How to Grow Gold Medal Rose
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Gold Medal Rose
Rosa 'Gold Medal'
shrubGold Medal is a hybrid tea rose prized for its vibrant golden-yellow blooms with deep red edges that intensify as the flowers age. It produces long, sturdy stems ideal for cut flowers and exhibits excellent disease resistance compared to other hybrid teas. The plant grows as an upright, vigorous shrub reaching 4-5 feet tall.
When should you plant Gold Medal Rose in your zone?
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Example Gold Medal Rose timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Gold Medal Rose
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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Harvest Gold Medal Rose
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Gold Medal Rose dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5b-9b; most vigorous in zones 6-8
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Establishment
3-6 weeksNewly planted rose develops root system and establishes canes with initial leafing out
Keep soil consistently moist; avoid fertilizing first 6 weeks; mulch around base with 2-3 inches; protect from wind stress
Vegetative Growth
4-8 weeksPlant produces vigorous new canes with dark green, glossy foliage; rapid height and width increase
Begin light fertilizing with rose-specific fertilizer; remove any weak or crossing canes; apply preventative fungicide spray; maintain consistent moisture
Budbreak & Flowering
3-4 weeks per bloom cycleTight red buds form at cane tips; buds swell and open into large, double golden-yellow flowers with red edges
Apply fertilizer every 3-4 weeks during bloom season; deadhead spent flowers regularly; increase watering during heat; monitor for spider mites and powdery mildew
Peak Production
6-12 weeks (spring through fall in warm zones)Continuous blooming throughout growing season; flowers range from deep golden-yellow to coral-red as they age; strong fragrance development
Maintain rigorous deadheading for continuous blooms; fertilize every 3-4 weeks through mid-summer; reduce watering slightly if disease appears; prune weak growth
Late Season & Dormancy
6-12 weeks (varies by zone)Blooming slows in fall; foliage may show age; plant prepares for winter dormancy
Stop fertilizing 6 weeks before first frost; reduce deadheading to allow hips to form (signals dormancy); prune in early spring rather than fall; in cold zones, mound soil 12 inches around base
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with water to dislodge; use miticide if severe; improve humidity; increase air circulation; neem oil effective in early stages
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Spray with insecticidal soap; blast with water; introduce ladybugs; use neem oil; prune heavily infested growth
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Apply sulfur or potassium bicarbonate fungicide; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; remove infected leaves; apply preventatively in humid conditions
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Remove and destroy infected leaves immediately; apply fungicide early season; water at base only; prune for air circulation; collect fallen leaves
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Hand-pick early morning; use pheromone traps away from roses; spray with spinosad; apply neem oil; plant repellent herbs nearby
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Remove affected buds and flowers; spray with insecticidal soap; use blue sticky traps; improve air circulation; spray insecticide at dusk
Uses
Rose Petals for Culinary Use
CulinaryOrganic Gold Medal rose petals can be used to garnish desserts, salads, and beverages. Rose water extracted from petals is used in Middle Eastern and South Asian cuisine for flavoring and decoration. [source]
Cut Flower Arrangements
HouseholdGold Medal is highly prized by florists for cut flower arrangements due to long, strong stems and long vase life. A single stem makes an elegant statement piece or combines beautifully in mixed bouquets. [source]
Rose Hip Health Benefits
MedicinalThe hips (fruit) that develop after flowering contain high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants, traditionally used in herbal tea and supplements for immune support and anti-inflammatory benefits. [source]
Fragrance & Aromatherapy
HouseholdGold Medal roses produce a sweet, classic fragrance that can be dried for potpourri, used to create rose water, or simply enjoyed fresh in the garden. The scent has calming properties valued in aromatherapy. [source]
Dried Flowers & Pressing
CraftPetals and blooms can be pressed, dried, or freeze-dried for use in crafts, bookmarks, framed art, and decorative projects that preserve the beauty of the blooms indefinitely. [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 stems in early morning when buds are just beginning to open; use sharp pruners to cut at 45-degree angle above outward-facing 5-leaflet leaf; cut stems 12-18 inches long; immediately place in water with floral preservative. Remove lower leaves and thorns before arranging. Blooms last 7-10 days in a vase if water is changed every 2-3 days.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Gold Medal won the prestigious All-America Rose Selections (AARS) award in 1975, confirming its superior garden performance and disease resistance compared to other hybrid teas of its era.
- 🌱 The distinctive color change from deep golden-yellow to coral-red as the flower ages is due to anthocyanin pigment development and is actually more pronounced in cooler temperatures.
- 🌱 Gold Medal is one of the most disease-resistant hybrid tea roses ever bred, making it an excellent choice for gardeners who want beautiful roses without heavy pesticide use.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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