Think ‘rose’ and most of us picture a large, colorful bloom on a long stem. Gardeners might also picture a large green bush in the landscape, covered with clusters of large blooms. But there is a whole other world of roses out there – the miniature roses. These charmers might be small on flower size, but they are big on color and happiness. They had their day in the sun back when men wore ‘buttonholes’ on their suit lapels. They often plucked a miniature rose on their way through the garden in the morning to catch the tram to the office. We don’t expect you to start doing that, but thanks to the work of the French rose family Meilland, there is a wonderful new generation of miniature roses available for every garden. These Sunblaze® roses are a group of roses that bloom continuously with petite blooms on compact bushes, in a profusion of brilliant colors. If you enjoy a summer sunset, then you will adore the Amber Sunblaze® Rose, whose wonderful blooms glow with evening light all day long. Hardy, disease-resistant, always in bloom – what more could a rose lover ask for?

Growing the Amber Sunblaze® Rose

Size and Appearance

The Amber Sunblaze Rose is a small plant with semi-evergreen foliage. It quickly reaches between 18 and 24 inches in height and spread in a single season, with many upright branches covered with foliage almost to the base. Like almost all roses, there are small thorns along the branches. The leaves are semi-glossy, and made up of 3 or 5 leaflets, with one at the end and one or two pairs along the leaf-stalk. Each leaflet is rich green, oval and almost 1½ inches long, with a finely-toothed edge. Leaves grow all along the branches, making an attractive, dense, and bushy plant.

By May your rose will be opening its first blooms, and these continue to be produced steadily into October – months and months of color for your garden. Every shoot ends in a bud, which opens into a full, cup-shaped bloom 2 inches across, with about 25 petals in it. The coloring is remarkable, beginning golden orange and opening to a beautiful amber-orange with yellow towards the center, and then darkening to a more rusty orange as the flower matures. A gorgeous sunset in every bloom. The petals drop cleanly when the flower is over, so there are no ugly dead flowers to mar the look.

Using the Amber Sunblaze® Rose in Your Garden

With its compact size and continuous blooming this rose is perfect for the front of your beds, as a single plant in a smaller bed, or in groups of 3, 5 or more in larger ones. It is perfect too as an edging, either against a lawn, or along a path or driveway. Grow it by a door or gate, or beside a bench. This is also the ideal rose for planter boxes, where we want constant blooming. With its smaller size it fits perfectly on a terrace, or even on a balcony. It makes the perfect gift too, so consider it as a present for a family member.

Hardiness

The Amber Sunblaze Rose is hardy from zone 5 to 10, without the need for any winter protection. With protection, it would survive in zone 4 as well. This rose is grown on its own roots, not grafted, so even if the branches are killed by cold, it will vigorously re-sprout from the base.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun is needed for continuously blooming, and shade will reduce flower production significantly. The soil should be rich and well-drained, and roses prefer heavier soils, including clay, rather than dry sand. For pot growing, use a large container with drainage holes, and add 25% by volume of garden soil to a regular potting soil blended for outdoor planters or for trees in pots.

Maintenance and Pruning

Add rich organic material like compost when planting and also use it in fall or spring as mulch. A regular program of fertilizer with a blended rose food will give the best results. Water regularly during dry weather – this plant is resistant to dry periods, but it will reduce its blooming if it becomes dry for more than a brief period. Resistant to diseases, this plant is vigorous and remains healthy without needing spraying.

Removing the seed heads left after petals fall will encourage more blooms, but it is not essential. In spring, prune you rose. In cold climates wait until the buds swell, to make pruning easier. Remove any dead or damage twigs, and reduce the stems by one-third, cutting just above a healthy outward facing bud. That’s it – simple. New growth will quickly bring your plant into bloom for another season.

History and Origin of the Amber Sunblaze® Rose

This rose is the result of skillful and experienced breeding by Alain Meilland, whose family has been prominent rose breeders, based in France, for 6 generations. He crossed three miniature roses, beginning with a miniature red rose, Diablotin (‘Delpo’) and a popular small yellow rose called Rainbow’s End I’Savalife’). He then took pollen from one of the seedlings and used it on a pale-yellow hybrid tea rose called Parador (‘Meichanso’) to make more seed. Among the resulting plants he spotted a gorgeous orange rose, and he named it ‘Meiludoca’. It was patented in 2010, and this is the rose that has been released by Star Roses and Plants in America as part of their Sunblaze® family of miniature roses, with the name Amber.

Buying the Amber Sunblaze® Rose at The Tree Center

We love this new family of roses, and we adore the gorgeous coloring of the Amber Sunblaze® Rose, so continuous in bloom and so reliable and hardy. Order now, so that you can enjoy it for as long as possible.