Tiger Stripes Rose Bush

MIniature Rose Background

• A miniature rose bush, such as "Tiger Stripes," is defined as having flowers no more than 1 1/2 inches across. Originally popular in the first decades of the 19th century, the little plants came back into fashion about the end of World War I. Twentieth century breeders produced hundreds of varieties in an array of colors. Upright miniatures, such as "Tiger Stripes," can grow 6 to 18 inches tall.

Culture Considerations

• "Tiger Stripes" and similar miniature roses are different from the small rose plants widely sold by mass merchandisers in winter and early spring. Those roses are meant mainly for immediate indoor display and usually do not thrive outdoors. "Tiger Stripes" and similar varieties generally are available from specialist nurseries and are bred to grow outside and survive cold winter temperatures. They require the same conditions as their larger relatives -- at least six hours of direct sunlight per day, well-drained soil and regular moisture. Removing the spent flowers stimulates rebloom.

Uses

• Short stature makes "Tiger Stripes" versatile. The plant can be used as an edging specimen or massed in the front of garden beds or borders. Its orange and yellow petals work well in hot-colored planting schemes that include other plants with similar bright flowers and leaves. The rose also is suitable for sunny window boxes and can be surrounded with trailing plants and used in hanging baskets. With its repeat-blooming habit, "Tiger Stripes" also succeeds in containers, either on its own or as part of mixed arrangements of sun-loving plants.

Plant Partners

• Underplant "Tiger Stripes" with low-growing ground-covers such as creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, or lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus), hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9. For contrast, intermingle the rose with plants in shades of blue or blue-purple, such as Carpathian harebell (Campanula carpatica), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 7. "Johnson's Blue" cranesbill (Geranium "Johnson's Blue"), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, and fall-blooming "Wood's Purple" aster (Aster "Wood's Purple"), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, also create good contrast.