How to Grow Double Pleasure
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Double Pleasure
Rosa × hybrida 'Double Pleasure'
flowerDouble Pleasure is a hybrid tea rose renowned for its striking bicolor blooms featuring red petals with cream or yellow reverses and edges. The large, full flowers have a classic high-centered form and offer a sweet, fruity fragrance. This vigorous rose is popular among gardeners and florists for its dramatic color contrast and long vase life.
When should you plant Double Pleasure in your zone?
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Example Double Pleasure timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Double Pleasure
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 Pleasure blooms
Around Jul 16≈ 90 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Double Pleasure dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in USDA zones 6-9; hardy to zone 5b with winter protection
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Establishment (First 4-6 weeks)
4-6 weeksNewly planted rose develops root system and produces initial growth. Shoots emerge from canes; foliage is tender and light green.
Water regularly to keep soil moist. Provide afternoon shade in hot climates. Avoid fertilizing immediately; let roots establish first. Remove any flowers that form to encourage root development.
Vegetative Growth (6-12 weeks)
6-12 weeksVigorous cane growth with increasingly mature foliage. Plant develops bushy structure with multiple shoots branching from main canes.
Begin light fertilizing with balanced rose fertilizer every 4-6 weeks. Prune lightly to shape plant. Maintain consistent watering. Monitor for pests and disease.
Flowering Cycle (12+ weeks onward)
Continuous, 6-8 weeks per bloom cycle in seasonLarge hybrid tea blooms develop on long stems with characteristic red and cream/yellow bicolor petals. Blooms are fragrant and full with 40+ petals.
Deadhead spent flowers by cutting just above a 5-leaflet leaf facing outward. Apply rose fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during growing season. Monitor humidity; ensure good air circulation to prevent black spot. Stake long stems if needed.
Repeat Blooming (Spring through Fall)
5-6 months depending on climateDouble Pleasure is a repeat bloomer, producing flowers continuously from spring to frost. Blooms may be slightly smaller in peak heat or late season.
Maintain regular deadheading and fertilizing schedule. Reduce watering slightly as temperatures cool in fall. Stop fertilizing 6 weeks before first expected frost to encourage dormancy.
Winter Dormancy (Late Fall to Early Spring)
2-4 months depending on zonePlant goes dormant; canes harden off and foliage may drop. In cold zones, canes may die back partially or completely if not protected.
In zones 5-6, mound soil or mulch 8-12 inches high around base for protection. Prune dead canes in spring after last frost. Do not fertilize or heavily prune in fall.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick in early morning, use traps placed away from roses, apply neem oil in early season, encourage beneficial parasitoid wasps
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Spray with strong water stream, use insecticidal soap, apply neem oil, introduce ladybugs and lacewings
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Increase humidity, spray with water, use miticide or neem oil, ensure good air circulation
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Remove and destroy infected plant, plant resistant varieties nearby, use miticides in spring
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Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply sulfur or fungicide in early stages, plant in sunny location
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Remove infected leaves, improve air circulation, water at soil level only, apply fungicide preventatively, mulch to reduce spore splash
Uses
Rose petals for culinary decoration
CulinaryPesticide-free rose petals can be used to garnish desserts, salads, and beverages. Double Pleasure's striking bicolor petals make an elegant presentation. [source]
Cut flowers and floral arrangements
HouseholdDouble Pleasure is prized by florists for its long vase life, large impressive blooms, and striking color contrast. It's ideal for wedding bouquets, anniversary arrangements, and formal floral designs. [source]
Rose water and herbal preparations
MedicinalRose petals can be used to make soothing rose water, tea, or infusions with potential skin-soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. The sweet fragrance may also provide aromatherapeutic benefits. [source]
Pollinator and bee support
WildlifeDouble Pleasure flowers provide nectar and pollen for honeybees, bumblebees, and other beneficial insects, supporting biodiversity in the garden. [source]
Dried flowers and potpourri
CraftThe fragrant petals and blooms can be dried and used in potpourri, sachets, wreaths, and craft projects to retain their sweet fragrance for months. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
For cut flowers, harvest in early morning when blooms are fully open but petals still feel firm. Cut stems at 45-degree angles just above a 5-leaflet leaf. Immediately place in cool water with flower food. Re-cut stems every 2-3 days and change water. Double Pleasure blooms last 7-10 days in a vase. For garden display, deadhead faded blooms to encourage continuous flowering.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Double Pleasure was hybridized and introduced in 1976, making it a classic 20th-century rose variety still widely grown today.
- 🌱 The striking bicolor pattern—red with cream/yellow edges—results from the way anthocyanin pigments concentrate at petal margins, a phenomenon called 'picotee' in roses.
- 🌱 This rose variety can produce flowers with 40-50+ petals, which is why it's classified as a 'full' or 'double' bloom in the rose world.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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