All Photos By Gail
On a recent stroll through the Rosie The Riveter Memorial Rose Garden in San Diego’s gorgeous Balboa Park, I came across a flower that screamed to be given a spotlight: the Rock N Roll Rose. With its bold red-and-white striped blooms and dramatic flair, this flower’s streaked petals recall a whimsical moment from Alice in Wonderland, when the Queen’s playing card gardeners frantically paint the white roses red to please Her Majesty. Yes, they exist!
The Rock N Roll Rose is a hybrid tea variety, bred to turn heads with its candy-cane streaks and deep, glossy green foliage. Beyond its eye-popping looks, it has a sweet, slightly spicy fragrance that makes it just as intoxicating as it is photogenic. In other words, this is not your grandma’s rose — it’s a rock star in the garden.
Of course, when you hear “Rock N Roll” and “Rose” in the same sentence, it’s hard not to think of Axl Rose, frontman of Guns N’ Roses and a human embodiment of rock excess. But while Axl may have been known for belting out anthems like “Welcome to the Jungle” with unapologetic swagger, the Rock N Roll Rose brings its own brand of wild beauty to the stage — minus the leather pants.
Planted among hundreds of other rose varieties in the Rosie The Riveter Memorial Rose Garden, this flower is a fitting tribute to women’s strength and resilience. Just like the WWII-era women who inspired the garden, the Rock N Roll Rose refuses to fade quietly into the background. It’s bold, unforgettable, and wildly vibrant —everything a good rock anthem (or flower) should be.
