Growing & using Green Rose
Green Rose is thought to be a descendant of Old Blush which is a two hundred year old form of Rosa chinensis. China roses are extremely hardy. In fact, many winters, here in zone 8, the Green Rose never loses its leaves but remains vibrant green with a tinge of red which is a welcome addition in a miniature rose garden full of naked stemmed bushes.
The buds on Green Rose blooms look like any other rose but, when they open, there are never any petals. The rose bloom is made sepals on top of sepals on top of more sepals. Usually sepals come together to form the “holder” of the flower. This holder is called a calyx. But, the Green Rose never makes a true flower. No flower, then no seed and no next generation of rose plant. Thus, this plant only exists due to the kindness and love of gardeners who take cuttings and make more roses. It often has great sentimental value to those who grow it because it may have been a gift from a friend or a relative. Considering it is first recorded in the mid 1800’s, that is a lot of love keeping a sterile rose with no real rose flower going. The flowers are usually found in sprays of multiple buds. The bright green is a nice complement to other rose colors and makes an interesting addition to floral arrangements
Like all roses, the Green Rose is sun loving and fairly drought resistant. Plant in well drained soil and fertilize with an organic fertilizer in the spring. We prune out dead canes whenever we notice them and shape the plant to the height and width we want in fall.