Deep Rich Orange-colored Roses to Grow

Climate

• The color of a rose is influenced by temperature and sun exposure. It may be a deep, rich, orange in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 8 and below but, when grown in warmer USDA zones 9 and above, it may be quite a bit paler. The petals will also develop a sort of sunburn where the top petal becomes pale but the petals beneath stay darker. This change in color will even vary from season to season. Darker colors are produced in the spring and fall while lighter shades occur in the heat of the summer. In hot climates, planting the rose where it is exposed to direct sunlight early in the day with shade in the afternoon can help retain that deep, rich orange color. Roses are generally hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9, but this may vary depending on the hybrid or cultivar.

Miniature Roses

• “Coffee Bean“ (Rosa “Coffee Bean” or WEKdoudou) and “Smoke Rings” (Rosa “Smoke Rings”) are orange-flowering miniature roses that are ideal for small gardens. They can also be accent plants or can be planted along the front of border landscapes. They both grow to a height and width of 1 to 2 feet and have very good disease resistance. Their flowers are mildly fragrant and produced in sprays with multiple blooms on each stem. “Coffee Bean” flowers are 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide with 20 petals each. The petals are smoky orange-red on the top and rusty-orange underneath. In cooler weather the smoky shading will be more pronounced. “Smoke Rings” flowers are 1 1/2 inches wide with 15 to 20 petals each. The petals are a deep, rich, melon orange with orange-yellow at the center of the flower and a smoky-purple tint along the outer edge. The purple edge becomes more pronounced in cooler temperatures.

Hybrid Teas

• “Dolly Parton” (Rosa “Dolly Parton”) and “Fragrant Cloud” (Rosa “Fragrant Cloud”) are orange-flowering hybrid teas that are ideal for border or foundation landscapes but can also be grown as accent plants in larger landscapes. They are medium-sized bushes that usually grow to about 4 feet tall but, in mild winter climates, they may grow quite a bit taller. Both of them have very fragrant flowers which are produced in flushes from spring to fall. “Dolly Parton” has 6-inch wide flowers with 35 to 40 petals each. They are deep, rich orange with a hint of red. “Fragrant Cloud” is one of the parent plants for “Dolly Parton.” It, too, has large flowers with 25 to 30 petals each. They are a deep, rich orange with a hint of coral. The flowers on both of these roses are produced singly, or one bloom per stem.

Floribundas

• “Light My Fire” (Rosa “Light My Fire” or “Jacorflo”) and “Marmalade Skies” (Rosa “Marmalade Skies” or “MEImonblan”) are orange-flowering small- to medium-sized floribunda roses. They can be planted in border or foundation landscapes, as accent plants or in containers. “Light My Fire” grows to a height and width of 2 feet but produces large, 4-inch wide flowers with 17 to 25 petals each. The flowers are a deep, rich orange and mildly fragrant. It is hardy in USDA zones 6 to 10, has good disease resistance and is not bothered by high heat and humidity. “Marmalade Skies” grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet and produces clusters of smaller, mildly fragrant flowers. Each flower has 20 to 25 deep, rich, tangerine-orange petals. Both of these roses bloom off and on from spring to fall.