The Celestial Night Rose Tree enhances any garden with its unique coloration and elegant tree form. This popular choice brings deep, dramatic hues and a pleasant fragrance. Understanding its specific needs for planting and ongoing care helps cultivate a thriving specimen. This guide provides practical advice for successfully growing and maintaining this beautiful rose.
Celestial Night Rose Tree: An Overview
The Celestial Night Rose Tree is known for its distinctive deep plum-purple blooms, often appearing almost black, with a raspberry reverse. These lush, cupped flowers measure 3-4 inches across and feature a double-ruffled appearance with over 41 petals. The plant has a moderate, fruity fragrance with citrus notes. As a floribunda, it offers continuous blooming from late spring through fall.
Grafted onto a sturdy standard, this rose forms an elegant tree, typically reaching 4-5 feet tall with a 2-3 foot spread. Its medium to dark green, glossy foliage provides a striking backdrop for the vibrant blooms. The Celestial Night Rose exhibits good disease resistance, particularly against rust and powdery mildew, a rare trait for purple varieties. This combination of beauty and resilience makes it a favored choice for gardeners.
Planting Your Celestial Night Rose Tree
For planting your Celestial Night Rose Tree, select a site with full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Good air circulation is also beneficial, helping prevent common rose diseases. Consider locations where its fragrance can be enjoyed, such as near seating areas.
The soil should be well-draining but able to retain moisture. Roses prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH, ideally between 6.0 and 7.0. Amending the planting area with organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure improves soil structure, nutrient content, and drainage. Before planting, rehydrate bare-root roses by soaking their roots in water for at least two hours.
Dig a hole approximately 24 inches wide and 16 inches deep, ensuring it accommodates the roots comfortably. Break up the soil at the base of the hole with a fork for deeper root penetration. Position the bud union, where the rose is grafted, about 2 inches below the soil surface in colder climates, or at ground level in warmer regions. Drive a sturdy stake into the ground beside the rose, aligning its top with the bud union, and secure the stem. Backfill the hole with amended soil, firming it to remove air pockets, and water thoroughly.
Ongoing Care for Thriving Blooms
Water the Celestial Night Rose Tree consistently, especially during dry periods. Newly planted roses need more frequent watering, typically every two to three days for the first few weeks, reducing as roots establish. Established roses generally require 1 to 2 inches of water per week, with thorough watering every 7 to 10 days during dry weather. Water deeply at the base of the plant to encourage deep root growth and avoid wetting foliage, which can lead to fungal diseases.
Monitor soil moisture; if the top few inches feel dry, it is time to water. Container-grown roses dry out faster and may need daily watering in hot weather. Watering in the morning reduces evaporation and allows leaves to dry before nightfall. Apply a 2-4 inch layer of organic mulch around the base to retain soil moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weeds.
Fertilize regularly for abundant blooms. Apply a balanced rose-specific fertilizer according to product instructions, starting in early spring after new growth appears and continuing through the blooming season. The Celestial Night Rose benefits from monthly fertilizing. Avoid over-fertilization, as it can lead to excessive new growth that attracts pests. Monitor the plant for any signs of stress or unusual growth to maintain health.
Pruning and Winter Protection
Pruning contributes to the Celestial Night Rose Tree’s health, shape, and continuous bloom. Deadhead spent blooms regularly throughout the growing season to encourage new flowers and maintain tidiness. Cut the stem just above the first leaf with five leaflets, or above an outward-facing healthy bud eye, to promote new outward growth.
Perform dormant pruning in late winter or early spring after the threat of severe cold has passed. This helps shape the canopy and removes dead, damaged, or crossing branches. For tree roses, maintain a balanced crown and remove suckers emerging from the rootstock below the graft union. Use clean, sharp pruning shears, sterilizing them between plants to prevent disease transmission.
Winter protection is advisable for Celestial Night Rose Trees in colder climates (USDA Zones 5-6), as they are not as cold-hardy. After several days of below-freezing temperatures, when the plant is dormant, mound 8 to 12 inches of soil, compost, or shredded leaves around the base. This insulates the crown and bud union. For added protection in very cold regions, wrap the trunk with insulated pipe wrap or burlap, and enclose the canopy within a cylinder of chicken wire filled with dry leaves or straw. Move potted specimens to an unheated garage or shed (32-45°F), providing minimal water.
Addressing Common Issues
While the Celestial Night Rose Tree has good disease resistance, it can still face common problems. Aphids often cluster on new shoots and buds, feeding on plant sap. Dislodge them with a strong water stream, or spray affected areas with a solution of one tablespoon of mild liquid soap mixed with one quart of water. Neem oil is also effective against aphids.
Fungal diseases like black spot and powdery mildew are potential concerns. Black spot appears as circular black spots on leaves, leading to yellowing and leaf drop. Powdery mildew is a white, powdery coating on leaves, stems, and buds. Good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering help prevent these. Treat with a baking soda mixture (one teaspoon per liter of warm water with a bit of liquid soap) sprayed on foliage. Neem oil also has fungicidal properties.
Environmental stressors, such as nutrient deficiencies, can cause discolored leaves or stunted growth. Address these with regular soil testing and appropriate fertilization. Heat stress may cause wilting, indicating a need for more frequent watering, especially for container-grown roses. Prompt action manages these issues, ensuring the rose’s continued health.