Rose: Fourth of July
Class: Climber
Date of Introduction: 1999
Parentage: R. ‘Roller Coaster’ x R. ‘Altissimo’.
“Fourth of July” rose has semi-double blooms with white petals boldly striped and splashed with dark, velvety red arranged around an attractive cluster of golden stamens. This gorgeous ruffled petaled climber that looks like a burst of fireworks when in bloom has long, pointed buds and 3″ and 4″ blooms with striped red and white petals and very healthy glossy, dark green foliage. It is a vigorous climber and can grow 10 to 14 ft. high.
“Fourth of July” is the first climber to be honored as an All-America Rose Selection (AARS) winner for a long time in 1999. I planted mine next to a palm tree hoping it would climb the palm tree but the canes were growing away from the tree reaching for the sun so I pegged the long cane. Pegging or bending the cane down and pegging it to the ground encourages more lateral stems and more blooms. I planned to dig it up and move it next to the pillar supporting my front terrace and train it to climb the pillar. That somehow never happened and I ended up putting it in a pot next to the wall.
“Fourth of July” has strong apple fragrance, a very refreshing scent. Color is dramatic. It is a stunning plant, a real traffic stopper. It is an excellent repeat blooming rose with sensational flowers all season long. It is the best climber around winning awards at rose show around the country. You can plant it attached to an arch, pergola or trellis for a stunning display of colorful blooms. Some gardeners use it as a shrub in the entranceway to the garden. To grow it as a shrub, prune them heavily in the spring.
Best grown in medium moisture, slightly acidic, well-drained garden loams in full sun to part shade. Water deeply and regularly (mornings are best). Good air circulation is important because it promotes vigorous and healthy growth and helps prevent diseases. Summer mulch helps retain moisture, keeps roots cool and discourages weeds. Remove spent flowers to encourage rebloom. Remove and destroy diseased leaves from plants, as practicable, and clean up and destroy dead leaves from the ground around the plants both during the growing season and as part of winterizing your roses in late fall. It is very disease resistant and winter hardy. Few roses can command attention like “Fourth of July”. It only has 10-16 petals but when “Fourth of July” is in bloom, it is quite a show like fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Fourth of July is a special day for our country. We celebrate our freedom that we cherish and that our veterans fought and died heroically and some are still fighting to preserve what we enjoy today. Won’t it be nice to honor our country by having “Fourth of July” rose in our garden? As a gardener, I designed my front garden in the theme of Red, White and Blue. I have white alyssum, blue pansies and red roses including “Fourth of July”.
A RED, WHITE & BLUE GARDEN
Tip #19 – Spend more time with family and friends rather than spend too much time at the office. No one looks back from their deathbed and wishes they spent more time at the office but they do wish they spent more time with family and friends.
Enjoy Fourth of July with your family and friends.
Until Next time. Stop and Smell the Roses.
Stop and Smell the Roses - Stay Healthy and Stress Free 