Celebrity Roses

By Susan Morgan and Marie Hofer

If you've ever wanted to rub elbows with the celebrities, here's your chance. Over the years many celebrities have lent their names to our national floral emblem, the rose. So what's the appeal? According to rose hybridizer Tom Carruth, who has selected several celebrity roses, including the 2006 All-America Rose Selections winner 'Julia Child,' "the rose is the queen of flowers. It's the most beloved garden plant." What better way to immortalize our stars.

Avid gardener Whoopi Goldberg was quite honored to have this miniature rose named after her. "Two of the greatest things that ever happened to me in my life, besides my kid and grandkids, was having a rose named after me and being in Mad. I love to garden and love roses, so it was amazing to me that the rose people wanted to name such a beautiful, delicate miniature after me. The colors and the blossoms really represent quite a bit of my spirit." Repeat bloomer 'Whoopi' has bicolor flowers with a blend of red and white. It reaches a height of 16 to 20 inches. Hardy to USDA Zone 6.