Groundcover rose

Questions about groundcover rose

Does groundcover rose need sun or shade?

Groundcover rose grows in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun a day).

It wants ordinary well-drained soil, of average fertility, and a good soak in dry spells.

What zones does groundcover rose grow in?

USDA zones 5 to 9. It is hardy to zone 5, which means it survives winter nights down to about −10 °F (−23 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

When does groundcover rose flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers late May to mid October. As a spring flower it moves about a week for every zone: earlier where it is warmer, later where it is colder.

Worked out from Hopkins' bioclimatic law: spring arrives about four days later for each degree of latitude north, and one zone is roughly two degrees. A warm spring or a cold one moves any garden two weeks either way.

How far apart should groundcover rose be planted?

2½ ft (75 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is a little closer than its full width of 2½ ft (80 cm), so a group knits into one patch.

It grows 18 in (45 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many groundcover rose plants do I need?

At 2½ ft apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 2 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 5 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 6 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as runs of three or five along the front (or one even row, in a formal bed).

In the bed above, the planner used one in one group.

Is groundcover rose poisonous to dogs and cats?

No toxicity is recorded for dogs, cats, horses or people, according to the ASPCA.

"Not toxic" is not "edible": a pet that eats a lot of any plant can be sick.

Is there a native plant like groundcover rose?

Groundcover rose is not native to North America. These North American natives come closest to doing its job:

• Scarlet coral bells: the same job in a bed and the same colour; 14 in narrower, flowers late May to late July.
• Threadleaf coreopsis 'Moonbeam': the same job in a bed; 12 in narrower, flowers late June to early September.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

What flowers after groundcover rose?

Groundcover rose is over by mid October. These start as it finishes and carry the same spot on, so it never goes flat:

• Bodnant viburnum 'Dawn': from early November to late December, 10 ft tall.
• Common witch hazel: from mid October to late November, 15 ft tall.

What does groundcover rose look like in winter?

Groundcover rose drops its leaves and stands as bare branches. That is when to see its shape, and to prune it if it needs pruning.