How to Grow Lady Stephanie
Wikimedia Commons
Lady Stephanie
Rosa 'Lady Stephanie'
shrubLady Stephanie is a stunning hybrid tea rose known for its full, double blooms in soft apricot-pink with a subtle fruity fragrance. This modern rose variety produces long stems ideal for cutting and maintains excellent disease resistance. It's a vigorous grower that performs well in garden settings and as a cut flower specimen.
When should you plant Lady Stephanie in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Lady Stephanie timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Lady Stephanie
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 Lady Stephanie
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Lady Stephanie dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 6-9, with winter protection in zone 5
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Establishment
4-6 weeksYoung bare-root or container rose with minimal foliage; canes appear woody and dormant
Water gently but regularly; avoid fertilizing first 4-6 weeks; mulch around base to retain moisture and protect roots
Vegetative Growth
6-8 weeksRapid stem and leaf development; plant produces multiple canes with healthy green foliage
Begin balanced fertilizing (10-10-10 or rose-specific formula) every 4-6 weeks; pinch off early flower buds to encourage branching; monitor for pests and disease
Budding & Flowering
6-8 weeks per flush; repeats throughout seasonLarge terminal flower buds form at stem tips; blooms open to full, quartered double flowers in apricot-pink
Continue regular watering and fertilizing; remove spent blooms (deadhead) to encourage repeat flowering; support heavy blooms with stakes if needed
Summer Maintenance
8-10 weeksPlant continues producing new growth and flowers in cycles; may slow or rest during extreme heat
Maintain consistent watering; apply extra mulch during heat; reduce fertilizer in late July/August to harden off plant for fall
Fall & Dormancy
8-12 weeksGrowth slows; foliage may show fall coloring; final flush of blooms before winter rest
Stop fertilizing by late August; reduce watering slightly as temperatures cool; prune dead/diseased wood; in cold zones, mound soil 8-10 inches over graft union for winter protection
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs
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Increase humidity and watering frequency; use miticide or neem oil spray; prune heavily infested canes
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Improve air circulation by pruning; avoid wetting foliage; apply sulfur dust or fungicide at first sign; choose disease-resistant cultivars
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Remove infected leaves immediately; water at soil level only; apply preventive fungicide (e.g., sulfur, chlorothalonil); Lady Stephanie has good resistance but remains vigilant
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Hand-pick early morning; use pheromone traps away from rose; apply neem oil or insecticide as directed
Uses
Rose hip tea and preserves
CulinaryAfter blooming, rose hips (seed pods) can be harvested and dried for herbal tea or made into jams and syrups rich in vitamin C. [source]
Cut flower arrangements
HouseholdLady Stephanie's long stems, full blooms, and apricot coloring make it ideal for fresh cut flower arrangements, bouquets, and floral design. [source]
Traditional herbal remedy
MedicinalRose petals and hips have been used in traditional medicine for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. [source]
Dried petal crafts
CraftPetals can be carefully dried and pressed for use in potpourri, dried arrangements, bookmarks, and botanical crafts. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeRoses attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators that help support garden ecosystems. [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 turgid; cut stems at a 45-degree angle just above an outward-facing 5-leaflet leaf; remove lower foliage and immediately place in water with floral preservative; blooms will last 7-10 days indoors with daily water changes
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Lady Stephanie was introduced by Kordes, a renowned German rose breeder, and is known for combining cut-flower quality with garden vigor—a rare combination in modern roses.
- 🌱 The apricot-pink color of Lady Stephanie intensifies in cooler autumn weather and fades slightly in intense summer heat, giving the rose different personalities throughout the season.
- 🌱 Roses have been cultivated for over 5,000 years and have been featured in art, literature, and mythology across virtually every human civilization.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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