One of our most valuable classes of roses, Floribundas are the result of crossing Polyantha roses with Hybrid Teas.  In the 1920's and 1930's, two Danish brothers, Dines and Svend Poulsen, concentrated on breeding cold hardy (as you might guess, an important trait for roses in Denmark) roses by breeding Dwarf Polyanthas, Polyanthas, and Ramblers.   Svend Poulsen bred the Dwarf Polyantha 'Orleans Rose' with the Hybrid Tea 'Red Star'; two excellent seedlings resulted and were introduced in 1924, 'Else Poulsen,' a pink semi-double, and 'Kirsten Poulsen,' a red single.  Both introductions had large flowers borne in clusters; further both roses bloomed repeatedly throughout the growing season.  Breeding continued and other Poulsen roses were introduced in the decade that followed, the most famous being the red 'Karen Poulsen,' introduced in 1932.   The roses bred by the Poulsens and other breeders following their example were classified as Hybrid Polyanthas.  In 1952, the class was renamed Floribunda.

Floribundas are characterized by repeat blooms throughout the entire growing season (thanks to the Polyantha influence); even more, many Floribundas have high quality individual blooms (thanks to the Hybrid Tea influence).  Floribundas are versatile in the garden, offering the opportunity to gain classic high-centered (albeit often smaller) Hybrid Tea style blooms on plants which are usually vigorous, relatively low-growing (most in the 3-5 foot range), attractive shrubs.

Tall growing Floribundas, many with classic Hybrid Tea blooms, are classified as Grandiflora roses in America.