Roses are among the most adored flowers on the planet. Loved for their stunning blooms, romantic connotations, and abundance of breathtaking varieties, you can't go wrong with starting a rose garden in your yard..
Avid gardener and interior designer Joanna Gaines is a huge rose lover, and recently posted a snap of her thriving heirloom roses to Instagram. They look impeccable, especially considering Joanna mentioned they survived through a storm!
"These beauties weathered last night's storm," the self-proclaimed homebody said to her following of 13.8 million. But this isn't the first time fans spotted Joanna's roses remaining in tip-top condition despite the falling autumn temperatures.
In a short video shared to her social media earlier in the month, Joanna was giving her followers a tour of her garden, joking how everything on one side of the fence, where the gardening plots are, is "her territory" and the rest is her husband Chip's "office".
The bushes of heirloom beauties sit happily in the distance as Joanna pans the camera around, showcasing different parts of the space.
If you're wondering how Joanna's heirloom old roses are looking so perfect despite it being fall, you've come to the right place. I asked gardening experts to share why heirloom roses are still thriving right now, as well as when the best time to plant them is to have beautiful blooms of your own come next fall. I can't wait to grow some in my garden.
Why Are Heirloom Roses Still Thriving?
If you live in an area without extremely cold temperatures at the end of autumn, heirloom roses can continue to thrive up until the first frost of winter.
Amy McCord, avid gardener and founder of Flower Moxie, explains: "Heirloom roses are repeat-bloomers, whereas certain other types of roses only bloom once per season. If the summer stretches on and there is not an early freeze, most heirloom roses will bloom well into the autumn months."
This is, of course, permitted you live in the right USDA plant hardiness zone to grow heirloom roses.
What Hardiness Zones Suit Heirloom Roses?
Different varieties of heirloom roses grow in different hardiness zones, so it's important to read up about the roses you plan to get before doing any planting.
"Heirloom roses are commonly hardy from about USDA Zone 4 or 5 up to Zone 10 or 11 (with varying winter protection)," explains Amy. "Though it's not a one-size-fits-all situation, so it's worth checking what each heirloom rose variety specifically needs to thrive."
When to Plant Heirloom Roses?
If you're aspiring to have stunning late bloomers like Joanna, it's best to plant your heirloom roses early in the growing season, as this gives their roots enough time to begin establishing before winter. Alternatively, you can plant bare-root roses in late fall and winter.
"Fall-planted heirloom roses often perform better the following year because the plant can get established through dormancy, rather than springtime," says Amy. "Prepping the soil with compost and peat moss to make it slightly more acidic can assist with growth, too."
Heirloom roses typically stop blooming during November in mild-weather regions as the shorter days and cooler nights gradually slow down flower production, but at least for now, they're still hanging on, bright and beautiful.
Rose Growing Essentials
If you live in the right hardiness zone to grow heirloom roses, purchasing a live plant is a great way to get started on your growing. This one is a gorgeous purple-burgundy color.
Gauntlet gloves are a must when planting and pruning roses. Protect your arms and hands in style with this vintage-inspired floral design.
This easy-to-use bloom-boosting rose fertilizer feeds for up to two months and will keep plants flowering for as long as possible.
