When to plant and prune Rose (Hybrid Tea / Large-flowered)
Rosa (Hybrid Tea, large-flowered bush)
Prune in late winter when growth is just resuming - usually mid-February in the south, March in northern and colder areas. Pruning in autumn or early winter leaves cut stems exposed to frost and encourages wind-rock, while pruning too timidly leaves tall bare legs with a few poor flowers at the top.
Planting, flowering and pruning by region
Pruning is driven by dormancy rather than frost, so it is not shifted by region — the same cut is right in Inverness and in Penzance. Planting windows do move.
| Where you are | Plant | In flower | Prune |
|---|---|---|---|
| South West Coast and Cornwall | late October to late December | mid June to early October | mid February to early March |
| South Coast and Channel | late October to late December | mid June to early October | mid February to early March |
| Greater London (Urban Heat Island) | late October to late December | mid June to early October | mid February to early March |
| South East and Home Counties | late October to late December | mid June to early October | mid February to early March |
| East Anglia | late October to late December | mid June to early October | mid February to early March |
| Midlands and Lowland Wales | late October to late December | mid June to early October | mid February to early March |
| Wales and West Coast | late October to late December | mid June to early October | mid February to early March |
| Northern England | late October to late December | mid June to early October | mid February to early March |
| Scotland Lowlands and Central Belt | late October to late December | mid June to early October | mid February to early March |
| Scotland Highlands and Islands | late October to late December | mid June to early October | mid February to early March |
| Northern Ireland | late October to late December | mid June to early October | mid February to early March |
| Channel Islands and Isle of Man | late October to late December | mid June to early October | mid February to early March |
How to prune it
RHS pruning group 15 (hybrid tea): cut the strongest shoots back to 4-6 buds, 10-15cm from the base, and less vigorous shoots to 2-4 buds, 5-10cm from the base.
Severity: hard.
Bare-root season
Bare-root stock is available and best planted late October to late March. It is cheaper than container-grown and establishes faster.
Feeding
Feed in March/April as growth resumes and again in mid-summer after the first flush; roses in containers need feeding fortnightly from mid-spring to late summer.
At a glance
- Type
- Rose
- Hardiness
- H6
- Eventual height
- 1.2 m
- Eventual spread
- 0.7 m
- Years to maturity
- 3
- Spacing
- 50 cm
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil
- Rich, moist but well-drained soil
- Evergreen
- No
- Fragrance
- Scented
- Pollinator value
- 2 out of 5
- Grows in a container
- Yes, 40 litres or more
- Difficulty
- Medium
Growing notes
Grown for large single blooms on long stems - the classic cut-flower rose. Needs a sunny spot with at least four hours of sun a day. Deadhead through summer to keep the repeat flushes coming. Where roses have grown before, exchange the soil to 45cm deep and wide to avoid replant disease.
What usually goes wrong
- black spot
- aphids
- powdery mildew
- rose replant disease
Related guides
Cross-checked against RHS guidance.