My rose blooms look different- why?

Rose Blooms: How they can change in the heat

Sometimes the way our roses look in the peak heat of summer for warmer climates can be concerning, especially if you just got your roses in the spring. Seeing that they're a different color, size, or petal count than what you were hoping for can be alarming, but don't worry just yet! This is likely very normal, and here's a breakdown of what to expect.

PLEASE NOTE: This blog post pertains to rose growers in warm climates, who reach temperatures consistently above 90 degrees during the summer.

Faded Bloom Color

Is your yellow rose so light it's almost white? Is the saturated pink you were looking forward to really light? Don't fret! You'll eventually get your more saturated colors when the temperature gets just slightly cooler.

Very Few Blooms

You may have expected flushes of blooms, especially for the repeat bloomer you got. But if it's super hot outside, your rose will have fewer blooms than during the ideal growing season. 

Lower Petal Count

Maybe you got a rose that's supposed to have full, beautiful blooms with bunches of petals. But during the summer, it's very possible for that 40+ petal-count rose to drop to 20; it's possible for your 20 petal-count rose to drop to 10, and so on. But you'll get your fuller blooms back.

Smaller Bloom Size

You've seen this rose before and were so impressed with the large bloom that you got it for yourself. But the 4" bloom is now a 2" bloom. The summer heat can also shrink your bloom size, but we promise- this is not a permanent change!

Short Bloom Duration

You might get excited to see a rose bud finally open, only to be disappointed when it lasts for one day. During more normal, cooler temperatures, this bloom might have given you a week of joy, but the extreme heat may shorten its bloom life to as little as one cool morning.

See roses on the left as "normal" blooms, and roses on the right as their summer bloom comparison. In order of Savannah- Sunbelt, Excellenz Von Schubert, Up for Anything, and South Africa- Sunbelt.

Keep in mind that even roses known for their heat tolerance, such as the Sunbelt Series, are susceptible to differences during the heat of the summer.

Warped Bloom Form

Since intense heat can stress roses, this can happen as a rose bud forms and opens up. The petals might be a weird shape, and the bloom could be a bit twisted. Though it may look concerning, this is likely not any sign of disease or underlying issue.

Example of Wicked Sister looking slightly warped during the summer, compared to how she usually looks below.

Reduced Fragrance

Yes, unfortunately, even roses revered for their scent can heavily reduce during the summer heat, or even be nonexistent. This is simply another characteristic that requires a bit of patience (or impatience- we get it), until temperatures cool down and you can get a whiff of your roses during your garden stroll.

Conclusion

We hope that with this guide, you will feel more comfortable about your roses in the heat of the summer.

If you have any other questions regarding weather protection, please see our other blogs or reach out to us at gardenquestions@weareroses.com.