Makenzie, Author at American Rose Society

New Rose Introductions 2024

Feb 25, 2025 | ARCHIVES, CULTURE, EXHIBITING, HYBRIDIZING AND BREEDERS, NEW ROSE INTROS, NEWS

THIS FEATURE IS PAID ADVERTISING & IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN OFFICIAL REGISTRATION LISTING

2024 New Rose Introductions

1. Angelic Veil™ (cv. WEKselyan, Y358-B1) PPAF

Color: White edged with pink picotee
Class: Hybrid Tea
Plant Habit: Medium-tall
Growth Habit: Upright moderately spreading
Stem Length: Medium-long
Foliage Color: Dark glossy green
Disease Resistance: Good
Bud Form: Shapely pointed
Flower Form: Classically formed, spiraled & double
Flower Size: Medium-large, around 3½-4½ inch diameter, mostly single some in small clusters
Petal Count: 25 to 35
Fragrance: Moderate fruity & citrus
Parentage: Secret x Lynn Anderson
Hybridizer: Christian Bédard
Introducer: Weeks Roses

BrickHouseOrange_StarRoses&Plants

2. BRICK HOUSE® Orange ‘Meisobuko’ PPTBS

Classification: Floribunda
Color Description: Bright Orange-Red
Descriptive Characteristics: Compact size, bright blooms, and superb disease resistance – everything you expect from a Brick House® rose! The punchy orange flowers do not fade and look great in the landscape or in a patio container.
Bloom Size: 1.5 inches
Petal Count: 18-20
Fragrance: None
Height/Habit: 2.5′ Tall by 2.5′ Wide
Parentage: ‘KORSCHWILL’ x (‘NOACAS’ x UNNAMED SEEDLING)
Hybridizer: The House of Meilland®
Introducer: Star® Roses and Plants

Celestial Blue Sky_Altman Plants

3. Celestial Blue Sky

Classification: Shrub
Color Description: Maroon
Descriptive Characteristics: Celestial Blue Sky lights up landscapes as a compact, low-growing, profusely blooming rose with deeply colorful semidouble flowers. Thanks to its dense foliage and mass of 2.5” blooms, Celestial Blue Sky can display serious, beautiful star power in the garden as a full, spicy fragrant, floriferous low hedge. Grows to 3 feet high and wide and shows excellent disease resistance.
Bloom Size: 2.5 inches
Petal Count: 15
Fragrance: spicy
Height/Habit: 3×3 feet
Parentage: Lavender seedling x Super Hero
Hybridizer: Ping Lim
Introducer: Altman Plants

Dannahue_DavidAustinRoses

4. Dannahue (Ausa6b15)”

Classification: English Shrub Rose bred by David Austin”
Color Description: Apricot”
Descriptive Characteristics: Compact and shapely growth creates an upright and bushy shrub that flowers with great verve. This rose is full of character, who is happy to thrive in containers, against walls or fences and in shadier areas making it the perfect rose for city dwellers and modern living.
Bloom Size: Medium
Fragrance: Medium, Fruity
Height/Habit: 3 1/2 feet
Parentage: Unnamed seedling x Unnamed seedling
Hybridizer: David Austin
Introducer: David Austin

Easy Charmer_WeeksRoses

5. Easy Charmer™ (cv. WEKliopadie, CC46-9) PPAF

Color: Fragrant Fuchsia Lavender Old-Fashioned Miniature
Class: Miniature
Plant Habit: Tall for the class
Growth Habit: Very even bushy upright and rounded
Stem Length: Medium-short
Foliage Color: Dark glossy green
Disease Resistance: Excellent
Bud Form: Ovoid & globular
Flower Form: Cuppy old-fashioned, full & very double
Flower Size: Medium-large for the class, around 1½-2½ inch diameter, mostly in small clusters
Petal Count: 55 to 85
Fragrance: Strong citrus & fruity
Parentage: Life of the Party x Diamond Eyes
Hybridizer: Christian Bédard
Introducer: Weeks Roses

Rosa Oso Easy En Fuego_ProvenWinners

6. OSO EASY EN FUEGO® ‘Chewizard’ PPAF; CBRAF

Classification: Shrub
Color Description: Yellow/red/orange
Descriptive Characteristics: Oso Easy En Fuego® rose graces the
garden with intensely colorful flowers that start off yellow and red and fully open to an electric orange. The large flower size and glossy green foliage make the effect especially memorable. Exhibits outstanding disease resistance and is very adaptable to both cold and hot climates. USDA Zone 4 – 9 (-30°F/-34°C)
Bloom Size: 3.25
Petal Count: 17-25
Fragrance: Light
Height/Habit: 3-4′
Parentage: Unknown
Hybridizer: Chris Warner
Introducer: Spring Meadow Nursery/Proven Winners® ColorChoice®

Firefly_Altman Plants

7. Firefly

Classification: Floribunda
Color Description: Orange
Descriptive Characteristics: Firefly is a prolific floribunda whose abundant orange double blooms positively glow from spring to fall against a backdrop of healthy glossy green foliage. The fragrant 2.5” flowers feature 25 petals, blooming continuously and aging nicely all season. Grows to 4 feet high and wide and demonstrates outstanding disease resistance. A 2025 American Garden Rose Selections® winner: the Regional Choice Award in four regions and Fragrance Award.
Bloom Size: 2.5 inches
Petal Count: 25
Fragrance: Sweet fragrance
Height/Habit: 3×3 feet
Parentage: Seedling x Seedling
Hybridizer: Ping Lim
Introducer: Altman Plants

8. FLAVORETTE PEAR’D® ‘Bozdib023’

Class: Shrub
Color Description: Light pink
Characteristics: Flavorette Pear’d rose creates delicate pink flowers that have a distinctive light pear flavor, and a lush, soft texture that’s lovely to eat. The semi-double flowers are borne on a sturdy, healthy plant that’s easy to grow. USDA Zone 4-8 (-30°F/-34°C)
Bloom Size: 3.25”
Petal count: 26-40
Fragrance: Mild, fruity, spice, sweet fragrance
Height/Habit: 3-4′, bushy, compact, upright
Parentage: Unknown
Hybridizer: Pheno Geno
Introducer: Spring Meadow Nursery Proven Winners® ColorChoice®

Fly So High_WeeksRoses

9. Fly So High™ (cv. WEKpuscalrako, Y812-4) PPAF

Color: Magenta, Pink & White striped
Class: Climber
Plant Habit: Large for a Climber, long canes of 10-12 feet
Growth Habit: Climbing & spreading
Stem Length: Medium-long
Foliage Color: Dark glossy green
Disease Resistance: Very Good
Bud Form: Pointed & ovoid
Flower Form: Spiraled, cuppy & double
Flower Size: Medium-large, around 3½-4 inch diameter, in medium-sized clusters
Petal Count: 20 to 35
Fragrance: Moderate fruity
Parentage: {seedling x (Blueberry Hill x Stephen’s Big Purple)} x (Candy Land x Rainbow Knock Out)
Hybridizer: Christian Bédard
Introducer: Weeks Roses

Grateful Dead_JBWilliams&Assoc

10. GRATEFUL DEAD

Class: Hybrid Tea
Color Description: Bright Red
Characteristics: Large red HT, upright habit, of growth with long stems supporting 4-5 inch blooms. Classic exhibition form, repeat bloomer and strong fragrance. Semi-glossy foliage and hardy up to zone 5. A seedling cross from ‘Mrs Lincoln’ and ‘Luce de Todi’.
Bloom Size: 4-5”
Petal count: 21
Fragrance: Strong
Height/Habit: 3 to 4′
Parentage: Mrs Lincoln x Luce de Todi
Hybridizer: J. Benjamin Williams
Introducer: J. B. Williams and Associates

In Love Again_WeeksRoses

11. In Love Again™ (cv. WEKamyldroder, AA104-B1) PPAF

Color: Medium even Red
Class: Hybrid Tea
Plant Habit: Medium-tall
Growth Habit: Upright slightly spreading
Stem Length: Medium-long
Foliage Color: Dark very glossy green
Disease Resistance: Good
Bud Form: Shapely pointed
Flower Form: Spiraled, cuppy & double
Flower Size: Medium-large, around 4-5 inch diameter, usually single
Petal Count: 30 to 45
Fragrance: Moderate fruity
Parentage: All My Loving x Drop Dead Red
Hybridizer: Christian Bédard
Introducer: Weeks Roses

LovesMeLovesMeNot_StarRoses&Plants

12. Loves Me, Loves Me Not™ ‘Meicatess’ PP34,789

Classification: Hybrid Tea
Color Description: Deep Pink
Descriptive Characteristics: This gorgeous, deep pink Hybrid Tea has a strong, sweet fragrance reminiscent of lilac, gardenia and pineapple. Each enormous, 5-inch bloom is bursting with over 200 petals. You’ll have a hard time finding a rose with a fuller bloom!
Bloom Size: 5-5.5 inches
Petal Count: 150-250
Fragrance: Strong; Pineapple, Gardenia and Lilac
Height/Habit: 5′ Tall by 2-3′ Wide
Parentage: (‘GOLDEN UNICORN’ x ‘DELGE’) x (‘MEIMALYNA’ x ‘HARLEX’)
Hybridizer: The House of Meilland®
Introducer: Star® Roses and Plants

Phoebe Adelle Gates_Burlington Roses

13. PHOEBE ADELLE GATES

Class: Hybrid tea climber
Color Description: Dark red with pink striping
Characteristics: Rose is named for Phoebe Adelle Gates by Arthur Donald. She is an entrepreneur, activist and philanthropist. Flowers bloom single and in group of three buds. Dark green foliage and prolific repeat bloomer. Long bloom season and disease resistant
Bloom Size: 4-4 1/2”
Petal count: 20-25
Fragrance: slight
Height/Habit: 8′-10′
Parentage: Fourth of July x Angel Face
Hybridizer: Burling Leon
Introducer: Burlington Rose Nursery

SUNBELT® Garden Flame_StarRoses&Plants

14. Sunbelt® Garden Flame™ ‘KORvibaex’ PP36,043

Classification: Floribunda
Color Description: Deep Yellow, Largely Suffused with Orange and Finishing a Deep Velvet Red.
Descriptive Characteristics: As the name suggests, this rose adds a striking multicolor effect to the garden. Abundant non-fading blooms emerge deep yellow before transitioning though flaming shades of orange and deep velvet red.
Bloom Size: 3 inches
Petal Count: 20
Fragrance: None
Height/Habit: 4.5′ Tall by 2-3′ Wide
Hybridizer: KORDES
Introducer: Star® Roses and Plants

Tiamo_StarRoses&Plants

15. Tiamo™ ‘KORroleotu’ PP30,142

Classification: Grandiflora
Color Description: Deep Red
Descriptive Characteristics: This Grandiflora Rose has double, non-fading red blooms that do not burn, even in high temperatures. It has high disease resistance, wonderful repeat blooming, and a lovely mild fragrance.
Bloom Size: 3 inches
Petal Count: 95
Fragrance: Slight
Height/Habit: 5′ Tall by 2-3′ Wide
Hybridizer: KORDES
Introducer: Star® Roses and Plants

Time After Time_WeeksRoses

16. Time After Time™ (cv. WEKaltbeba, CC3-4) PPAF

Color: Coral Pink
Class: Floribunda
Plant Habit: Medium-tall
Growth Habit: Upright moderately spreading
Stem Length: Medium
Foliage Color: Dark glossy green
Disease Resistance: Very Good
Bud Form: Pointed & ovoid
Flower Form: Elegant, spiraled form & very double
Flower Size: Medium-large, around 3½-4½ inch diameter, some single, mostly in small clusters
Petal Count: 45 to 65
Fragrance: Slight fruity
Parentage: All a’Twitter x Be My Baby
Hybridizer: Christian Bédard
Introducer: Weeks Roses

TrueAdoration_Altman Plants

17. True Adoration

Classification: Climber
Color Description: Apricot
Descriptive Characteristics: True Adoration is a vigorous landscape climber packed with sweetly scented double flowers. Soft apricot in color and 3.5 inches across, they embody classic English rose elegance, succeeded by more 35+ petal flowers all season long. The healthy glossy green foliage shows outstanding disease resistance. Grows to 6 to 7 feet high and 3 feet wide.
Bloom Size: 3.5 inches
Petal Count: 35+
Fragrance: sweet fragrance
Height/Habit: 6-7 feet taller shrub to climber
Parentage: Seedling x Westerland
Hybridizer: Ping Lim
Introducer: Altman Plants

WinningStreak_StarRoses&Plants

18. Winning Streak™ ‘Meiwentar’ PPTBS

Classification: Floribunda
Color Description: Cherry Red to Fuchsia with Yellow Stripe
Descriptive Characteristics: Earning your stripes is easy with this rose: just plant and enjoy! Each bloom offers a spectacular palette of cherry red and fuchsia petals striped with yellow. A compact and vigorous Floribunda.
Bloom Size: 2.5 inches
Petal Count: 12 to 15
Fragrance: Very slight
Height/Habit: 2′ Tall by 2′ Wide
Parentage: MEIGELSI X (KORFALT X UNNAMED SEEDLING)
Hybridizer: The House of Meilland®
Introducer: Star® Roses and Plants

New Horizon Roses 2024

Oct 4, 2024 | NEWS

Suzanne M. Horn
National Editor, New Horizon Roses 2024

New Horizon Roses 2024 is now available for purchase in a few different formats from ARS and Amazon.
All proceeds from New Horizon Roses 2024 are generously donated to the American Rose Society by the
editor, Suzanne Horn.

Now in its 42nd year, the 2024 edition contains 1,601 reports by 110 reporters from 28 different states.
The reports comment on the exhibition potential of 379 roses introduced in the last five years including
hybrid teas, grandifloras, floribundas, polyanthas, minifloras, miniatures, shrubs, and climbers.

Supplementing the comments are color photographs of 320 roses. The reports are presented alphabetically
and include information on known sources for the reviewed varieties. This edition also contains a new
section on “Sneak Peeks” of new roses from some of our top hybridizers.

• A downloadable PDF is available on the ARS website at the following link: https://bit.ly/3ZKca5C

• A large glossy paperback book edition is available on Amazon for $31.37 (22% off) by typing “New
Horizon Roses 2024” into the search bar or clicking on this link: https://bit.ly/3BApJue

• A Kindle edition is also available on Amazon for $9.99 by typing “New Horizon Roses 2024” into the
search bar and then clicking on the Kindle option.

You won’t want to buy any roses this fall without consulting the findings of our trusty New Horizon
Roses national reporters.

American Rose Center Thanks Tubbs Hardware

Oct 4, 2024 | NEWS

On or about Thursday, Sept. 12, two commercial-grade lawnmowers were stolen from the American Rose Center. The missing equipment represents $20,000. It includes a Toro standing mower, an Exmark riding lawnmower and a trailer with a lift gate added to the back. This has been reported to local law enforcement and detectives continue to look for the person or people responsible for this theft.

We are so grateful to Don Tubbs of Tubbs Hardware for loaning us a lawnmower to keep our grounds tidy until we can replace this equipment.

You can view a news story here: https://bit.ly/3zGRmRU

The Miniature Moss Rose

Sep 30, 2024 | TYPES OF ROSES

Over fifty years ago, in 1948, Ralph Moore began a program to breed and develop everblooming miniature moss roses. He had no idea about what he was actually letting himself in for. Fifteen years passed before he saw much in the way of real results and another 10 years after that before he would have any new miniature moss roses to sell to the public. Today, there are a number of miniature moss roses on the market, most are from Ralph Moore but some from other breeders as well. As they gain in popularity, we thought you might like to find out a little bit more about them.

Older Moss Roses

The original Moss Rose, a sport from Rosa centifolia, created quite a stir when it was first introduced in the early 1700′s. It was similar in appearance to R. centifolia except for numerous small glands on its flower buds and upper stems which create a mossy effect. The glands are scented and add to the fragrance of the flowers. If you touch the moss it feels sticky and leaves its scent on your fingers. This “moss” varies with each variety and may have its own distinctive fragrance.

Great things were predicted for Moss Roses. It is estimated that several hundred varieties were introduced, but today only a few are still grown. In size they range from dwarf varieties like Little Gem and Mousseline to tall pillar roses like Jeanne de Montfort and William Lobb, both of which are capable of reaching 8 feet.

When Little Gem was introduced in 1880, its raiser, William Paul, actually described it as a miniature Moss Rose. This, in spite of the fact that it can grow to 3 to 4 feet and has blossoms that are about 3 inches across. The bush is densely covered with small, double crimson flowers with an old-fashioned look. It was very popular with the Victorians.

Mousseline (also known as ‘Alfred de Dalmas’) is a continuous-blooming Moss Rose that was also very popular. The fragrant creamy-pink blossoms are semi-double with a center of deep golden stamens.

Graham Stuart Thomas tells us that Jeanne de Montfort, one of the most vigorous Moss Roses, apart from William Lobb, boasts burgundy-colored moss and frilly clear pink flowers.

William Lobb (‘Duchesse d’Istrie’, ‘Old Velvet Moss’) was introduced in 1855 and is still one of the most popular Moss Roses both because of its large size and the color of its flowers. Peter Beales describes the flowers as “a mixture of purple, grey, magenta, and pink…”

During the better part of the 18th century and up until the close of the 19th century moss roses were very popular because they were unusual, hardy, and fragrant. However, they are difficult to breed — they set few or no hips and produce little, if any, pollen.

In spite of this, several modern varieties have been bred. Nearly all are tall growing, spring flowering and not too different from the old Moss Roses. From Mr. Moore’s point of view, of these Golden Moss and Gabriel Noyelle were the most significant.

Golden Moss (Moss, Dot, 1932) resulted from a cross of Frau Karl Druschki x (Souv. de Claudius Pernet x Blanche Moreau). Ralph Moore has used this rose extensively in his breeding program. In growth habit, it is similar to its seed parent, Frau Karl Druschki, a large, white Hybrid Perpetual. Its other parent is the product of a cross between Souv. de Claudius Pernet, a yellow Hybrid Tea, and Blanche Moreau, a white Moss. Golden Moss has well-mossed buds and its flowers are a soft peach-yellow. It is once-blooming.

The parents of Gabrielle Noyelle (Moss, Buatois, 1933) are Salet, a pink Moss, and Souv. de Mme. Krueger, a salmon-orange Hybrid Tea. Gabrielle Noyelle has well mossed buds, soft salmon-pink flowers, and it is repeat-blooming.

Ralph Moore’s Early Successes

Ralph Moore’s first successful Moss rose was O.M. (“Orange Moss”). To obtain it, he crossed Mark Sullivan (Hybrid Tea, Mallerin, 1942, and which Stirling Macoboy in The Ultimate Rose Book, describes as “a lovely blend of gold all veined and shaded with scarlet”) with Golden Moss. All of the resulting seedlings were tall-growing (8 ft. to 10 ft.) once-bloomers and only one of them was really mossed. That was O.M. It has flowers that change from a bright orange to orange-pink as they mature. Although it sets few hips, it produces pollen abundantly.

In order to recover the repeat blooming characteristic, Mr. Moore had to make many more crosses with O.M. as the pollen parent and hybrid tea and floribunda varieties as the seed parent. But in doing so much of the Moss was lost.

Goldmoss (Floribunda/Moss, Moore, 1972) is Ralph Moore’s first clear yellow bush type everblooming moss rose. [Ed. Note: Modern Roses 10 lists it as a Floribunda.] Mr. Moore crossed a yellow Hybrid Tea seedling with O.M. which resulted in a number of yellow and orange-colored moss roses. Nearly all were tall growing once-bloomers. He took one of the best of these, a clear yellow, and crossed it with the floribunda Rumba (Poulsen, 1958). Goldmoss was the result.

Rougemoss (Floribunda/Moss, Moore, 1972) resulted from a cross of Rumba with an unnamed seedling itself descended from Pinocchio (Floribunda, Kordes, 1940), William Lobb, Red Ripples (Floribunda, Krause, 1942), and O.M. This cross produced a number of bush moss roses in colors ranging from medium pink to red and orange red.

In his 1978 monograph entitled The Breeding and Development of Modern Moss Roses, Ralph Moore said that he believed that Rougemoss and Goldmoss had within their gene pools the makings of the new moss roses of the future. Since that time, Goldmoss has figured in the parentage of a number of roses, like Apricot Twist, Playgold, and Yellow Mini-Wonder, to name a few. But most of these offspring have not displayed any mossing. One exception is Paintbrush (Miniature, Moore, 1975), the product of a cross with Fairy Moss. This rose has mossy apricot-yellow buds which open into 10-petaled daisywhite flow.

Miniature Moss Roses Today

Fairy Moss is the first of Ralph Moore’s repeat-blooming miniature moss roses. It was introduced in 1969. It had taken over two decades of work to reach this point! The buds, which are lightly mossed, and flowers of this rose are a bright medium pink and it sets seed readily. Fairy Moss has proven to be a fertile parent. In fact, it has figured in the parentage of just about every miniature moss rose on the market today.

To give you an idea of the range of the miniature moss roses, here is a sampling. All of these roses are repeat-blooming and to lesser or greater degrees show mossing.

Kara (Moore1972, aka ‘Dear One’) is the result of a cross of Fairy Moss x Fairy Moss. Mossy buds open into single (5 petals), 1-1/4″ rose-pink flowers. It makes a low, very compact plant that covers itself with tiny very mossy buds borne singly and in clusters.

Dresden Doll (Moore 1975) is one of the better known miniature moss roses — it’s offered by nurseries in Canada and Europe, as well as the United States. It has heavily mossed buds which open into double soft pink fragrant flowers that Stirling Macoboy in The Ultimate Rose Book describes as “perfect replicas of an old-fashioned, full-sized Moss Rose.”

Lemon Delight (Moore, 1978), like Paintbrush, is the result of a cross of Fairy Moss and Goldmoss. As you may have surmised from the name, the flowers are lemon-yellow in color, but the moss on the buds smells like lemon, too!

Strawberry Swirl (Moore 1978) has 48 red-and-white-striped petals. The blossom is similar in its striping to ‘Rosa Mundi’, but formed like a Hybrid Tea.

Double Treat (Moore 1986) has mossy buds that open into rosy-red and orange-yellow striped, almost hand-painted, blossoms — each one unique.

Scarlet Mosstm (Moore 1988) has been described as outstanding and the reddest of any moss rose. It descends from the red climber, Dortmund (Kordesii, Kordes, 1955), crossed with a miniature moss seedling and a striped miniature moss seeding.

Secret Recipe (Moore 1994), the offspring of the yellow floribunda, Little Darling, and an unnamed seedling, has 2-inch red-and-white striped blossoms.

The Miniature Moss Rose Story continues in Part II with an in-depth look at Crested Sweetheart, a climber that Mr. Moore introduced in 1988. The flower is old-fashioned in appearance with wonderful mossing ala Chapeau de Napoleon on its buds.

About Leaves!

Sep 30, 2024 | ADVANCED ROSE GROWING

Jolene Adams

Master Rosarian, NCNH

ARS Past President

This article is a 2009 Award of Merit winner.

Roses & You, June 2020

Your roses are actively growing now and pushing out leaves – burgundy, dark green, light green, shiny – clean new leaves. The leaves are more than just lovely foliage that covers the plant and keeps the sun from burning the tender bark of the stems.

Leaves provide the surface area needed for the rose to collect sunlight and conduct photosynthesis, which produces food for the plant. Rose leaves are described as “pinnate” – that means there is a central rib and then leaflets off to each side, with one terminal leaflet. Rose leaves can have 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 leaflets. Most modern roses have a 5-leaflet leave with perhaps a few 3-leaflet leaves close to the bloom.

The leaves grow on alternate sides of the stem. There is a short, broad blade called the stipule at the base of the long “rib” which is the petiole. The stipule often has two long projections called auricles. Some auricles are curly, some are straight. The leaflets themselves are attached to the petiole (the “rib”) by short petiolels.

Have you noticed that roses have different shaped leaflets? Some are very oval, others are long and slender, and you can find leaflets on some roses that are just about round. The shape of the leaflets are a good identifier for some roses.

Then there are the edges of the leaflets. The edge is called the leaf margin. The margin can be smooth, slightly saw-toothed, or even very deeply saw-toothed. This is another identifier.

Leaflets have a thin, protective layer of cells on the upper and lower surface, called the epidermis. Some leaflets also have a glossy coating on top called a cuticle. This helps prevent fungus disease organisms from puncturing the skin of the leaf and getting inside. Just beneath the epidermis are thickly packed palisade cells which contain chlorophyll. On the bottom of the leaflet, the palisade cells have big gaps between them so water vapor, carbon dioxide and oxygen can move around. There are guard cells on the epidermis that can close the opening (the stomate) to these open area so nothing gets in or out.

The inside of the leaflet is a spongy mass of cells used for storage and transporting food. Running through the middle of this area are the “veins” which are vascular bundles – the same xylem and phloem that we find in the stems. These transport water and food.

Leaves are a ‘service organization’ for photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration – a veritable HMO for your rose.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Photosynthesis happens when the green leaves produce nutrients (carbohydrates). When there is sunlight and chlorophyll present, the leaves convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) into carbohydrates (C6H12O6). No Atkins diet for these guys!! These carbohydrates are simple sugars – that’s why sap tastes slightly sweet! Oxygen (O2) is left over and released into the atmosphere. Without green plants getting rid of excess oxygen – we wouldn’t have breathable air on this planet.

RESPIRATION

Once the carbohydrates are created in the leaves, they are moved around in the plant and broken up into other compounds by enzymes within the cells. This releases chemical energy which is used in many other cell processes. Water and carbon dioxide are also released. The rate of respiration depends on temperature and the availability of oxygen and the simple carbohydrates. Respiration speeds up when it is warm and slows way down when it gets cold. But – – it never stops! The plant is continually feeding off of the chemical energy created during respiration. Parts of the plant that are cut off or harvested – like a long-stemmed rose – still respire!

So – photosynthesis makes the food (the simple carbohydrates), and respiration consumes the food. This goes on in a cycle. The photosynthesis part happens in the day when there is light and it peaks during midday and ceases at night. Meanwhile, respiration occurs 24/7, at variable rates depending on temperature. In order for the bush to grow and develop normally, photosynthesis must occur at a rate that greatly exceeds the rate of respiration.

TRANSPIRATION

Water moves through the plant, going from an area of high water concentration (like the roots) to areas of low water concentration (like the leaves and stem tips). Water evaporates from the leaves through the stomata on the underside of the leaves. A continuous flowing column of water is maintained in the xylem from root to stomata, as long as there is water in the soil and the stomata are open. Transpiration helps to cool the rose bush on hot days, and transports minerals and organic compound from the roots to the leaves. It stops at night when the stomata close up.

Your rose is a living, breathing (in the sense that oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged during the life processes) food producing machine that relies on YOU to supply water and adequate minerals and organic compounds to the roots so its leaves can do their job of producing energy for the life processes of the plant. You are responsible – after all, your rose can’t borrow the keys and drive to the nursery to shop for nutrients!

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