How to Grow Double Delight
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Double Delight
Rosa 'Double Delight'
flowerDouble Delight is a legendary hybrid tea rose renowned for its stunning bicolor blooms featuring creamy white petals edged with deep red or crimson. The flowers are highly fragrant with a rich, spicy-sweet scent and come in full, double form with 40+ petals. This award-winning cultivar is prized by gardeners and florists for both ornamental beauty and cut-flower quality.
When should you plant Double Delight in your zone?
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Example Double Delight timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Double Delight
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Double Delight blooms
Mid-to-late summerBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Double Delight dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5b-10a; best performance in zones 6-9
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Get my Double Delight timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment
4-6 weeksBare-root or container rose adjusts to garden conditions; new canes emerge from base and graft union
Water deeply 2-3 times weekly; apply mulch 2-3 inches around base (keep away from canes); do not fertilize heavily in first 4 weeks
Vegetative Growth
8-12 weeksVigorous shoot development with glossy green foliage; plant builds cane structure and root system
Prune lightly to encourage branching; remove any diseased or weak growth; apply balanced fertilizer monthly; maintain consistent moisture
Budding & Flowering
Continuous throughout growing season (spring-fall)Terminal buds form on strong canes; buds open into full double blooms with distinctive red-edged cream coloring and strong fragrance
Remove spent blooms (deadhead) above first 5-leaflet leaf to encourage reblooming; maintain regular watering and feeding; watch for pests and diseases
Summer Dormancy (in hot climates)
4-8 weeks depending on heatReduced bloom production during peak heat; foliage may appear stressed or less vibrant
Maintain consistent watering; provide afternoon shade in zones 9-10; reduce nitrogen fertilizer; mulch heavily to cool roots
Fall Rejuvenation & Senescence
6-8 weeks; leads into winter dormancyRenewed blooming as temperatures cool; gradually reduced growth as dormancy approaches; foliage color changes in cold zones
Stop deadheading 6 weeks before first frost to allow hips to form and signal dormancy; reduce fertilizing; in fall, light pruning to remove dead wood
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply sulfur-based fungicide or horticultural oil; prune diseased leaves; resistant varieties exist but Double Delight is moderately susceptible
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Remove infected leaves promptly; water at base only; apply sulfur, copper fungicide, or neem oil; prune for air flow; mulch to prevent soil splash
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Increase humidity and air circulation; spray leaves with water to dislodge; apply insecticidal soap or horticultural oil; neem oil in severe cases
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Spray with strong water stream; introduce beneficial insects (ladybugs, lacewings); apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; avoid excess nitrogen
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Hand-pick in early morning; use pheromone traps away from garden; apply neem oil or spinosad; encourage beneficial predators
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Remove affected blooms; use blue sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap; apply spinosad for heavy infestations
Uses
Edible flowers & infusions
CulinaryPesticide-free Double Delight petals can be candied for cake decoration or dried for herbal tea. The fragrance translates to subtle floral notes in beverages and garnishes. [source]
Cut flower arrangements & bouquets
HouseholdDouble Delight is prized by florists and gardeners for its exceptional longevity as a cut flower, striking bicolor beauty, and intoxicating fragrance. Perfect for high-end floral designs, bridal bouquets, and special occasions. [source]
Dried flowers & potpourri
CraftPetals dry beautifully and retain color and fragrance exceptionally well, making them ideal for dried arrangements, potpourri, and craft projects. Fragrance intensifies as petals dry. [source]
Garden ornament & fragrance
HouseholdA premier garden rose that enhances landscape beauty while filling the air with rich, spicy-sweet fragrance. Excellent focal point in rose gardens, borders, and containers near seating areas. [source]
Traditional herbal remedies
MedicinalRose petals have been used in traditional medicine for their potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Historically used in herbal teas and preparations for skin and digestive wellness. [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 pruners and cut at a 45-degree angle above an outward-facing 5-leaflet leaf. Remove lower thorns and foliage that would sit below the waterline. Recut stems and place in clean water with floral preservative for maximum vase life (7-10 days). For best color development and fragrance, cut when outer petals just begin to unfurl rather than fully open.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Double Delight won the prestigious All-America Rose Selection (AARS) award in 1977 and has remained a top-selling hybrid tea rose for nearly 50 years due to its outstanding fragrance and bicolor beauty.
- 🌱 The red coloration on Double Delight petals intensifies with cooler temperatures and bright sunlight, which is why blooms in fall often display richer, deeper red edging than summer flowers.
- 🌱 Double Delight is a sport mutation of the red rose 'Granada,' making it a genetic chimera with a fascinating breeding history that explains its unusual and striking color pattern.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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