One of the best hybrid teas for clear, rich yellow color, 'Henry Fonda' is a fitting tribute to one of America's finest actors and definitely one you won't want to miss. Borne on long, 18- to 22-inch stems that are ideal for cutting, these deep yellow blooms are lightly scented with a clean, sweet fragrance and reach a substantial 4½ inches in width and are comprised of 20 to 25 petals each. They open from attractive long, pointed, ovoid buds and appear in flushes throughout their early summer to late summer season. They're produced in such abundance that they nearly obscure the foliage.
This vigorous shrub grows 5 feet tall and just about as wide. It's clothed in glossy, dark green foliage, which provides the perfect background to set off its glowing yellow blooms. It's ideal for everything from beds and borders to the cut garden and can be grown in the ground or in large containers (containers will require winter protection). This rose shows remarkable vigor and disease resistance.
It should be pruned in the spring, to half height or 18-20 inches above the ground, with the removal of old canes and dead wood. Cut back canes that cross each other. Gardeners in warmer climates will want to cut the remaining canes by one-third, while those in colder climates will probably need to trim it a bit more.
