Cinco de Mayo Floribunda

Cinco de Mayo is floribunda with a smokey, rusty red-orange that can look faded. This is a descendent of the 2006 AARS award-winning Julia Child rose. Cinco de Mayo has a similar coloring to Hot Chocolate (a hybrid tea) and these are wonderful companion roses.

Cinco de Mayo blooms in the hottest of summer when other roses cannot stand the heat. It was hybridized by Tom Carruth and is introduced by Weeks Roses of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Here is Cinco De Mayo taken on May 5.

‘Cinco de Mayo’™ (also known as ‘Wekcobeju’) performs well in most parts of Texas, including East Texas, Central Texas (Austin, San Antonio), and even drier regions with proper watering. It handles Texas heat better than many floribundas but benefits from good air circulation in humid areas to minimize blackspot risk. In Central Texas, bloom size may reduce slightly during extreme summer heat.

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The plant grows about 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, maintaining a naturally rounded, bushy shape that is easy to control with light annual pruning. It fits well in mass plantings, borders, or as a single specimen shrub. ‘Cinco de Mayo’ shows very good resistance to rust and powdery mildew, and moderate resistance to blackspot—better than many floribundas—though preventive treatments are recommended in humid East Texas.

Cinco De Mayo Blooming Its Heart Out May 5, 2014

The yellow rose in the background is Centennial, a grandiflora that does wonderfully well in Texas.

Hot Chocolate and another Carruth rose, ‘Cinco de Mayo’ are great companions. Cinco de Mayo is slightly smaller (about 3 feet tall and wide) and blooms in smoky lavender and rusty red-orange tones. The smoky, muted colors of both roses blend well together, creating a layered, warm effect in garden beds or borders.

Their similar growth habits and disease resistance profiles make them easy companions to maintain. Both are heavy repeat bloomers, flourish in spring, and rebound again strongly in fall after a summer slowdown. In planting design, Hot Chocolate can be placed slightly behind or north of Cinco de Mayo, given that it tends to be about half a foot taller under Texas growing conditions.

Full sun and airflow are critical for optimal disease prevention. This rose was awarded the 2009 All-America Rose Selections (AARS) honor, recognizing its outstanding disease resistance, distinctive bloom color, and strong garden performance. For Texas gardeners, it offers a hardy, proven option that thrives with basic care, holds up well against common diseases, and delivers reliable performance in a range of climates.

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Q1: How does ‘Cinco de Mayo’ handle Texas heat and drought?
A1: It tolerates heat very well, especially in Central Texas. It needs regular watering during drought but is more heat-resilient than many floribundas.

Q2: Will ‘Cinco de Mayo’ get blackspot in humid East Texas?
A2: It has moderate resistance. Blackspot can occur in humid conditions without good air circulation, but it’s less susceptible than older rose varieties.

Q3: How big does ‘Cinco de Mayo’ get and does it stay bushy?
A3: Expect 3–4 feet tall and wide, with a naturally rounded, full shape that doesn’t get leggy if pruned once a year.

Q4: What awards has ‘Cinco de Mayo’ won?
A4: It won the 2009 All-America Rose Selections (AARS) award, a major national honor recognizing roses for beauty, vigor, and disease resistance.

Q5: Is ‘Cinco de Mayo’ better for mass planting or a single garden spot?
A5: It works well both ways — great impact planted in groups, but strong enough to stand alone as a specimen shrub in a Texas landscape.

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