flowering head, then shape the canopy to maintain a balanced, rounded appearance. Avoid cutting into the main standard stem, and promptly remove any shoots emerging from below the graft union. Remove spent flowers throughout the growing season to encourage further blooms and maintain a tidy appearance.

Although Cherry Bonica is recognised for its excellent disease resistance, good garden hygiene remains beneficial. Remove fallen rose leaves and debris during winter, maintain good airflow around the flowering canopy and monitor for common pests such as aphids during periods of active growth.

Ideal for
— Standard rose feature planting
— Formal garden beds and borders
— Planting in pairs beside pathways
— Garden entrances and gateways
— Large decorative pots and planters
— Courtyards and patios
— Traditional rose gardens
— Contemporary garden designs
— Cherry-red flowering displays
— Mixed garden beds with low-growing perennials
— Creating height above smaller flowering plants
— Long-lasting spring to autumn colour
— Gardeners wanting disease-resistant roses
— Melbourne gardens with full sun
— Structured and symmetrical garden planting
— Adding colour and interest to outdoor spaces