Let's Grow
About Red Drift® Rose
Red Drift® roses are the perfect variety of rose to grow in small spaces, but they make a huge impact in larger gardens too. These vivid red, double flowers adorn a small and compact plant that forms a soft and mounded shape as it grows. Planted along walkways or in containers, Red Drift® roses will soften hardscape lines and uplift your garden design with charming, miniature blooms. Their scent is evident in mid-season, but not overpowering.
Red Drift® rose is a hardy plant that was specially designed for its disease resistance and it doesn’t need to be sprayed to prevent the most common rose pathogens. This reblooming rose also has incredibly long lasting flowers, which you can enjoy from summer to fall and the gently cascading stems look delightful in planters or when allowed to trail down garden walls. Maxing out at around 18” in height, this plant can be grown just about anywhere, including on sunny front porches and balconies!
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Red Drift® Rose |
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Botanical Name |
Rosa 'Meigalpio' |
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Plant Hardiness |
Zone 4-10 |
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Mature Height |
18' |
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Mature Width |
2 to 3' |
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Sun Needs |
Full Sun |
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Does Not Ship To |
AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, PR |
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Special features:
- Reblooms summer through fall
- Brilliant red flowers
- Cascading growth habit
- Great for containers
- Disease resistant
How to care for roses
Drift roses, like Red Drift® roses, are easier to keep than other long-stemmed varieties, so they’re appropriate for beginning gardeners. When they bloom, you’ll be rewarded with sprays of tiny flowers that cover the entire plant.
Red Drift® roses are also naturally resistant to most common rose disease like black spot, mildew and rust and you won’t need to spray them. Just provide these plants with consistent moisture levels and a regular application of fertilizer throughout the growing season.
If you’re new to growing roses, learn how to plant a rose bush and other tips on how to grow roses in the easy tips below.
Best time of the year to plant roses
The best time of the year to plant rose bushes is either in spring after your last frost date or in autumn about 6 weeks before frost is expected. Planting at these times of the year will shield your plants against temperature extremes and give roots plenty of time to adjust to your garden.
Where to plant rose bushes
Like other rose varieties, Red Drift® roses will grow best in rich, well-draining soil. They can even adapt to clay earth, but they may not grow as well in very dry and sandy conditions. Amending your beds with a bit of compost or other organic matter prior to planting will enrich the soil around your plant and encourage more abundant blooms. Additionally, be sure your plants receive at least 6 hours of bright light daily for proper flower formation.
The mounding growth of drift roses makes them especially well-suited for planting in containers, along walkways or at top of stone or brick garden walls. When they bloom, the mini flowers will soften the lines around hardscape elements and they are perfect for cottage garden designs too!
How to plant roses
When you’re ready to plant your rose bush, dig a hole that is as deep as your plant’s nursery pot and 2 to 3 times as wide. Locate your plant’s root ball in the hole so it is at the same depth it was growing in its nursery pot then backfill the hole with soil. While it’s not necessary, adding a 2 to 3” layer of much around the base of your plant can reduce watering needs and suppress weeds as well.
After planting, Red Drift® roses don’t need a lot of extra care, but they will benefit from an annual trimming, which is best performed in early spring.
Growing roses in pots
The small size of Red Drift® roses also makes them perfect for container growing. Plus, keeping roses in pots will give you more decorating options and you can place plants on balconies, patios and other small spaces!
Any container you use to grow roses should be well-draining, which is why terracotta pots are a common choice. Select a pot that is as deep as possible, ideally at least 2 to 2 ½’ deep and 15 to 20” in diameter. Fill the pot with a rich, well-draining potting mix and then plant your rose bush. Plants kept in containers will need to be watered more often than plants in inground beds, but otherwise they have the same care requirements.
History of Red Drift® Rose
Most roses are native to Asia, although you can find some species naturally growing in other continents too. Roses were first cultivated in Asia about 5000 years ago and they have been one of the most popular ornamental plants ever since. While roses are often grown for cut flowers, some rose varieties also create edible rosehips and scented cultivars are must-haves in fragrance gardens.
While plant breeders have been developing new rose varieties for centuries, Alain Meilland is the genius behind Red Drift® roses, which were first released in 2005. Developed from several different rose types, including ‘The Fairy’ and ‘Kormax,’ Red Drift® roses feature incredible disease resistance and a darling, compact form.
Buying Red Drift® Rose at Cold Creek Nurseries
All of our plants come from the original breeders who are committed to growing roses from cuttings in order to preserve the unique characteristics of the parent plant. When you purchase Red Drift® roses from us, you’ll receive a sturdy and resilient plant with densely packed, miniature blooms and the other key features you’re looking for. When your roses arrive, just plant them in your garden and enjoy!
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