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'Soul Mate' rose Description
'Absolutely Fabulous' rose photo
Photo courtesy of Johno
Availability:
Commercially available
HMF Ratings:
252 favorite votes.  
Average rating: EXCELLENT-.  
ARS:
Medium yellow Floribunda.
Registration name: WEKvossutono
Exhibition name: Julia Child ™ (Floribunda, Carruth, 2004)
Origin:
Bred by Tom Carruth (United States, before 2003).
Introduced in United States by Weeks Wholesale Rose Grower, Inc. in 2006 as 'Julia Child'.
Introduced in Australia by Swane's Nursery/Swane Bros Pty Ltd in 2009 as 'Soul Mate'.
Introduced in New Zealand by Matthews Nurseries Ltd. in 2012 as 'Absolutely Fabulous'.
Class:
Floribunda.  
Bloom:
Butter-yellow.  Strong, anise, licorice fragrance.  30 to 45 petals.  Average diameter 3.25".  Medium to large, full (26-40 petals), borne mostly solitary, in small clusters, cupped, globular, old-fashioned bloom form.  Prolific, continuous (perpetual) bloom throughout the season.  
Habit:
Medium, armed with thorns / prickles, bushy, compact, rounded.  Medium, glossy, medium green, dense foliage.  3 to 5 leaflets.  

Height: 28" to 33" (70 to 85cm).  Width: 20" to 26" (50 to 65cm).
Growing:
USDA zone 5b through 10a.  Can be used for beds and borders, container rose, cut flower or garden.  Heat tolerant.  Disease susceptibility: susceptible to blackspot , very mildew resistant.  Remove spent blooms to encourage re-bloom.  Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross. In warmer climates, cut back the remaining canes by about one-third. In colder areas, you'll probably find you'll have to prune a little more than that.  
Breeder's notes:
very abundant bloom, sweet licorice fragrance, very glossy foliage, old fashioned form, rounded bush
Patents:
Australia - Patent No: AU5073P  on  13 Aug 2015
Application No: 2009/219  on  1 Sep 2009   VIEW PBR PATENT
Unnamed seedling’ x ‘MACamster’ .... Breeder: Tom Carruth, Weeks Wholesale Rose Grower, Inc., Upland, CA, USA....First sold in USA in December 2006 as ‘Julia Child’; First sold in Australia in August 2009 as ‘SoulMate’
 
New Zealand - Patent No: 30945  on  12 Aug 2013
Application No: ROS973  on  19 May 2011
 
United States - Patent No: PP 18,473  on  5 Feb 2008   VIEW USPTO PATENT
Application No: 1/523,832  on  19 Sep 2006
Inventors: Carruth; Thomas F. (Altadena, CA)
This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Floribunda Rose. It has an undisseminated seedling of my creation as its seed parent with the following genetic origin {(Voodoo.times.Rosa soulieana derivative).times.Summerwine}, and as its pollen parent the variety known as `MACamster` (not patented)..... description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the new variety grown outdoors in Upland, Calif. in the month of August.
Ploidy:
Tetraploid
Notes:
Renamed 'Absolutely Fabulous’ in the UK