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jjpeace

Rose color change as temperature changes

One of the things I noticed this past summer is that some of color of my roses seemed "to shine" as the temperature cools down or when sunlight is not as bright.

My Golden Showers is 3 years now and I've never really been wowed by it. However, it is a tough plant and pretty much disease free. However, this year I have seen more blooms than ever and outlasted many roses in my garden into late fall. Another thing I've noticed is that the color is more brighter, light gold in autumn's weather. In the summer it appears very light lemon yellow but much more beautiful in late autumn. I have noticed a few of my pink roses too. They seems more pink in cooler weather.

I am pretty sure this is nothing new in the rose or color world and I don't want to make a fool of myself, claiming as if I had made a important scientific breakthrough (lol) but I thought it is something I will keep in mind while I buy future roses. If we are encouraged to pay attention to wall pain color in different lighting, I don't see why this should not be as well in the gardening world.

I know as a fact that white color will definitely stand out more into evening light.

Comments (13)

  • 11 years ago

    "I know as a fact that white color will definitely stand out more into evening light." Yes this is true. I LOVE the play of colors in the garden.

  • 11 years ago

    You're observations are very valid. Some roses do become more vibrant in cooler weather and paler in hot weather. And some do just the opposite! My Dick Clark is usually a deep golden yellow with a vibrant red edge all summer long. This fall when things got cold it was a pale cream with a pink edge! It so much of the fun and fascination of roses to see how each one reacts differently to the weather, and the lighting!

  • 11 years ago

    It drove me crazy in trying to plan my color schemes :D In some places I was very picky about which colors I wanted. I wanted a lot of roses for one garden that were apricot or peach, yet not mostly-yellow or orange or just pink, lol. That was easy enough in our hot summers, but man do they come out different colors in the spring or fall!

    It was fun trying to find the perfect ones, though :) I enjoy the surprises.

  • 11 years ago

    Thanks guys. You sure know how to make this new guy feel great. I just have to make sure my ego doesn't inflate too big with all your kind words.

    Very interesting observation Seil. It is good to know that the reverse could happen as well.

    You know what Meredith, I wish I had the kind of resilience that you have when planning garden colours. I guess I never really went for the "designer" look. I am sort of the cottage garden kinda guy. I want as many colours as possible. I admit that predominantly most of my roses are pink, yellow, apricot and red. I am trying to get as much as different colours as possible. I find it hard to stick with a limited pallet.

  • 11 years ago

    I love the really multi-colored gardens, too! I think I got so picky about some of mine as a way of choosing just a handful for each one. I like so many roses that I'd never have decided what to buy otherwise :D

  • 11 years ago

    In my garden the fewer numbers of blooms is outweighed by the deeper colors. Also the full dark green leaves make them look better in my mind.

  • 11 years ago

    Cooler temperatures do change rose color and can inspire the "glow" effect. I photographed this Gold Medal on 11/20, on a cool, cloudy day. Next I'll post a photo from earlier in the year to show the contrast.
    That's what I love - variety. Roses are never boring.

  • 11 years ago

    Here's the same Gold Medal, photographed back on May 20 during a heat wave. Both beautiful, but I think the fall version is really special. The May one is a lovely rose; the November one suggests something not of this world.
    Sylvia

  • 11 years ago

    Yes, I know they look like totally different roses: in one the petals are incurved and pointed, in the other they're more old-rosey. But I swear they are the same plant.

  • 11 years ago

    You picked a winner SFV4Life. Gold medal looks awesome in both seasons. I try to grow GM once but didn't make it first winter. I love this type of yellow colour. It is unfortunate that most of my yellows tends to be lighter and beigey (I know it is not a word..lol). Thanks for sharing.

  • 11 years ago

    Thank you, JJPeace! I picked Gold Medal in part because my ARS rose encyclopedia says it does well in California,"where it was born." In your zone, you can grow rugosas like "Rose de Recht", which I want but can't have. And also, I'll bet that during the summer your blooms don't dry to dust within their first four hours of life the way ours do out here!
    Sylvia

  • 11 years ago

    You got a good point, SFV4Life. I didn't realize that summer blooms dries up that quickly down there. No, it doesn't dry up here. We get to enjoy them.

    Well I guess the solution is, I grow Rose de Recht and send you some over the summer and you do the same with GM. Lol.