7 Surprising Facts About Roses

Some Roses Don’t Like It Hot

Courtesy Nancy Camerer

Southern gardeners probably already know this one of our facts about roses. Much like some heat-averse humans, when the temperature is over 90 degrees, roses (or rather, their foliage) will wilt.

Don’t confuse this with wilting caused by underwatering…or complications of overwatering, which can make the leaves turn yellow. Psst—the gorgeous Tuscan sun rose is particularly heat tolerant.

Thinking of adding these delightful—but sometimes finicky!—plants to your garden this year? Here’s everything you need to know about growing roses.

Roses Need an Annual Pruning

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Garden roses need both pruning and grooming. Pruning is done once a year and involves one severe cutback. Grooming means shaping and deadheading all season. The old-school gardening advice with roses is to prune stems at a 45-degree angle away from the bud eye. But there’s no evidence that this is necessary.

Learn the steps to grow roses from cuttings.

You Can Plant Roses in (Specific) Containers

Many of today’s garden roses can be planted in containers, but they perform best in pots 18 inches in diameter with a clearance of 18 inches in height. Make sure you check the container’s dimensions before planting your roses!

Does your rose bush look unhealthy? Find out what your rose bush is trying to tell you.

Know When To Stop Growing Roses for the Season

Courtesy Tatiana Mask

While everyone loves bright roses during the growing season, unfortunately, they don’t keep blooming year-round in colder growing zones. It’s best to stop grooming roses six to eight weeks before your first fall frost date.

Worried about your roses surviving the cold weather? Don’t be! Use our step-by-step guide to prepare roses for winter.

There Are Hundreds of Rose Varieties

Courtesy Alex Fagan

Not sure whether you want to try growing roses? There’s bound to be a species for you! There are roughly 300 varieties of roses for sale at garden centers and other stores across the U.S., and 7,000 varieties available through mail order.

Roses Require Less Work Than You Think

David Austin Roses

Garden roses are essentially flowering shrubs. If you’re intimidated, give one of these three popular varieties a try: Knock Out Roses, Easy Elegance, or Harlow Carr from David Austin Roses.

Check out the best types of roses for every garden.

More Facts About Roses: Recognize Key Characteristics

Courtesy Janice Dieckow

• Naturally disease-resistant
• Full foliage
• Attractive shapes—rounded, tall, or arching
• Roses have been tested, stressed, and observed by breeders for years.

After you’re done reading facts about roses, admire these pretty pictures of roses from home gardeners.

Sources

• Everyday Roses book by Paul Zimmerman
• David Austin Roses – Harlow Carr
• Easy Elegance Roses