Newsletter Articles
When Do Roses Go Dormant and How to Plant Bare-Root Roses
Written by Alicia R.
Yes, roses go dormant. As the days shorten and nights cool in late fall and winter, roses slow down and rest before growing again in spring. In mild Southern California, though, it rarely gets cold enough for true dormancy, so our roses usually just sleep lightly and may even hold on to some old leaves. Winter, around January, is the best time to plant bare-root (dormant) roses, because setting them out while they are resting lets the roots settle in before the spring flush of growth.
Quick answer: Roses go dormant in late fall and winter, when days get short and nights turn cold. In Southern California’s mild winters they only go semi-dormant, so a resting rose here may still carry a few old leaves; the real sign is that it has stopped pushing new growth. Winter (about January into February) is the time to buy and plant bare-root roses: soak the roots, dig a wide hole over a cone of soil, set the bud union at or just above the soil line, backfill, and water well.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Do roses go dormant? | Yes, in late fall and winter, though in mild Southern California they go only semi-dormant. |
| When do roses go dormant? | As days shorten and nights cool, roughly late fall into winter. |
| What does a dormant rose look like? | In cold regions, bare leafless canes; in Southern California, often some old leaves but no new growth. |
| Best time to plant bare-root roses here? | Winter, about January into February. |
Do Roses Go Dormant, and When?
Roses do go dormant. Like most deciduous plants, they need to slow down and rest through winter before starting all over again in spring.[1] The trigger is the shortening daylight of fall together with cooler weather, though many modern repeat-blooming roses will keep trying to flower even as the days get short and it turns cold.[1]
Here is the part that surprises many Southern California gardeners: in our mild climate it does not get cold enough to trigger true dormancy, so a rose here tends to sleep lightly rather than shut down completely.[1] In practice that means some roses keep blooming into late fall while others settle into a semi-dormant stage, and most are fully resting by the cold of mid-winter.[2]
What Does a Dormant Rose Look Like?
In cold-winter regions, a dormant rose is easy to spot: bare, leafless woody canes with no active growth. In Southern California it looks different. Because our winters are mild, a resting rose often still holds some old leaves, and certain roses even show a fall color change as the chlorophyll in their leaves breaks down.[1] So the reliable sign of dormancy here is not bare canes but the absence of new growth. You can also encourage a rose toward rest by stopping fertilizer in fall and leaving spent blooms in place, since the hormones in a ripening rose hip help start the plant toward dormancy.[1]
Why Plant Bare-Root Roses in Winter
Winter dormancy is exactly why bare-root roses exist. Sold without soil while the plant is resting (often as dormant-packed roses in sleeves), bare-root stock is the most economical way to buy roses, and the dormant season is the only time you will find it.[3] Planting while the rose is dormant also matters because establishment from bare-root stock gets harder once spring daytime temperatures climb above about 70 degrees; getting the plant in the ground now lets the roots settle in before the heat arrives.[4] Not sure which to buy? See our guide to choosing the perfect bare-root rose.
When to Plant Dormant Roses in Southern California
The window is winter. UC’s California rose calendar calls January the month to buy, plant, and prune roses, and lists February as the last month to plant bare-root roses or transplant.[2] More broadly, roses are usually offered as bare-root plants in late winter to early spring.[4] At local nurseries the dormant-packed roses typically arrive from about December through February, so shop early for the widest selection. While you are getting beds ready, it is also a good time for rose and garden cleanup in preparation for winter.
How to Plant a Bare-Root or Dormant Rose
Planting a bare-root rose is simple once the roots are hydrated and the hole is ready. Work through these steps:
- Pick a sunny spot. Roses do best with six or more hours of direct sun and well-drained soil with a pH near neutral.[4]
- Soak the roots. Place the bare-root rose in a tub of water for 12 to 24 hours before planting to rehydrate the roots.[3] Soak only if you will plant promptly; if you cannot plant for a day or two, hold off on soaking.[5]
- Dig a wide hole and build a cone. Dig a hole large enough to spread the roots, roughly 18 to 20 inches across, and mound amended soil in the bottom. Drape the roots evenly over the cone.[3][5]
- Set the bud union at the right height. In Southern California’s mild climate, position the plant so the swollen graft (bud union) sits at or about an inch above the soil line.[4][3] In cold-winter regions growers instead bury the bud union a couple of inches below the surface for protection, but that is not needed in our climate.
- Backfill and water in. Fill in around the roots, form a watering basin, and water well so the soil settles around the roots. Keep mulch pulled back from the bud union.[3][5]
- Trim the canes. Cut the canes back to about six inches with three to five healthy buds, which works out to roughly six to eight inches above the graft union.[3][6]
Give hybrid tea and floribunda roses about two to three feet of space so they have room and good air circulation.[5] For a deeper walkthrough and year-round care, see our 10 steps to plant your dormant rose, and later in the season our guide to fertilizing roses and shrubs.
Ready to plant? Green Thumb Nursery carries bare-root and dormant-packed roses through the winter season. Visit any location and our team will help you choose varieties that thrive in your part of Southern California and set them up for a strong spring.
Dormant and Bare-Root Rose FAQ
Do rose bushes go dormant?
Yes. Rose bushes go dormant in late fall and winter, slowing down to rest before regrowing in spring. In Southern California’s mild winters they usually go only semi-dormant and may keep some old leaves.[1]
When do roses go dormant?
As the days shorten in fall and nights turn cold, roughly late fall into winter. Because our California winters are mild, local roses sleep lightly rather than shutting down fully.[1]
What does a dormant rose bush look like?
In cold-winter areas it is a set of bare, leafless canes. In Southern California a resting rose often still holds some old leaves, so the real sign is that it has stopped putting out new growth.[1]
Can you plant roses in winter?
Yes, and in Southern California winter is the ideal time. Bare-root (dormant) roses are sold and planted during the winter dormant season so their roots can establish before spring.[4]
What is the best time to plant roses in Southern California?
Winter, about January into February. UC’s California rose calendar lists January as the month to buy, plant, and prune roses and February as the last month to plant bare-root roses.[2]
Sources
- [1] UC Master Gardeners of Alameda County, Putting Your Roses to Bed for the Winter: ucanr.edu
- [2] UC Master Gardeners of San Luis Obispo County, Rose Care Calendar: my.ucanr.edu
- [3] UC Master Gardeners of San Luis Obispo County, Bare Root Roses: ucanr.edu
- [4] UC Statewide IPM Program, Roses: Cultural Practices and Weed Control: ipm.ucanr.edu
- [5] Missouri Botanical Garden, Roses: missouribotanicalgarden.org
- [6] Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC, Growing Roses: hgic.clemson.edu
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