Roses are well-liked flowers that add bright color and a pleasant scent to gardens all over the world. Though, these ornamental shrubs go through times when they don’t bloom in the winter. When do rose bushes start to grow and flower again after being dormant?
Knowing the natural cycle of dormancy lets you time rose care tasks like pruning and feeding for the best plant health and most blooms. In this article, we’ll talk about when roses go into dormancy in the fall, how to tell if they are dormant, and how to tell when they wake up in the spring.
What Triggers Roses to Go Dormant?
Dormancy is a state of arrested plant growth that helps roses and other plants conserve energy through harsh winter conditions or summer droughts During dormancy, roses halt active growth and slip into a kind of hibernation.
Several environmental factors trigger roses to go dormant:
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Cooler temperatures – Consistent overnight lows below 45-50°F signal roses to start shutting down. This generally happens in fall as weather cools.
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Shorter daylight hours – Decreasing photoperiods below 10-12 hours of sun tell roses it’s time to rest. This coincides with the arrival of winter.
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Fewer blooms – As roses complete their final flush of flowers, blooming slows, also initiating dormancy.
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Freezing weather – The first hard frosts severely damage any lingering foliage and flowers, forcing roses into dormancy.
Because of this, rose bushes go into dormancy when it gets cold, the days get shorter, and the flowering season ends in late fall.
Do All Types of Roses Go Dormant?
Interestingly, not all roses actually go into a deep dormant state:
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The natural growth cycle for heirloom and antique roses is to bloom in the spring and summer and then go dormant for the winter.
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Modern repeat-bloomers – Most hybrid teas, floribundas, and grandifloras have been bred to rebloom continuously with little rest time between bloom cycles. They remain semi-active through winter.
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Climbing roses – In warm winter climates, most climbing roses retain some foliage and will only go briefly dormant after first frost.
So while old roses programmed to bloom just once per season require dormancy, repeat-blooming types mostly stay in light semi-dormancy over winter. But all roses need some period of winter chilling and metabolic slowdown.
Signs Your Rose Bushes Have Gone Dormant
Here are the signs that rose bushes have entered winter dormancy:
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Leaves dropping – Roses shed all their foliage, leaving bare canes by late fall.
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No new growth – Dormant roses cease actively extending canes or developing new buds.
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Lack of blooms – Flowers stop since plants shut down metabolically.
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Blackened rose hips – Any remaining hips dry up and turn black.
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Dieback – Small tender shoots often die back from cold damage.
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Bark slips easily – Bark begins loosening as moisture levels drop.
Once rose foliage has dropped and growth has halted, dormancy has begun.
When to Expect Roses to Enter Dormancy
The timing of dormancy depends on your climate:
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In zones 6-9, roses may go dormant starting in December after the first hard frosts hit.
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In warmer zones 9-11, roses can stay actively growing into January and only go dormant briefly.
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Across most regions, roses enter dormancy between October and December as colder weather settles in.
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Heirloom roses that are one-time bloomers enter dormancy more definitively after flowering ends.
Knowing your first average frost date can give you a good indication for when roses in your area will start going dormant.
Do Roses Need to Stay Dormant for a Certain Period?
Roses actually require a minimum number of “chilling hours” below 45°F for proper dormancy:
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Most hybrid teas need at least 200-300 chilling hours.
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Old garden roses require 500-800 chilling hours.
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Miniature roses need 400-500 chilling hours.
Without enough chilling, roses may sprout erratic growth too early in late winter or fail to bloom well come spring. Aim for at least 200 hours under 45°F for your climate.
Signs Roses Are Waking Up from Dormancy
How do you know when dormancy has ended and roses are coming back to life in spring? Look for:
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Swollen leaf buds – Plump buds form as sap begins moving.
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New basal canes – Fresh canes emerge from the bud union at soil level.
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Green shoots – Small leaves unfurl as buds burst with new growth.
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Loose, slipping bark – Bark detaches more easily from the wood.
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Sprouting roots – New white feeder roots may be visible at the soil line.
Once plump buds appear, spring growth will emerge within days as roses resume blooming.
When to Expect Roses to Wake from Dormancy
The exact timing depends on your climate:
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In zone 7-8, dormancy breaks starting in March when temperatures warm.
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In warmer zones 9-10, roses may come out of dormancy as early as January.
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Across most regions, roses transition out of dormancy between March and April as the weather warms.
When daytime temperatures have consistently reached 50°F and daylight exceeds 10-12 hours, roses will be releasing from dormancy.
Timing Rose Care Around Dormancy Cycles
Knowing when your roses drop leaves and transition into dormancy in fall allows you to properly time seasonal care:
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Prune roses in very late winter, just before they break dormancy. This stimulates abundant spring blooms.
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Apply dormant spray treatments while roses are inactive to control overwintering pests and diseases.
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Plant new roses in winter during the dormancy period to reduce transplant shock.
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Hold off fertilizing until after dormancy when growth resumes. This prevents stimulating tender growth that may get damaged by lingering frosts.
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Water sparingly during dormancy, just 1-2 times per month in winter.
Syncing your rose maintenance regimen with their natural dormancy rhythms will result in healthier plants and prolific flowers.
Let Dormant Roses Rest for Best Performance
For roses that enter definitive dormancy like heirlooms, allow them an undisturbed cold rest period. Don’t try to push them to keep growing through winter. A period of chilling is crucial for these roses to reboot and rebloom the following year.
Understanding the seasonal rhythms of your roses takes a little observation. But tuning your care to match their dormancy and growth cycles will reward you with vigorous, thriving rose bushes bursting with beautiful blooms.
So What Can I Do to Prepare for Rose Dormancy?
The answer to this question lies in a couple different areas.
- Each rose variety thrives in specific climate conditions. The USDA zones help you choose roses that will do well in your area’s weather, so they will grow and bloom better. Your zone influences when roses will start and stop blooming. Selecting roses matched to your zone optimizes their flowering period.
If your roses are cold hardy in your zone, you will usually be okay when spring rolls around.
Interestingly enough, colder zones are less dangerous to roses than zones with considerable temperature fluctuation. Consistently below-freezing temperatures allow roses to reserve their strength and flush out once spring returns. However, if you are in a zone that frequently experiences hard freezes and then thaws, you risk your roses freezing, flushing out, and then freezing again. This results in a higher plant mortality rate than a more consistent temperature range.
The most important part of a rose to protect from the winter is the base, whether it is grown from seeds or from a graft. Remove the decaying plant matter from around the base, add about a foot of soil (more or less depending on the size of the plant), cover the mound with a layer of straw or similar material, and top with a bit more soil. There are numerous ways to achieve this same effect. When gardening, some people choose to use insulated tarps or blankets. In recent years, Styrofoam rose cones have also become more popular. However you do it, this precaution will help to ensure that your roses make it through the winter. Once the threat of frost is gone, gently remove the soil or covering.
The highly critical base of the rose serves as the epicenter for it’s triumphant return in spring.
Early spring is the ideal time to trim your roses back. First, remove any dead branches to avoid disease taking hold. Afterward, proceed with pruning. Most modern re-blooming roses perform best after pruning 1/3 of the old wood each spring. This will allow for a hard flush and optimal blooming. Then just hit them with a fertilizer of your choice and they’re all ready for the new growing season.
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I hope that this has provided you with some insight into the world of rose dormancy. Please contact us over here at PlantsByMail. com if you have any questions or comments, and stay planting out there!.
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Word on the Street
There’s a lot of different advice out there regarding the proper way to prepare your roses for winter and we’re going to go through a couple.
Some say it’s key to stop fertilizing before the cold weather to discourage further new growth before freezing temperatures. This seems like it would make sense, however, nature is a bit too smart to make this mistake, and roses will not absorb fertilizer below a certain temperature. Re-blooming roses will still flush out after an extended period above freezing temperatures, regardless of whether they have been fertilized. It’s still a good idea not to fertilize shortly before the onset of cold weather, though, because it will simply be a waste of perfectly good fertilizer.
Another misconception involves allowing blooms to age and develop hips. The misunderstanding here comes from the fact that roses traditionally would go dormant after producing seeds. However, hip production is just another stage of growth and they aren’t actually gearing down for winter. Since they’re designed to re-bloom perpetually, they will continue to grow even after hips are produced.
Roses Can Be Slow to Break Dormancy
FAQ
How to bring roses out of dormancy?
Before you wake up your roses for spring, make sure the pruning is done right. Get rid of any dead, damaged, or diseased wood. This encourages new growth. Keep it watered: Ensure the bush gets adequate water, especially if the weather has been dry. Add fertilizer: Apply a balanced fertilizer to provide essential nutrients.
Are my roses dead or dormant?
A rose bush can appear dead during dormancy, but it may simply be in a resting state. To determine if your rose is dead or dormant, check for signs of life like green tissue under the bark when scratched, flexible stems that don’t snap easily, or new growth emerging from the base.
How long does it take for roses to come back?
The bloom cycle of most modern roses is about 6-8 weeks. This means you can expect new blooms every 6-8 weeks throughout the growing season. Apr 29, 2021.
How to wake up a dormant rose bush?
How to Wake Up a Rose After Winter: A Gardener’s Tale of Hope and RenewalCheck for Life Signs. Before you declare your rose a goner, do a quick “scratch test. ” Gently scratch the bark of a stem with your fingernail. Prune Dead or Weak Growth. Pruning is crucial when reviving a dormant bush. Warm Up the Roots. Be Patient.
When do Roses go dormancy?
The exact time depends on the climate. For example, roses in the north go into dormancy in late fall, when temperatures drop and daylight hours shorten. This coincides with the first hard frosts. In warmer southern climates, roses may remain actively growing into winter, only going dormant when cold snaps hit.
Do Roses go dormant?
For non-repeat bloomers that go fully dormant, understand dormancy is essential to their growth pattern. Allow them an uninterrupted rest period for reblooming the following year. So keep an eye on your roses and note when dormancy begins and ends in your climate.
When do Roses go dormant & reawaken?
Once buds have swollen, expect small leaves to unfold within days as roses launch back into growth and flowering mode. Knowing when roses go dormant in fall and reawaken in spring allows you to plan seasonal care effectively: Prune in late winter just before dormancy ends to maximize growth.
Should I synchronize my Rose care routines to the dormancy cycle?
Syncing rose care routines to the dormancy cycle results in healthier plants and maximum flowers. For non-repeat bloomers that go fully dormant, understand dormancy is essential to their growth pattern. Allow them an uninterrupted rest period for reblooming the following year.
Do heirloom roses go dormant?
Roses that don’t bloom again and again, like heirloom varieties and old garden roses, go dormant when they flower or when it gets cold. Repeat blooming roses are bred to bloom continuously through the season. They do not typically go into true dormancy, instead taking short breaks between flower cycles.
Do climbing roses go into dormancy?
Repeat blooming roses are bred to bloom continuously through the season. They do not typically go into true dormancy, instead taking short breaks between flower cycles. Climbing roses also generally stay semi-active over winter in warm zones, only losing some leaves.