It’s relatively easy to grow roses in your California gardens. What you have to take into consideration is the type of rose you purchase. All roses can not be grown anywhere or everywhere. Since there are different growing regions and so many climate zones throughout the United States, you have to choose roses that will grow best for your part of the country or even your part the state. Heat, moisture, cold and dryness will all have an impact on your roses, so make sure the ones you choose will be able to grow where you live. Below is a list of roses that are suitable for growing in the warm weather of Southern California gardens.
Elle™ – is a shell pink with deep yellow undertones, Hybrid Tea rose that grows 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet tall. The flowers grow 4 to 5 inches in diameter and produce 50 to 55 petals. It has a very strong citrus and spice fragrance, has very good resistance to blackspot and mildew and black. They grow best with organic, well-drained soil, fertilizer, water and 6 plus hours of sun.
Opening Night – is a brilliant beautiful red Hybrid Tea rose, that grows 4 to 6 inches in height, with flowers 4 to 6 inches in diameter and 25 to 30 petals. It has no fragrance and cooler weather allows it to grow to a bigger size. It needs organic, well-drained soil, fertilizer, water and 6 plus hours of sun.
Wild Blue Yonder™ – is a reddish purple with a lavender ‘eye zone’ Grandiflora Rose, that grows upright, bushy and medium tall. It has a medium ruffled flower that produces 25 to 30 petals. It has a citrus blossom and rose fragrance, has very good resistance to disease, and grows best with organic, well-drained soil, fertilizer, water and full sun to partial shade.
Julia Child – is a beautiful warm butter gold color Floirbunda rose. It is bushy, very rounded and grows to medium height. The flowers are very full, old fashioned and medium in size. It produces more than 35 petals, and has a strong sweet licorice and spice fragrance. This rose grows best with organic, well-drained soil, fertilizer, water and full sun to partial shade.
Tahitian Sunset™ – is another Hybrid Tea rose that has a peachy apricot pink color, with a strong yellow base. It grows up to 5 feet tall with flowers 5 inches in diameter. It produces 25 to 30 petals, and has a strong anise fragrance. This rose has very good resistance to blackspot and grows best with organic, well-drained soil, fertilizer, water and 6 plus hours of sun.
Hot Cocoa – is a beautiful smoky chocolate orange Floribunda rose, that grows upright, medium tall with large ruffled and double flowers. It produces 25 to 30 petals and has a moderate old rose fragrance. Hot Cocoa is a vigorous and disease resistant rose that grows best with organic, well-drained soil, fertilizer, water and 6 plus hours of sun.
Cherry Parfait – is a delicious name for a beautiful white, edged with red, Grandiflora rose! It grows to 5 feet tall with flowers that are 3 1/2 to 4 inches in diameter. It produces 35 to 40 petals, and has a very slight fragrance. This rose grows best with organic, well-drained soil, fertilizer, water, spraying for insects and disease, and 4 to 6 hours of sun.
Gemini – is another lovely, coral pink and white Hybrid Tea rose, that grows 4 to 6 feet with flowers 5 to 7 inches in diameter. It produces 25 to 30 petals and has a very light papaya fragrance. This rose grows best with organic, well-drained soil, fertilizer, water and 6 plus hours of sun.
Fourth of July™ – is a red and white striped Climber rose that grows on climbing canes and can grow up to 12 or 14 feet with large, semi-double clusters that have 10 to 15 petals. These beautiful roses have a fragrance of fresh cut apple and sweet rose. It grows best with organic, well-drained soil, fertilizer, water and 4 plus hours of sun.
Temperatures in the summer months can be as high as 95 to 100F, and this can be hazardous to your roses… in the form of insects, fungus and stress.
Because of this, you want to always make sure your roses are well watered at the root, not on the flowers… at least twice a day. When you fertilize, the 90 day slow release is best because it prevents over fertilizing.
Dead heading and cleaning your rose bed lets air circulate among your flowers, which will help to prevent any fungus and mildew. If this is your first time planting roses, it would be a great idea to check with your garden center about the type of soil you have. Depending on where you live, the soil in your California garden may or may not need to be amended before planting.
For the minimum amount of care, just follow the outline given below. Keep your roses watered, fertilized, mulched, cleaned, sprayed for insects and mildew – and you should have very healthy and beautiful roses.
January is when you should prune your roses and clean their beds of dead petals and leaves. If you want to, you can spray them with a dormant spray, but some people don’t bother. Water if needed.
February means putting down about 4 inches of organic mulch. Don’t put down anymore than that because you don’t want to interfere with the circulation of air to the soil. Water your roses as needed.
March is spraying with a product that prevents mildew, applying a slow release fertilizer and watering as needed.
April is when you should spray the foliage with an insecticide that will stop mildew and insects. Water your roses as needed.
May is dead heading and watering as needed.
June you should be spraying your foliage two days a week. You don’t want any insects or mildew. Water as needed.
July – August is again spraying the foliage for mildew and insects. Water your roses as needed.
September is time for a slow release fertilizer. Water very well.
October you want to again spray for mildew and water when needed.
November can be a very dry month, so water when needed.
December is a time to purchase new roses and prepare for the next year of planting.
