How to Grow Medaille d'Or
Medaille d'Or
Rosa 'Medaille d'Or'
shrubMedaille d'Or is a stunning hybrid tea rose known for its deep golden-yellow blooms with red-tipped petals, creating a striking bicolor effect. This award-winning cultivar produces large, fragrant flowers on long stems ideal for cutting. It is prized by gardeners and florists for its elegant form and vibrant color combination.
When should you plant Medaille d'Or 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 Medaille d'Or timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Medaille d'Or
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Medaille d'Or
Around Jul 16≈ 90 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Medaille d'Or dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives best in zones 6-9; can be grown in zone 5 with winter protection
Sign up free to see if Medaille d'Or grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Medaille d'Or timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment
4-6 weeksNewly planted rose developing root system with modest leaf growth and budding
Water deeply 2-3 times weekly; avoid fertilizing first 4-6 weeks; mulch around base; remove any flowers to encourage root development
Vegetative Growth
6-12 weeksRose bush developing canes and foliage with increasing vigor; stems elongating
Apply balanced rose fertilizer every 4-6 weeks; maintain consistent moisture; prune out weak or crossing canes; remove any diseased leaves immediately
Budding & Flowering
8-12 weeks (repeating cycles)Large pointed buds form on long stems with classic hybrid tea rose form; petals unfurl to reveal golden-yellow blooms with red-tipped edges
Feed with bloom-promoting fertilizer (higher phosphorus); deadhead spent flowers just above first 5-leaflet leaf; provide support stakes if needed; increase watering during blooming
Repeat Blooming
June-frost (varies by zone)Continuous production of flowers throughout growing season with rest periods between flushes
Continue regular fertilizing every 4-6 weeks; prune lightly between bloom cycles; maintain vigilant pest and disease management; adjust watering as needed
Dormancy
November-March (varies by zone)Slowed growth and minimal blooming as temperatures cool; foliage may drop or discolor
In zones 5-6, apply winter mulch 6-12 inches high around base after first hard freeze; reduce watering; avoid pruning until spring; remove fallen leaves to prevent disease
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Hand-pick early morning or use Japanese beetle traps; apply neem oil or pyrethrin spray; introduce parasitic wasps
-
Ensure adequate air circulation; spray with sulfur dust or neem oil; remove affected foliage; apply horticultural oil in early morning or evening
-
Remove infected leaves immediately; water at base only; apply copper fungicide or rose-specific fungicide weekly; thin canes for air flow
-
Increase humidity with regular misting; spray with insecticidal soap; apply neem oil; prune heavily infested growth
-
Spray with strong water stream to dislodge; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce ladybugs or lacewings; use pyrethrin spray
-
No cure; remove and destroy infected plant; control rose aphids which spread the virus; do not propagate from infected material
Uses
Edible flower garnish
CulinaryRose petals from pesticide-free plants can be used as elegant garnishes for desserts, salads, and beverages, adding visual appeal and a delicate floral taste. [source]
Cut flower arrangements
HouseholdMedaille d'Or's long stems and striking golden-red bicolor blooms make it a premium choice for wedding bouquets, formal arrangements, and commercial floristry. [source]
Dried flowers and potpourri
CraftPetals can be dried for long-lasting arrangements, potpourri blends, and crafts while maintaining their vibrant color and light fragrance. [source]
Fragrance and perfumery
HouseholdThough moderately fragrant for a hybrid tea rose, the blooms contribute subtle fragrance to spaces and can be used in rose water or infusions. [source]
Pollinator support
WildlifeRose flowers attract bees and other beneficial pollinators to the garden, supporting local ecosystems while providing continuous nectar sources. [source]
Harvest Tips
Cut blooms in early morning or late evening when flower is fully open but petals still firm; use sharp, clean garden pruners; cut above the first 5-leaflet leaf or bud facing outward at 45-degree angle; remove lower foliage before arranging; place immediately in clean water with floral preservative; blooms last 7-10 days in a vase when freshly cut and maintained
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Medaille d'Or translates to 'Medal of Gold' in French, referencing its stunning golden coloring and award-winning status in international rose competitions.
- 🌱 This hybrid tea rose is often compared to the classic 'Peace' rose but offers a more dramatic color display with its distinctive red-tipped petals creating a halo effect around the golden bloom.
- 🌱 Medaille d'Or is a favorite of professional florists and appears frequently in high-end floral arrangements and luxury wedding designs due to its exceptional color stability and vase life.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Medaille d'Or planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Medaille d'Or seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Medaille d'Or timeline →