Orange Rose Tree

What do these colors remind you of, anything in particular? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Orange Rose Tree

I have to confess, I have had my eye on rose trees for awhile now. Since my garden is basically vertical - I tend to plant so that one plant covers something that is dying back - it was only a matter of time before I brought home an example of a rose tree.

When I first saw these, I kept thinking the color reminded me of something but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I liked the fact that these tree roses had single petals, making it much easier for my bees - both honey bees and native bees - find the nectar and pollen. Flowers produce nectar to entice pollinators, then pollen sticks to them so they move the pollen from one flower to the next, ensuring the plant’s reproduction.

The rose tree color was also striking with the rose buds starting very dark, almost brown around the edges, then lightening up as the rose bud unfolded.

I inadvertently knocked one of the buds off and put it in a vase. The bud was lovely for several days, then today it opened.

This bud finally opened in my kitchen, love the yellow accent. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Tree roses are easy to grow. I picked up a couple red ones last year on sale and have them staked just in case strong winds sweep through the garden. Short of that, tree roses have the same requirements as regular roses - compost, onion sets to discourage bugs and mulch.

Oh, and my rose recipe: dry coffee grounds, crushed egg shells, cut up dry banana peels with a dash of epson salts.

Rosa “Playboy” (Floribunda) rose tree. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

So I was sitting outside on a garden bench at sunset, watching the sun disappear over the Ozark hills, when I remembered why these tree roses were nagging at me. The orange rose color with the yellow accent reminded me of that lovely sunset color as the sun is waning and the sky molts from blue to orange.

That’s probably why I brought these Rosa ‘Playboy” Floribunda tree roses home. Now when I miss my sunsets I can still enjoy them in the color of the flowers.

Charlotte