7 Gorgeous Roses In California: Best Roses To Grow, Top Rose Gardens, and More

Whether you come across wild roses while hiking along the coast or carefully tend a backyard rose garden, you will find that sunny California is a thriving place for beautiful roses. Some roses that may not do well in more humid climates flourish in the drier California climate. There are some species of roses that do well in both southern and northern California, while others do better year-round just in southern Cal. Find out all about the best roses to grow in California, the top rose gardens to visit, and about the Rose Bowl!

What Are The Best Roses To Grow In California?

The best roses to grow in California include hybrid tea roses, floribundas, and Grandiflora. These three types of rose bushes are some of the most popular. All three do well in the warm California climate. Climbing roses and Miniatures do fine in most of California as well. Remember that climate and elevation play an important role in which roses grow best. The cooler northern Bay area that sees less consistent midday sun will need to choose hardier roses. Sunnier southern California is going to have more options.

What Are The Best Roses To Grow In Northern California?

Here are a few of the best roses to grow in Northern California:

• Charles Darwin: This English shrub rose is a favorite because of the large yellow blooms. They range in color from a faint yellow to a bright, deep yellow and are quite fragrant. The Charles Darwin does okay in partial shade, so they are easier to grow in some of the areas of Northern California that are less sunny.
• Polka Rose: One climbing rose that does well in Northern California is the Polka rose. These are perfect along fences or tall trellises because they can be nearly 12 feet tall. They produce surprisingly large blooms for a climbing rose, ranging from soft pink to more apricot.
• Lasting Love: You have to admire the name of this hybrid tea rose (although many of the roses have very clever names). The Lasting Love rose is a classic red rose that is perfect as a cut flower. It produces large, multi-petal blooms which last quite a while, even after being added to a vase on your lanai or patio.

What Are The Best Roses To Grow In Southern California?

If you live in southern California you have more options for roses that will thrive due to the generally warmer climate. Los Angeles, for example, is in growing zones 9 and 10, giving it a longer growing season and milder winters. Here are a few of the best roses to grow in Southern California:

• Peace Rose: This beautiful hybrid tea rose requires a little more skill and care, but the amazing full blooms are so worth it. Peace roses bloom yellowish-white, gradually fading to a pastel pink along the edges. Be diligent about pruning to avoid diseases, and be conscious of pests that may try to ruin your roses. If you can keep pests and diseases in check, the Peace Rose will be a rewarding addition to your garden.
• Gold Medal: For a pop of yellow in your garden, the Gold Medal rose is a great rose to grow in Southern California. This grandiflora produces large yellow blooms that fade slightly at the edges to a light orange. These also require some work to keep away pests and diseases. They thrive in full sun to partial shade with proper care.
• Darcey Rose: The Darcey Rose is a crimson-pink rose that is perfect as a cut flower. This hardy English shrub rose shows its inner petals slowly with amazingly large blooms at full bloom. These are frequently in bouquets and floral arrangements.

What Are The Top Rose Gardens In California?

There really are quite a few stunning rose gardens in California. You could make a summer out of touring all the gardens, especially if you wanted to get ideas for planning your own rose garden. Here are a few of the most well-known rose gardens in California:

• California State Capitol World Peace Rose Garden (Sacramento): Victorian-designed garden with more than 140 different varieties of roses.
• Berkeley Rose Garden (Berkeley): At the Berkeley Rose Garden, you can tour the more than 250 varieties of roses. It is located next to Codornices Park, so bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the day!
• San Jose Heritage Rose Garden (San Jose): Located in the Guadalupe River Park, this garden has some of the most varieties of roses, including more than 2,800 varieties. Here you will find modern roses, heritage roses, miniature roses, and more.
• Huntington Library’s Rose Garden (San Marino): A beautiful 3-acre garden created by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington back in 1908. Besides roses, visit the botanical garden with 16 themed gardens. There is the Chinese Garden, Australian Garden, and the California Garden.
• Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden (San Diego): Another 3-acre garden features more than 130 varieties. They add new species every year for an updated garden. Take time to stroll through Balboa Park as well and “stop to smell the roses”!

What Is The Rose Bowl And Rose Parade?

The Rose Bowl is the outdoor stadium in Pasadena, California, and the Rose Bowl Game is the famous college football postseason game played in the stadium. Every New Year’s Day features The Rose Bowl Game. It is part of a full-day celebration starting with the Rose Parade (Tournament of Roses Parade). The parade travels down Colorado Ave in Pasadena and features elaborate flower-covered floats. The floats participate in a variety of categories and are eligible for some prestigious awards. Awards are for the most beautiful entry, most amusing or whimsical entry, most outstanding depiction of life in California, and more. In the 2023 Rose Parade, 23 floats were granted awards. An amazing fun fact is that the large floats in the Rose Parade can have nearly 60,000 roses!

Summary Of 7 Gorgeous Roses In California

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