Can Mini Roses Handle Cold Weather?

Winter Hardiness

• Depending on variety, miniature roses are hardy to at least U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 3, where winter lows can dip to minus 40 F, and are more likely to weather fierce winter storms than hybrid tea roses. They are also more disease-resistant than hybrid tea roses, making them a good choice for someone interested in a low-maintenance rose option. Shrub roses have similar hardiness and disease resistance.

Winter Protection

• Decrease the amount of water you give miniature roses slightly in the fall and don't fertilize them after early August to allow the plant to enter a dormant state. Mound the soil 2 inches around the base of the plant, but don't cover it, which may smother the plant. Cover the plant with fallen leaves or straw to protect it. Remove the covering slowly in the spring as new growth emerges. Water roses occasionally during the winter if the weather is dry.

Growing Conditions

• To improve a miniature rose's odds of surviving the winter, give it proper care during the summer. Allow the plant to adjust gradually to outdoor temperatures by setting it outside for a few hours each day for a week, gradually increasing the time spent outdoors. Plant the miniature rose in a sunny location in rich, well-drained soil. Water the plant frequently to keep the soil evenly moist and wash off any insect pests with a stream of water. Prune miniature roses back in spring to the lowest outward growing bud.

Uses

• Miniature roses' hardiness and compact size makes them useful in a variety of situations. Plant them at the front of a flower bed surrounded by trailing plants or use them in containers and baskets. Sink containers into the ground in the fall though, because containers don't provide the same winter protection as the earth, and the plants may not survive otherwise.