Rosa 'Geranium'
geranium rose
Garden origin; parent species from western China
Overview
Rosa 'Geranium' is a deciduous shrub rose selected from Rosa moyesii and raised at the Royal Horticultural Society garden at Wisley in 1938. It forms an arching, open shrub 8–10 feet (2.4–3 m) tall and 5–8 feet (1.5–2.4 m) wide, with red-tinted young stems and pinnate leaves divided into 7–13 small rounded leaflets 0.4–1 inch (1–2.5 cm) long. In early summer it carries single, five-petalled flowers 2–2.5 inches (5–6 cm) across in scarlet to orange-red, each with a small white eye and a central boss of cream stamens. The flowers are borne singly or in small clusters along the arching canes and are followed in late summer and autumn by flask-shaped orange-red hips up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) long. The cultivar blooms once, in a single early-summer flush, rather than repeating through the season, and its size and arching habit call for room to spread. Hardiness covers USDA zones 5–9. The canes carry scattered thorns, and like other once-flowering species roses it produces no second flush. Black spot and rust can affect the foliage in humid conditions.
Native Range
Rosa 'Geranium' is a garden cultivar raised in 1938 from Rosa moyesii, a species native to western China, particularly Sichuan and Yunnan, where it grows in mountain scrub and woodland margins. The cultivar itself arose in cultivation in England and is not found in the wild.Suggested Uses
Rosa 'Geranium' is grown as a freestanding shrub, at the back of a large mixed border, or in a wild or woodland-edge garden. The autumn hips extend its season and supply food for birds. Its size suits larger spaces and informal plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8' - 10'
Width/Spread5' - 8'
Bloom Information
Flowering happens once, in early summer, usually June in the Northern Hemisphere, over a period of about 3–4 weeks. The shrub does not repeat-bloom later in the season. From late summer into autumn the spent flowers develop into prominent orange-red hips. The hips persist on the canes into winter and are eaten by birds.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Scarlet to orange-red with white eyeFoliage Description
Mid-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Rosa 'Geranium' in full sun to light afternoon shade in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Water during establishment and in summer drought, and apply a balanced rose feed in spring for strong cane growth. The shrub needs space for its arching 8–10 foot (2.4–3 m) canes and is unsuited to small borders. Good air circulation reduces black spot and rust, which can mark the leaves in warm humid spells. The plant flowers on wood formed the previous year, so growth is left largely intact. Hardiness extends through USDA zones 5–9.Pruning
Because Rosa 'Geranium' flowers on the previous year's wood, pruning is light and done just after the early-summer bloom. Old, weak, or crowded canes are removed at the base to renew the shrub, and main canes are shortened only to shape. Hard late-winter pruning removes the coming season's flowers and the autumn hips.Pruning Schedule
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summer