The ‘Blue Moon Rose’ is a hybrid tea rose known for its distinctive lavender-blue color. This hue often shifts from lilac to a more pronounced blue depending on climate. Its strong, sweet fragrance makes it a popular choice for ornamental displays and cut flower arrangements.
Understanding Blue Moon Rose
Its large, fully double blooms can measure up to 4 inches across, featuring 35 to 40 petals that slowly unfurl from long, pointed buds. This hybrid tea rose exhibits an upright, bushy growth habit, typically reaching heights of 3 to 4 feet with a spread of 2 to 3 feet. The glossy, dark green foliage provides a backdrop to the lavender-blue flowers, which appear in flushes from spring to fall. Its long, sturdy stems make it a desirable choice for cutting.
Planting Your Blue Moon Rose
This rose thrives in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily for robust growth and vibrant blooms. Good air circulation helps reduce the risk of fungal diseases. The plant prefers rich, fertile, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH, ideally between 6.0 and 7.0.
Before planting, enrich the soil with organic matter like aged manure or compost to enhance fertility and structure. For bare-root roses, soak the roots in water for 12 to 24 hours prior to planting. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and about 12 inches deep, ensuring the bud union is positioned just above the soil surface. After placing the rose, backfill with a soil and compost mixture, then water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots.
Ongoing Care for Blue Moon Rose
Established roses generally need 1 to 2 inches of water per week, with newly planted roses requiring water every two to three days for the first few weeks. Deep watering at the base of the plant, two to three times weekly during the growing season, is more effective than frequent shallow watering, as it encourages deeper root growth and helps prevent fungal issues. Watering in the morning is preferable, allowing foliage to dry and reducing the chance of disease.
A balanced fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 N-P-K ratio, is ideal for ‘Blue Moon Roses’. Fertilize every 4 to 6 weeks in spring and summer, reducing frequency to every 8 weeks in fall and pausing during winter dormancy. Apply approximately 1/2 cup of fertilizer, depending on the plant’s size, and water thoroughly afterward to prevent root burn.
Deadheading, the removal of spent blooms, encourages the plant to produce new flowers and maintains a tidy appearance. Throughout the growing season, promptly remove faded flowers by cutting the stem just above a set of healthy leaves or an outward-facing bud. General garden hygiene, such as keeping the area around the rose clear of debris, also contributes to overall plant health and reduces potential harborage for pests and diseases.
Pruning Blue Moon Rose
The optimal time for dormant pruning is in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. This allows for the removal of dead, damaged, or crossing branches, which helps to improve air circulation within the plant and reduce disease risk. Canes should be cut back by about one-third to a healthy outward-facing bud to encourage vigorous new shoots and a more open, vase-like shape.
This also helps maintain the plant’s form and directs the plant’s energy toward producing new flowers rather than seeds. When making cuts, always use sterilized, sharp pruning shears and cut just above a bud at a 45-degree angle to promote proper healing and prevent dieback.
Common Pests and Diseases
Aphids, spider mites, and thrips are common insect visitors. Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects often found on new growth, while spider mites cause stippling on leaves and can be identified by fine webbing. Thrips can distort new leaves and flowers.
Common diseases include black spot, powdery mildew, and rust. Black spot manifests as dark spots on leaves, leading to yellowing and defoliation, while powdery mildew appears as a white, powdery growth on leaves and stems. Rust presents as orange or brown pustules on the undersides of leaves. Good air circulation, proper spacing, and avoiding overhead watering can help prevent these fungal issues. Early detection and treatment with organic horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps can manage pest infestations, while removing affected leaves and improving garden sanitation can help control diseases.
Winterizing Blue Moon Rose
In late fall, after the first hard frost, cease fertilizing to allow the plant to harden off and prepare for dormancy. Ensure the plant is well-watered before winter sets in to provide moisture reserves.
Mounding soil, compost, or mulch around the base of the rose bush, covering the bud union by 6 to 12 inches, offers insulation and protection. In very cold regions, additional protection can be provided using rose cones or burlap wraps. Rose cones, often made of styrofoam or plastic, create an insulating layer around the plant, shielding it from extreme cold and wind. Burlap can be wrapped around a cage of stakes placed around the rose, then filled with leaves or straw for added insulation. Ensure any protective coverings allow for some air circulation to prevent moisture buildup and potential fungal issues.