Everything Roses

Rose Trees

Rose trees have graced the homes and estates of nobles and wealthy land owners for centuries in Europe and North America.





Today, Rose Standards continue to maintain an air of elegance and grace, and are a welcome addition to any garden, patio or landscape.

A rose standard consists of three distinct parts: The crown, which is the flowering top part.

The trunk, a long slender cane 32 to 36 inches in length, devoid of any foliage, and the rootstock.

The tree shaped form, is created by making two grafts, one at the top of the central cane to support the crown, and one at the bottom, connecting it to the rootstock.

Miniature rose trees are created in a similar manner, the only difference being that the central cane measures approximately 24 inches in height.

To support the weight of the crown and its many blooms, the central cane generally must be staked.

Staking is especially important in areas prone to high wind.

Another consideration with rose standards, is the sun. The central cane can be susceptible to sun scald in exceptionally hot areas.

To guard against this, some rosarians will place a wire frame (chicken wire works well) around the trunk, then wrap the frame with cloth or paper as protection. Leave about 2 inches of space between the trunk and frame to allow air to circulate.





Heavy Winters can pose an additional challenge due to the relative difficulty of protecting the crown from the cold.

With most roses, all that's required to prepare for winter is to place a thick layer of mulch around the plants base.

However, with a rose tree, the entire plant, from top to bottom must be protected.

The simplest way to accomplish this, is to grow standards in large containers.

Then move the plant into a cool shed or garage during the winter.

If planted in the ground, wrap the entire plant with straw and burlap, then construct and place a box made from plywood over the insulated plant.


More on How to Prepare Your Roses for Winter



Besides the normal seasonal care all roses require, growers have to diligently prune rose trees to help maintain their shape and balance.

The easiest method, is to prune for shape while deadheading, or cutting roses for display. Also, the central cane should never be pruned, only the flowering top part.

How you prune will depend on the type of rose that sits atop the cane.

The most common types of standards will have either a Hybrid Tea , Grandiflora, Floribunda or Miniature rose as it's crown, and each type will have slightly different pruning requirements.

Improperly pruned roses, regardless of type, are more prone to common rose diseases. Additionally, improper pruning can cause an uneven distribution of weight that could damage the trunk.

The newest type of rose tree to enter the market is the "Double Decker", which possess two separate tiers of flowers.

Yellow Ribbons double decker is one popular example.

Others include: Electric Blanket and Roseberry Blanket.

Another unique creation is the "weeping tree", where arched rose stems overflowing with roses cascade towards the ground.

The Roseberry Blanket Weeping Tree Rose produces large-sized fuchsia-toned blooms.

Similar weeping varieties include: Happy Chappy, Roseberry Blanket, Red Ribbons, Yellow Ribbons and Baby Blanket.

Though Rose Standards can require a bit more care, their elegant display of blooms and heavenly scent make them well worth the effort.

Good Luck and Happy Gardening!