China rose

China rose: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Loose, upright to arching shrub about 1.5 m tall and 1.2 m wide, with slender stems.

Leaves

Glossy dark green, pinnate with 3–5 leaflets; young leaves often reddish.

Flowers

Small clusters of semi-double to single flowers in pink to red, from June to October.

Flowering

Repeat flowering: new blooms on new shoots until the first frost.

Scent

A light fragrance that varies from variety to variety.

Flowering: June–October · Plants: April–May · Pruning: March

Why grow it?

• Flowers from June to October, again and again, until the first frost.
• The ancestor of modern roses: lovely in a historic rose garden or herb garden.
• The semi-double flowers are easy for bees to reach.
• Loose, airy and not too big: suits a small garden or a large pot.
• The young foliage is glossy and often reddish, an extra spring highlight.

China rose: where does it grow best?

• Full sun, and sheltered, for example against a south- or west-facing wall, because it is less hardy.
• Humus-rich, well-drained soil: loam, sand or clay that is not too wet; pH 6–7.5.
• Normally moist: not too wet and not drying out.
• Airy, but out of the cold north and east winds.
• Allow 1–1.2 m per plant and do not plant where roses have stood for years (rose sickness).

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

1.5 m tall, 1.2 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -15 °C)

Goes well with

• Lavender: A sunny, fragrant partner that flowers all summer and attracts bees.
• Hardy geranium: A low, flowering plant that covers the bare base of the rose.
• Catmint: Lavender-blue flowers that last long, matching the soft pink tones.
• Sage: Purple flower spikes in summer in a sunny border.

China rose: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May.

1. Plant in April–May, when the worst frosts are over, so that the rose can root well before winter.
2. Soak a bare-root rose in water for a few hours before planting.
3. Dig a hole 40–50 cm wide and deep and mix in compost, not fresh manure.
4. Set the plant so that the graft union (the swelling at the base of the stems) lies about 5 cm below the soil surface: this protects it from frost.
5. Fill in, firm well and give a generous watering.
6. Spread a layer of compost or bark around the base.

Care

Water

In dry spells give a good can of water weekly at the base, preferably in the morning and without wetting the leaves.

Feeding

Repeat flowerers are hungry: give rose feed or compost in March and again in June. Stop at the end of July so the shoots can ripen before winter.

Mulching

A layer of compost or bark about 5 cm thick in spring keeps the soil moist and suppresses weeds.

Spent flowers

Regularly cut off faded flowers to just above a leaf with five leaflets: this encourages new blooms.

Pot

Suitable for a large pot or tub (at least 30 litres) with rich potting compost. In a pot you can move it to a frost-free place in winter.

Tip: Plant it in April–May in a sheltered, sunny spot and protect the base in the first winters by mounding it up. Cut off faded flowers: that keeps it flowering until autumn.

China rose: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: In March, when the worst frost is over and the buds begin to swell.

How:

• Cut frosted, dead and weak stems back to healthy wood, which is green or white inside.
• Shorten the remaining stems by about a third, to just above an outward-facing bud.
• Cut away crossing stems to let air into the shrub.
• In summer regularly cut off faded flowers to prolong flowering.

Caution: Wait until the worst frost is over before pruning: if you prune too early, new shoots start to grow and can be damaged by a late frost.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Semi-ripe cuttings

In July–September take cuttings of 10–15 cm from non-flowering shoots, remove the lower leaves and insert them in moist compost, under plastic or in a propagator. They usually root readily. Overwinter the young plants frost-free.

Hardwood cuttings

In October–November take cuttings of 20–25 cm from ripened shoots and push them two-thirds into the ground in a sheltered spot, preferably in a cold frame. Success varies.

China rose: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −15 °C: protect young plants.

• Hardy to about −15 °C: it survives most Belgian winters, but in severe frost stems may freeze.
• In November mound 20 cm of compost or garden soil over the base and cover the stems with spruce branches or horticultural fleece.
• After a hard winter, wait until spring to prune and then cut back to healthy wood.
• In a pot: in severe frost move it to a frost-free, light place, such as a cold conservatory or a garage with a window, and water occasionally.

Diseases and pests

• Frost damage: Blackened or brown, dead stems after winter. Cut back to healthy wood in March and protect the base in winter.
• Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves and buds, especially in dry soil and a stuffy spot. Provide sun, air and water at the base, and cut away affected shoots.
• Black spot: Black spots with fringed edges and leaf fall from summer. Do not water over the leaves, clear up affected leaves and leave space between plants.
• Aphids: On young shoots and buds in May–June. Rinse them off with water or let ladybirds do the work.
• Poor flowering: Too little sun, too much nitrogen or faded flowers never cut off. Provide at least 6 hours of sun, use rose feed and cut off faded flowers.

Through the year

• March: Prune: cut back frosted stems. Give compost or rose feed.
• April: Plant. Spread mulch.
• May: Plant. The first buds. Watch for aphids.
• June: Flowering begins. Give rose feed again. Cut off faded flowers.
• July: Flowering. Water in dry weather. Last feed.
• August: Flowering. Cut off faded flowers. Take semi-ripe cuttings.
• September: Flowering. Clear up diseased leaves.
• October: The last flowers. Take hardwood cuttings.
• November: Mound up and cover the base. Move pots to a frost-free place.
• December: Rest.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• Around 1800 a few Chinese roses reached Europe. Crossing them with European roses brought repeat flowering to the modern garden rose.
• The variety ‘Mutabilis’ changes colour as the flower ages: from yellow through orange and pink to crimson.
• In China this rose has been grown in gardens for centuries.