How to Grow Cabaret Rose

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Cabaret Rose

Rosa × hybrida 'Cabaret'

shrub

Cabaret is a stunning hybrid tea rose featuring large, deep red blooms with velvety petals and a classic rose form. This modern cultivar is prized for its dramatic color, strong fragrance, and excellent cut-flower qualities. It grows as a compact to medium-sized shrub and is popular in gardens and floral arrangements.

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Example Cabaret Rose timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Cabaret Rose

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Cabaret Rose

    Around Jul 16

    ≈ 90 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Cabaret Rose dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
💧
Water: Water deeply 1-2 times weekly, keeping soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water at the base to keep foliage dry and prevent disease. Increase frequency during hot weather.
📏
Spacing: 24 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 90-120 days to first bloom; established plants flower repeatedly
🌱
Planting depth: Graft union (knot) should be 1-2 inches below soil surface in cold climates, at soil level in warm climates

Soil

Type: Well-draining, fertile loamy soil rich in organic matter
pH: 6.0-6.5
Amendments:
Compost Aged manure Peat moss Perlite for drainage

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 5b-10a, with best performance in zones 6-9

5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

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Growth Stages

1

Establishment

3-4 weeks

Recently planted bare-root or container rose adjusts to garden conditions with early leaf growth and root development

Keep consistently moist; protect from extreme weather; avoid fertilizing for first 2-3 weeks; remove competing weeds

2

Vegetative Growth

4-6 weeks

Plant develops strong canes with healthy green foliage; multiple shoots emerge from main canes

Begin light fertilizing; prune out weak or crossing canes; monitor for pests and diseases; apply mulch around base

3

Budding

2-3 weeks

Flower buds form at the tips of canes; buds gradually swell and show color deep red beneath sepals

Continue regular watering; fertilize every 2-3 weeks; support heavy buds if needed; remove diseased buds immediately

4

Flowering

3-4 weeks per bloom cycle; repeats throughout growing season

Large, double blooms open with classic high-centered form; deep red velvety petals with strong fragrance

Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage more flowers; maintain consistent watering; fertilize every 2 weeks during bloom season

5

Dormancy

December-February (varies by climate)

In fall and winter, foliage gradually yellows and drops; canes become woody and dormant

Reduce watering; stop fertilizing in late summer; prune out dead or diseased wood in late winter; apply winter protection in cold zones

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Avoid planting near:

Juglans (walnut) Fennel Dill Other roses too closely (allow spacing for air circulation)

Common Pests

  • Hand-pick in early morning; use neem oil or insecticidal soap; apply milky spore to soil; trap with pheromone traps

  • Spray with water to dislodge; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; increase humidity; use miticide if severe

  • No cure; remove infected plants immediately; control mite vectors with miticides; plant resistant varieties

  • Improve air circulation; prune affected areas; spray with sulfur or baking soda solution; use fungicide if needed

  • Remove infected leaves; don't wet foliage; apply fungicide; ensure good air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash

  • Spray with water; release ladybugs; use insecticidal soap; apply neem oil; use reflective mulches

Uses

🍳

Rose Water & Edible Flowers

Culinary

Cabaret rose petals can be used to make rose water for culinary applications, though ensure no pesticides were used. Petals can garnish desserts and beverages for visual appeal and subtle floral flavor. [source]

🏠

Cut Flower Arrangements

Household

Cabaret's large, velvety red blooms are prized by florists and gardeners for elegant cut-flower arrangements, bridal bouquets, and special event displays. The flowers last 7-10 days in water with proper conditioning. [source]

💊

Rose Hip Tea & Wellness

Medicinal

Rose hips from Cabaret (if grown without pesticides) are rich in vitamin C and can be dried for herbal tea to support immune function. Traditional rose preparations have been used in folk medicine for centuries. [source]

🎨

Dried Flower Crafts

Craft

Cabaret blooms dry beautifully for pressed flowers, potpourri, and decorative crafts. The deep red color holds well during drying, making them ideal for scrapbooking and floral art projects. [source]

🦋

Pollinator Attraction

Wildlife

Fragrant roses like Cabaret attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators to the garden, supporting local ecosystems and promoting garden biodiversity. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Cut blooms in early morning when stems are fully hydrated; use sharp bypass pruners; cut at a 45-degree angle 1/4 inch above an outward-facing leaf node with 5 leaflets; remove lower foliage from stems; place immediately in water with flower food; Cabaret roses last 7-10 days in arrangements. For deadheading, remove spent blooms to encourage reblooming throughout the season.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Cabaret roses are named after the famous Berlin cabaret scene and debut around the 1990s; they won multiple international rose awards for their dramatic velvety appearance and powerful fragrance.
  • 🌱 The deep red color in roses like Cabaret is enhanced by anthocyanin pigments, which intensify in cooler temperatures—meaning Cabaret blooms are often deeper red in fall and spring than in summer heat.
  • 🌱 Modern hybrid tea roses were developed by crossing China roses (repeat bloomers) with European roses (large flowers), creating Cabaret's ability to produce multiple large blooms throughout the growing season rather than just once annually.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

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