Winter Rose Christmas Rose

The blooms of Christmas Roses are up to 8cm across and open on deep stems above the leaves. They are more bold than many of the hybrids, with outward facing flowers. They open in good time for Christmas … in July! The common name is European so sadly we won’t be having them at Christmas but we can certainly enjoy them in winter.
Christmas Roses are real gems for the winter garden, flowering while many plants are dormant. The long lasting flowers are brilliant white and have some pink variations. The buds may be pink and the flowers may age with a pink flush.
The deep green, leathery foliage of Christmas Roses is a year round feature. This is species variety that is rarely seen so worth snapping up. The leaves may brown and fall in winter before being quickly replaced by fresh foliage. This is a great advantage as it better shows off the flowers.
Christmas Roses are both low maintenance and really hardy. They are useful for growing in hard to fill shaded areas such as beneath deciduous trees. It is best to ensure they are planted in part shade or morning sun for optimal results as they need a bit of winter sun in order to bloom. In heavy shade they will grow but not flower as well as they could. They can also be grown in pots.
Plant Christmas Rose in well drained, humus rich soil. Water to establish, then keep moist when in flower. The plants become dry tolerant as they establish. Christmas Rose flowers can be picked, you can use the stems in a vase or cut them off to float the blooms in a bowl.
Christmas Rose is variably known as Lenten Rose, Brumal Rose, Clove-Tongue, Bear’s Foot and St Agnes’ Rose.