First-Year Roses: Can You Expect Blooms?
If you just added a new rose to your garden, you may wonder when to expect the first flowers. We’ll cover if roses bloom the first year and introduce you to factors that impact flowering.
Will Roses Bloom The First Year? – Key Takeaways
While many rose varieties will bloom in their first year, it’s largely the type of rose you’re growing, its maturity stage when planted in the ground, and the general environmental conditions they are growing in.
In my experience, bare-root roses planted in early spring have a good chance to start flowering in late spring to early summer of the same year. Potted roses that are already in the growing phase may bloom even sooner.
However, some species of roses and old garden roses might need a couple of years to get established before they start flowering. It’s good to remember that the first year for any perennial plant is primarily about establishing roots. So while many will bloom, expect the flowers to be on the small side and somewhat underwhelming.
Rose care will also play a significant factor. Ensure that roses have the right conditions to thrive: lots of sunlight, well-drained soil, good air circulation, and regular watering, pruning, and fertilizing.
Understanding Rose Growth Cycles
Roses are typically grown via vegetative propagation methods rather than from seeds. These methods include stem cuttings, layering, grafting, and budding.
You can find roses for sale in various growth cycles, from new cuttings to small, established plants.
After the roses produce roots and shoots, they can send their energy into producing flower buds and flowers.
Since roses are perennials, they will live for multiple years. When spring arrives, the plants will begin producing new shoots. Eventually, the plants will produce buds and flowers.
Factors that Influence Rose Blooming
If you want to know if your rose plant will flower during the first year, you can look at the following factors.
The Type of Plant
The age of the plant plays a huge role in when (and how much) a rose plant blooms. If you’re purchasing a new rose plant, you have multiple options to choose from.
The most common forms of roses you can buy are bare-root roses and potted roses.
Bare-root roses are dormant plants without any soil. Once you plant them, they resume growth. Many of these roses may produce flowers in their first year but don’t expect many blooms.
Potted rose plants are actively growing and arrive in soil-filled pots. Since they are already growing, they put on new growth faster than bare-root plants, which means they produce more blooms in the first year.
The size of the potted plant can also affect the number of flowers—the larger the plant, the more flowers it will produce in the first year.
The Variety
Some rose varieties simply produce more flowers than others. Old garden roses typically bloom only once yearly, while modern garden roses produce new flowers throughout the summer.
Climbing roses, floribunda roses, hybrid tea roses, and miniature roses will all produce multiple rounds of blooms during a single growing season.
Environment
The environment will also impact the number of flowers that rose plants produce—roses like lots of direct sunlight, well-draining soil, and moderately moist soil.
Too little sun and soil that is too wet or too dry can lead to problems with flowering.
Pruning
Many types of roses bloom on new growth rather than older canes. Pruning can encourage plants to produce new growth and therefore produce more flowers.
Most types of roses will flower if you never prune them. However, pruning often increases the number of flowers the plants produce.
What Roses Bloom in the First Year?
Many types of roses will bloom in the first year, but the flowers will likely be small and few.
You should purchase larger plants if you want your roses to bloom the same year you plant them. That means looking for potted rose plants rather than bare root cuttings.
Tips for Encouraging Blooming
Follow these tips to end up with plants that are loaded with blooms.
Prune
Since many types of roses produce flowers on new growth, pruning can significantly impact the number of flowers a plant produces. However, if your rose has flowers on old growth, you don’t need to worry about pruning.
The best time to prune roses is in the late winter or early spring when the plants are still dormant. When you prune, use sharp and sanitized shears to speed up healing and prevent the spread of disease.
Start by removing any dead or diseased material, then remove canes that are rubbing up against others. You can also remove shoots that are thinner than a pencil.
Fertilize Properly
Applying fertilizer can help plants produce new flowers, but only if you choose the proper blend of nutrients! A balanced or nitrogen-rich fertilizer is excellent when rose vegetative is growing rapidly in the spring.
However, when mid-spring arrives, you should switch over to a product with higher amounts of phosphorus and potassium. Some products that can work well include Dr. Earth Bud & Bloom Booster and Fox Farm Big Bloom. Fertilize about once every two the three weeks through the end of the summer.
Will Roses Bloom The First Year FAQs:
Will Bare Root Roses Bloom the First Year?
Many bare-root roses will bloom during the first year, but they will produce few flowers.
When Should I Plant Roses?
The best time to plant roses is in the fall, about six weeks before the first frost or in the spring after the danger of frost has passed.
Why Isn’t My Rose Bush Blooming?
Lack of sun, too much nitrogen, and disease can all cause a lack of flowers. However, your plant may also be too young or outside the time of year when flowering occurs.
Wrapping Up
Most roses will produce flowers the first year, but the display won’t be showstopping. As long as you provide the proper care and environment, you can expect more flowers in the years ahead.
For more, see our in-depth guide to the best types of thornless climbing roses, whether roses will bloom indoors, how to grow roses from seed, rose plant deer resistance, the best types of native North American roses, the best types of species roses, the best types of edible roses, drying and preserving roses, how to press roses, whether roses will bloom all summer, and how to make fresh roses last longer in a vase.