How to Grow Sunburst Cherry Rose
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Sunburst Cherry Rose
Rosa × hybrid
shrubSunburst Cherry Rose is a vibrant hybrid tea rose featuring warm orange and coral blooms with hints of cherry red, creating a striking two-toned effect. This rose produces high-centered, exhibition-quality flowers on upright stems ideal for cutting and display. It offers excellent disease resistance and repeat flowering throughout the growing season.
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Example Sunburst Cherry Rose timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Sunburst Cherry 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 Sunburst Cherry Rose
Around Jun 6≈ 50 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Sunburst Cherry Rose dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 6-9, with winter protection recommended in zone 5
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Establishment
4-6 weeksNew canes emerge with fresh foliage; plant focuses on root development
Water consistently, apply mulch around base (not touching canes), avoid pruning heavily during first season
Vegetative Growth
6-8 weeksStrong cane growth with deep green foliage; plant develops robust framework
Monitor for pests and diseases, deadhead spent blooms to encourage branching, provide light feeding every 4-6 weeks
Budding
2-3 weeksTerminal flower buds form on cane tips; buds develop characteristic pointed form
Ensure consistent water supply, increase potassium-rich fertilizer, remove weak or blind shoots
Blooming
4-5 days per bloom; continuous throughout seasonHigh-centered orange-coral flowers open with cherry red outer petals; petals unfurl over several days
Deadhead spent blooms promptly to encourage repeat flowering, harvest blooms in early morning, maintain humidity without wetting foliage
Dormancy
3-4 months (November-March)In fall and winter, growth slows; foliage may discolor and fall in cold climates
Reduce watering in late fall, apply winter protection in zone 5-6 (mounding soil or mulch), prune in early spring before growth resumes
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick in early morning, use Japanese beetle traps away from rose, apply neem oil or spinosad
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Spray with strong water stream, apply insecticidal soap, release ladybugs or parasitic wasps
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Increase humidity, spray with water mist, apply miticide or sulfur dust, remove heavily infested leaves
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No cure; remove infected plants immediately, control mite populations with sulfur sprays
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Improve air circulation, apply baking soda spray (1 tbsp per gallon), use sulfur dust, apply fungicides in early morning
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Remove infected leaves, avoid overhead watering, apply copper fungicide or neem oil weekly, ensure good drainage
Uses
Rose Petals & Beverages
CulinaryEdible rose petals can be used to garnish desserts, create rose water, or infuse into teas and cocktails. Ensure the rose has not been treated with pesticides before consuming. [source]
Cut Flower Arrangements
CraftSunburst Cherry Rose is prized for flower arrangements and bridal bouquets due to its striking two-toned coloring and strong stems. The long vase life and exhibition form make it ideal for professional and home floral design. [source]
Fragrance & Aroma
HouseholdRose petals can be dried for potpourri, sachets, or crafted into rose water for fragrance. The blooms emit a gentle, classic rose fragrance. [source]
Traditional Herbal Use
MedicinalRose petals have been used in traditional medicine to support skin health and relaxation. Rose hip tea (from rose fruit) is rich in vitamin C, though it comes from the plant's hips rather than flowers. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeWhile double roses have fewer stamens, they still attract bees and butterflies early in the bloom. Allowing some flowers to age and open fully increases pollinator access. [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 petals are still firm but beginning to unfurl. Cut at a 45-degree angle above an outward-facing leaf node with 5 leaflets. Remove lower foliage below the waterline. Immediately place in room-temperature water with floral food. Flowers last 5-7 days in a vase.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Sunburst Cherry Rose was bred by hand-pollination to achieve its unique two-toned orange-coral and cherry-red coloring, which develops more intensely in cooler fall temperatures.
- 🌱 Roses are one of the oldest cultivated ornamental plants, with fossil records suggesting they existed 35 million years ago, and hybrid tea roses like Sunburst represent centuries of selective breeding.
- 🌱 A single rose bush can produce over 100 blooms per season under ideal conditions, and the plant will continue flowering for 15-20+ years with proper care.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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