How To Grow And Care For Honey Perfume Roses

Rosa 'Honey Perfume' brings bright color and inviting fragrance to Southern gardens. These cultivars are Floribunda roses, deciduous shrubs in the family Rosaceae, and their showy blooms appear in eye-catching peach, apricot, and yellow hues. The blossoms are intensely fragrant, so they get the apt name "Honey Perfume." While we love red and pink roses, peachy flowers will always have a place in our gardens, and with a fragrance this memorable, we look forward to these blooms season after season.

As they grow, 'Honey Perfume' roses form a compact shrub that grows to four feet tall and two to three feet wide. Their full, frilly blooms appear in summer—usually in May—and continue until frost. They bloom in abundant clusters and can be counted on to rebloom throughout the year. They're grown for their attractive appearance as well as their strong fragrance. The foliage is deciduous and dark green.

'Honey Perfume' roses were hybridized by Dr. Keith W. Zary in 1993 and have become garden favorites in the decades since they appeared. Plant your own, and you'll soon see why so many Southern gardeners covet their fragrant blooms.

Plant Attributes

• Common Name: "Honey Perfume' rose, JACarque
• Botanical Name: Rosa hybrid
• Family: Rosaceae
• Plant Type: Perennial, Rose, Shrub
• Mature Size: 3-4 ft. tall, 2-3 ft. wide
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Loamy, Moist, but Well-drained
• Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (5.6-6.5)
• Bloom Time: Late Spring, Early Summer
• Flower Color: Yellow, Apricot
• Hardiness Zones: Choose from Zones 5-9 (USDA)
• Native Area: North America, Hybridized in the U.S.

'Honey Perfume' Rose Care

According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, these roses are "best grown in medium moisture, slightly acidic, well-drained garden loams in full sun. Tolerates some light shade, but best flowering and disease resistance generally occur in full sun." They thrive in full sun with regular water and maintenance. The Missouri Botanical Garden recommends that gardeners "water deeply and regularly (mornings are best). Avoid overhead watering. Good air circulation promotes vigorous and healthy growth and helps control foliar diseases. Summer mulch helps retain moisture, keeps roots cool, and discourages weeds. Remove spent flowers to encourage rebloom."

Light

While shade-tolerant, these flowers grow best in full sun—a minimum of four hours daily and preferably six to eight hours.

Soil

Slight acidic soil that is well-draining and rich in organic matter is best. It will tolerate most soils—chalky, clay, sandy— but a loamy soil new to growing roses will produce the most fragrant and showy blooms.

Water

Water thoroughly when establishing growth. After, only water when needed as too much water can push the nutrients away from the roots. Withering leaves are a sign of water distress.

Temperature and Humidity

'Honey Perfume' Roses can withstand hot summer temperatures and will continue looking fresh until the fall. These flowers like the sun and tolerate colder conditions.

Fertilizer

Use an all-purpose fertilizer in the early spring after the last chance of frost and before new growth. You can also use fertilizer throughout the growing season to encourage fresh blooms.

Pruning

Prune only if necessary to remove damaged branches or to promote new growth. Additional reasons include increasing air circulation, removing faded blooms, or shaping the plant. Use sharp pruning shears and cut cleanly at an angle.

Propagating 'Honey Perfume' Roses

Since the 'Honey Perfume' Rose is a trademarked hybrid, propagation from cuttings and seeds is not allowed as it is patented. Always check flower trademarks before propagating.

Overwintering

Depending on the variety, roses can be susceptible to damage from the drop in temperatures and frosts throughout the winter. To protect this flower throughout the winter and during its dormancy, follow these steps:

1. Start by pruning buds and stray or small branches—leave at least three of the thickest canes (branches that bear thorns, leaves, and flowers).
2. Remove remaining leaves.
3. Use twine (or something that will not decay) to tie the canes together at the base.
4. Spray the branches with fungicide and allow enough time to dry. You can also use a dormant oil spray to prevent soil diseases.
5. Make a space near the plant's roots (be sure not to damage the roots) and fill it with compost to help keep the soil enriched throughout the winter. Try pine needles, shredded leaves, or grass clippings.
6. Move the rose into the space you just created and cover it with soil.
7. Water and cover it with a tarp or blanket until the final frost.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Some pests affecting 'Honey Perfume' Roses include aphids, caterpillars, Glasshouse red spider mites, rabbits, rose leaf-rolling sawflies, and scale insects. Additionally, these flowers are susceptible to powdery mildew, rose rust, and rose black spots.

How to Get 'Honey Perfume' Roses to Bloom

This flower blooms on new wood in spring, so pruning after the last growth and before the first frost is the best way to care for these shrubs. Early pruning can also help encourage new growth of showy, fragrant blooms.

These plants have flowers with a double-bloom structure that form in clusters and moderately thorny stems. Flowers typically start as a shade of apricot and remain this hue until turning slightly more cream-colored as the petals begin to fade. The foliage is toothed and dark green throughout its bloom time.

The 'Honey Perfume' Rose can bloom as early as spring and continue to show through the summer until autumn.

Common Problems With 'Honey Perfume' Roses

Curling or Drooping Leaves

Despite loving the sun, these flowers can show signs of stress in the morning if not adequately watered. During the hottest summer months, leaves will curl or droop—as well as the branches—if you do not maintain consistent watering. These plants like well-drained soil, so using an irrigation system can help the water balance as too much water will cause diseases and fungi to grow.

Leaves Turning Yellow

It depends on the time of the year. If it is almost winter, yellow leaves signify your plant is preparing for dormancy. If your plant's leaves are yellowing unexpectantly, causes include overwatering, underwatering, sunlight imbalance, or lack of soil nutrients. Maintain moist, well-drained soil and add rich, organic, balanced fertilizer depending on your plant's requirements.