- Rockroses are frost hardy down to -20 °C
- Protect sensitive varieties from severe frost
- Prepare for winter - cut back
- Watch out for the winter sun and wet weather!
The little care-demanding sun rose shimmers in the brightest colors. Yellow, orange, red, pink, white and dark red varieties are now commercially available. But what about their winter hardiness?
The common sunrose is very hardy
Rockroses are frost hardy down to -20 °C
Most common sunroses are hardy and perennial. Many specimens even survive frost down to -20 °C! The following well-known rockroses are considered to be frost-tolerant and usually do not need winter protection:
- Common sunrose
- Yellow Rockrose
- Apennine Sunroses
- Mountain Rockroses
- Hybrid 'Yellow Pearl'
- Hybrid 'Roseum'
- Hybrid 'Firedragon'
Protect sensitive varieties from severe frost
But there are also varieties that are more sensitive and sometimes suffer frostbite without protection. This includes, for example, the moon-spotted sunrose. It needs a light winter protection. Many hybrid varieties that have double flowers are also sensitive to frost.
Basically, you should protect your rock roses in winter if they are in rough locations, were freshly planted in autumn or freshly propagated, for example cuttings, and are outside.
The right winter protection
But how should you protect the sensitive sunroses from severe frost? Fir and spruce branches, brushwood from deciduous trees and straw are well suited. The material is simply placed loosely on the plant.
Alternatively, a layer of mulch in the form of gravel or grit (€46.95) laid in the spring is helpful to protect the plants from frost. Apply the winter protection before the first frosty nights in autumn.
Prepare for winter - cut back
Before winter sets in, grab your scissors. Cut back the sunroses. This means they are better protected in winter and in spring they can start the new season with compact growth.
Watch out for the winter sun and wet weather!
In addition to severe frost, there are two other points that sunroses do not like and tolerate at all. One of them is winter sun. The warmth of the sun stimulates budding. When night falls, the fresh shoots will freeze to death. On the other hand, sunroses are quickly damaged if they stand in wet soil for days in winter. Save them!
tips
There are even beautiful evergreen varieties of the rock rose. This includes, for example, 'The Bride' with its silver-colored foliage.