The moss rose is a charming type of rose that has been cherished by gardeners for centuries.
Their beauty, hardiness, and low maintenance requirements have made them a popular choice for home gardeners and professional landscapers alike.
Read on for this complete guide to moss roses.
History Of The Moss Rose
Moss roses, also known by their scientific name, Portulaca grandiflora, are a popular flowering plant native to Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina.
It belongs to the family Portulacaceae and is characterized by its succulent, trailing stems, and bright, showy flowers.
Moss roses prefer full sun and well-draining soil and are drought-tolerant, making them an ideal choice for rock gardens, borders, and container gardens.
Because of its small stature, it is also commonly used as a ground cover, as it can spread quickly and form a dense mat of foliage and flowers.
How To Grow A Moss Rose
Climate and Soil Requirements
In order to grow strong, healthy moss roses, it is important to plant them in a climate that is reminiscent of their native home.
Moss roses have a preference for high heat and low humidity.
Ideally, the location where you plant your moss roses should have full sunlight, at least 6 hours per day.
As with most succulent plants, the moss rose prefers well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH between 6.0 and 6.5.
They thrive in soil that is sandy/rocky in nature.
This will provide your moss roses with enough drainage to allow the soil to remain lightly moist, but not waterlogged.
Watering and Fertilizing
Because moss roses are semi-succulent plants, they require very little water.
While moss roses will survive droughty conditions, they still require some moisture in order to produce flowers.
We recommend giving your moss roses one deep watering per week, assuming you have not received any rainfall.
Moss roses are tolerant of poor soil conditions and therefore do not need much fertilizer.
We suggest feeding your moss roses with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer at the time of planting.
This will help promote healthy growth and lush flowers.
You may also opt to fertilize your moss roses a second time using a higher phosphorous fertilizer, which will promote more blooms.
Pruning and Propagation
Moss roses need very minimal pruning in locations where they are hardy and survive year-round.
The ideal time to prune your moss roses is in the early spring, just before the new growth begins to come in.
We recommend pruning any branches that appear to be dead, diseased, or unproductive.
In addition, you can also thin out dense foliage. This will help increase air circulation and reduce the likelihood of fungal infection.
The easiest method of propagating a moss rose is via stem cuttings.
RELATED: How To Grow Roses From Cuttings
This can be done by selecting a branch that is at least 4 inches long with at least one node.
The stem should come from a mature, healthy “mother” plant.
Remove all leaves and flowers from the cutting and place the cutting in a bowl of water.
In the meantime, prepare a small plant pot with a pre-moistened mixture of sand, soil, and peat moss.
Bury the stem cut-side down into the soil.
The stem should be buried about three inches deep.
Cover the pot with a plastic wrap in order to create a greenhouse effect and increase the humidity.
Place the pot in a warm, sunny location and keep the soil evenly moist.
Typically it takes around two weeks for the cutting to form roots in the soil.
At this point, you may proceed to care for the cutting as you would with a normal moss rose.
How To Care For A Moss Rose
Pest And Disease Control
Moss roses are luckily resistant to most pests, however, there is a small possibility you may come across aphids.
Look out for the yellow, sticky substance that they leave behind as well as wilting foliage.
If your plant has symptoms of aphid infestation, then we suggest spraying an insecticidal soap on the affected foliage.
RELATED: Eliminating Aphids On Roses: A Step-by-Step Guide
Common diseases related to moss roses include mildew, blackspot, and root rot.
These diseases all share a common trait: too much water.
Overhead watering can cause trapped moisture, and combined with not enough airflow, can result in the development of mildew spores that wreak havoc on your plant. In addition, watering the soil too much can be counterproductive to the health of your plant and result in rotted roots.
Other Care Tips
Due to its small size, moss roses can be grown in containers.
When selecting a container to plant your moss roses in, we suggest a container that is a few inches larger than the diameter of the moss roses’ root ball.
In addition, we highly recommend selecting a container that is made from a porous material such as terra cotta or unglazed ceramic.
Top 8 Moss Rose Varieties For Your Garden
1. Alfred De Dalmas Rose
The Alfred de Dalmas rose was bred by Jean Laffay in France, in 1855.
| COLOR: Pink | BLOOM SIZE: Medium | FRAGRANCE: Moderate Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 2ft – 4ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun, Partial Shade |
The Alfred de Dalmas rose is unique compared to most other moss roses as this plant is tolerant of shady conditions.
We suggest planting the Alfred de Dallas in a location of your garden that does not get as much sunlight.
However, we suggest altering your water schedule in this situation, as these moss roses will not need as much hydration as a moss rose that lives in full sun.
USDA growing zone: 6b through 9b.
2. Crested Moss Rose
The Crested Moss rose was discovered by Kirche in Switzerland, in 1826.
| COLOR: Pink | BLOOM SIZE: Medium | FRAGRANCE: Strong, Centifolia Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 3ft – 5ft | FLOWERING: Once-Blooming | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
The Crested Moss rose has a very bushy growth habit.
This is great for ground covers, however bushy, dense foliage should be routinely monitored and pruned for signs of trapped moisture/mildew.
RELATED: How To Treat Powdery Mildew On Roses (DIY Tips)
We recommend watering your crested moss as close to the base of the plant as possible and avoid splashing the plant itself with water.
In addition, space out your individual Crested Moss roses about 3 feet apart.
This will promote airflow between each plant and reduce the risk of mildew spores.
USDA growing zone: 4b through 9b.
3. Deuil De Paul Fontaine Rose
Deuil de Paul Fontaine moss rose was bred by François Fontaine in France, in 1873.
| COLOR: Dark Purple | BLOOM SIZE: Large | FRAGRANCE: Moderate Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 3ft – 4ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
The vibrant purple hue and delightful fragrance of the Deuil de Paul Fontaine moss rose makes this rose perfect for cut flowers.
While moss roses are often meant for ornamental purposes, the Deuil de Paul Fontaine is unique in that it is excellent for a bouquet or floral arrangement.
USDA growing zone: 6b through 9b.
4. Gloire Des Mousseux Rose
Gloire de Mousseux rose was bred by Robert in France, in 1852.
| COLOR: Light Pink | BLOOM SIZE: Large | FRAGRANCE: Strong Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 5ft | FLOWERING: OnceFlowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
The Gloire de Mousseux rose has a globular and rosette form.
These are large, full flowers with about 26 to 40 petals each. They bloom only once during the growing season.
USDA growing zone: 6b through 9b.
5. Henri Martin Rose
Henri Martin rose was bred by Jean Laffay in France, before 1862.
| COLOR: Crimson | BLOOM SIZE: Medium | FRAGRANCE: Strong Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 5ft – 6ft | FLOWERING: Once Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
The Henri Martin rose is capable of living in zones as low as 4b, which can be quite frigid with a brief growing season.
If you do opt to grow Henri Martin roses in this climate, we suggest starting these roses indoors before moving them outside when the weather is warm enough to properly sustain them.
USDA growing zone: 4b and warmer.
6. Salet Rose
Salet rose was bred by François Lacharme in France, in 1854.
| COLOR: Pink | BLOOM SIZE: Very Large | FRAGRANCE: Moderate Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 3ft – 5ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
Salet roses are large, very full roses with a cupped-to-flat bloom form.
Each rose can contain about 50 petals per flower.
Salet roses typically have one bloom per season, though they may occasionally have a repeat bloom later on.
USDA growing zone: 5b through 9b.
7. Jeanne De Montfort Rose
The Jeanne de Montfort rose was bred by Robert in France, in 1853.
| COLOR: Light Pink | BLOOM SIZE: Large | FRAGRANCE: Strong Fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 6ft – 10ft | FLOWERING: Repeat Flowering | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
The Jeanne de Montfort tends to grow taller than most other moss roses, on average they can reach a height between 3 to 5 feet tall depending on the growing season.
For this reason, we suggest using your Jeanne de Montfort roses as an addition to a medium-sized hedge.
USDA growing zone: 6b through 9b.
8. Nuits De Young Rose
The Nuits de Young rose was bred by Jean Laffay in France, in 1845.
| COLOR: Dark Purple | BLOOM SIZE: Medium | FRAGRANCE: Strong fragrance |
| PLANT SIZE: 4ft – 5ft | FLOWERING: Once-Blooming | PREFERRED LOCATION: Full Sun |
The Nuits de Young rose is unique compared to other moss roses in that it can be grown as a climber.
Though they are small plants, you can use them as climbers for short fences or hedges.
In addition, Nuits de Young tends to grow suckers that need to be pruned.
Trace the sucker back to its base and cut the entire sucker off from the plant.
USDA growing zone: 3b through 9b.
FAQs
Do moss roses come back every year?
No. A moss rose is classified as an annual plant.
Annual plants are defined as a plant that lives its entire life in the span of one growing season.
While the length of the growing season depends on the climate and location, the moss rose is not meant to be grown for longer than one year.
Is moss rose an indoor plant?
You can start juvenile moss roses indoors, but they are outdoor plants and you should eventually transplant them when the weather permits.
Moss roses are not indoor plants and will have an even shorter lifespan if grown indoors.
Does moss rose like sun or shade?
Moss roses prefer abundant sunlight as opposed to shade.
So, sunlight is a necessity for the moss rose to produce flowers.
Aim for between 6 to 8 hours of sun per day.
Is moss rose poisonous to humans?
Yes, due to the calcium oxalate crystals in the moss rose, it is poisonous to both humans and animals.
Conclusion
Moss roses are a true gem of the rose world.
With their charming appearance, intoxicating scent, and low maintenance needs, they are a great choice for anyone looking to add some beauty and fragrance to their garden.
Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a beginner, moss roses are sure to delight you with their unique charm and long-lasting beauty.
Here are other types of roses you may like:
