Read the commented moss rose profile here for useful information about growth, flowers and leaves. Many care tips worth reading about Rosa centifolia muscosa and beautiful moss rose varieties.
What are the characteristics of a moss rose?
The moss rose (Rosa centifolia 'Muscosa') is characterized by its mossy buds, sepals and stems. It grows as a deciduous shrub and produces semi-double, intensely fragrant, pink flowers. Moss roses are hardy and are suitable for natural gardens, cottage gardens and as hedge plants.
Profile
- Scientific name: Rosa centifolia ‘Muscosa’
- Synonym: moss rose, Provence rose
- Rose group: centifolia (Rosa x centifolia)
- Family: Rosaceae
- Growth type: deciduous shrub
- Growth habit: overhanging, spreading
- Growth height: 100 cm to 150 cm
- Leaf: pinnate, sawn
- Flower: half full
- Fruit: Rose Hip
- Winter hardiness: hardy
- Use: natural gardens, cottage gardens
Growth
The moss rose is an unusual variant of the centifolia Rosa x centifolia, also called the Provence rose. Centifolias are one of the historic rose varieties that delight with lush, double flowers. Rosa centifolia muscosa surpasses other centifolias with a detail worth seeing. Buds, flower stalks and sepals are covered with curled leafy growths and green oil glands. This makes these parts of the plant appear like moss, which is what the name moss rose refers to. In the 18th and 19th centuries, moss roses were an integral part of traditional cottage gardens. Today the wild, romantic flower beauties are experiencing a revival thanks to these growth characteristics:
- Growth type: large rose bush with single-blooming, semi-double pink flowers, mossy buds, sepals and stems.
- Growth habit: upright, bushy-sprawling, overhanging.
- Height: 100 cm to 150 cm, rarely up to 200 cm.
- Growth width: 70 cm to 120 cm, rarely up to 150 cm.
- Roots: Deep Roots
- Ghorticulturally interesting properties: hardy, easy to care for, he althy leaves, bee-friendly, ecologically valuable, heavily spined, non-toxic, intensely fragrant, long flowering period, pruning not mandatory.
Bloom
Its majestic growth habit combines Rosa muscosa with these flower characteristics:
- Flower shape: half-filled, hemispherical, mossy calyx.
- Flower arrangement: in clusters.
- Flower size: 4 cm to 10 cm in diameter.
- Flower color: pink
- Special feature: exudes a spicy scent.
- Flowering time: blooms once from June to July, moss rose varieties bloom from June to September.
Thanks to the semi-double flowers, wild bees, beetles and other pollen-collecting insects do not go away empty-handed when they visit a Provence rose. Pollinated, hermaphrodite moss rose flowers transform into red rose hips with numerous seeds, which hungry birds greatly appreciate as a winter food source.
Leaf
Pretty moss rose leaves with these characteristic identifying features serve as a green canvas for the pompous flower festival:
- Leaf shape: petiolate, imparipinnate.
- Feathered leaves: elliptical to ovoid with serrated leaf margin.
- Leaf color: green, slightly shiny.
- leaf arrangement: opposite
Usage
Since the moss rose was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the 10 best rose varieties by the World Rose Convention, its use in hobby gardens is picking up again. The following table of ideas would like to inspire you where and how you can impressively showcase the fairytale flowers:
| Garden | Idea | Balcony/Terrace | Idea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottage Garden | as the centerpiece in the rose rondel | Bucket | Eye-catcher next to the seat |
| Country house garden | Greenery for the picket fence | Flower box with trellis | flowering privacy screen |
| Natural Garden | integrated into the bird-friendly mixed hedge | Patio privacy screen | Moss rose hedge |
| Fragrance Garden | in a duet with climbing roses at the rose arch | Wicker basket | nostalgic bee pasture |
| Front yard | Solitaire in the lawn |
Planting moss rose
In nurseries and garden centers you can buy bare-root or potted moss roses starting at a price of around 12 euros. Rosa muscosa is cheaper to plant after propagation using cuttings. The best time to plant is in autumn. Find out where and how to properly plant a moss rose in these tried-and-tested tips:
Propagation
June and July are the best times to propagate roses from cuttings. Overwintering under glass promotes growth and blooms. How to do it right:
- Cut off an annual or this year's branch without buds.
- As a cutting, cut out a 15-20 cm long center piece (interface just below or just above a leaf).
- Leave the lower half of the moss rose cuttings and place them in willow water for 48 hours.
- Place two thirds of each cutting in loose, permeable potting soil and water.
- Keep slightly moist in a bright, warm location, do not give rose fertilizer.
- Overwinter moss rose cuttings brightly and frost-free from November to March.
Location
These are the ideal conditions for a moss rose:
- In a sunny to partially shaded location.
- Airy, rain-protected location for best leaf he alth.
- Normal garden soil with a pH value of 6.5, preferably humus, loose, permeable and freshly moist.
Extra tip: When choosing a location, follow the rule of thumb: “Moss rose is never planted after moss rose or other roses”. Due to soil fatigue, a crop rotation of 5 to 7 years is strongly recommended for all rose varieties.
Planting
The correct planting technique depends on whether it is a bare-root or potted moss rose. The following planting tips explain what really matters:
- Preparation: bare root moss rose for 24-48 hours, place potted material in water for 5 minutes, loosen the soil thoroughly.
- Plant cutting root product: shorten all shoots by 10-15 cm, cut back roots by 1-2 cm.
- Planting container rose: not required.
- Planting depth: Plant the grafting point 5 cm deep into the soil, plant ungrafted moss roses as deep as before in the growing bed or pot (note the soil mark on the shoots).
- Planting distance: Solitaire 1, 20-2, 00 m, hedge 80-100 cm.
- Hill up: After planting, pile up the bare root rose to two thirds of its height with compost soil.
- In the pot: Plant the moss rose in a 40 cm high pot in rose soil over expanded clay drainage.
Please do not add rose fertilizer or compost to the planting hole. This does not contradict the fact that you enrich the excavated earth with a handful of horn shavings for an extra portion of nutrients.
Excursus
Rosenthal Sanssouci – Homage to the Moss Rose
With a fine porcelain collection, the traditional Rosenthal company pays homage to the historic moss rose. The nostalgic rose is beautifully presented on cups, plates, bowls and jugs, framed by shimmering polished gold. For many decades, Rosenthal has been interpreting the moss rose decor in ever new porcelain series, such as the legendary 'Pompadour Moosrose Ramona' or 'Moliere Moosrose' and 'Rosenthal Classic Rose Collection'.
Care for moss rose
The moss rose is easy to care for. Water and nutrient supply as well as pruning care and wintering are at a beginner-friendly level. The best care tips for Rosa centifolia muscosa to read:
Pouring
- Water the moss rose as needed when the soil is noticeably dry (finger test 1-2 cm deep).
- Ideally, water more rarely and thoroughly (30 l/m²), rather than daily in small amounts.
- Important: Always let irrigation water run directly onto the root disc (leaf moisture attracts pathogens).
Fertilize
You fertilize a planted moss rose in two stages. This is how it works:
- Administer a special rose fertilizer (€7.00 on Amazon) at the end of March and end of June according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Natural gardeners fertilize with compost, horse manure, bark humus or horn shavings.
- Mulch regularly with nettle leaves, straw, grass clippings or compost soil.
- Brushing the root disc with potassium-rich comfrey manure strengthens winter hardiness.
- From August onwards, stop fertilizing a moss rose so that the rose branches mature.
Organic rose fertilizer provides moss roses with the right nutrient combination of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in harmony with nature.
Cutting
Moss roses bloom on perennial wood. Pruning is therefore not mandatory. It is best to cut moss flowers like once-blooming shrub roses. You can read a detailed cutting tutorial here. Speed readers will find out all the important aspects in these tips:
- Thimout the moss rose bush at the end of February, remove withered flowers and rosehip mummies.
- After the flowering period, cut back all long shoots that protrude from the moss rose.
- Place rose scissors just above one eye, ideally as a derivation cut.
You can see how easy it is to cut a moss rose in the following video:
Video: James the gardener explains pruning care for roses that have bloomed once
Wintering
All moss rose varieties are grateful for this light winter protection:
- In November, pile up the flower stalks to a height of 20 cm.
- Place needle sticks in the ground around the moss rose bush.
- Place potted roses on wood, mulch with straw, cover container with fleece or jute.
Diseases and pests
Fungal diseases and pests have a hard time on a robust moss rose. If the historic rose beauty is granted an airy, rain-protected location, you will rarely have to complain about powdery mildew, black mold or aphids. For this reason, moss roses should never be watered from above using the watering can shower attachment.
Popular varieties
These magnificent rose varieties emerged from the historic moss rose (Rosa centifolia muscosa):
- Rosa centifolia muscosa 'Rubra': historical moss rose variety with violet-red to purple-red, lush double flowers and a particularly long flowering period from June to September.
- Mme de la Roche Lambert: rare, deep pink moss rose, blooms multiple times from June to September, height 100-150 cm.
- Nuits de Young: darkest moss rose born in 1845, blooms from June to July with black-red, bulging flowers, height 100-150 cm.
- Mousseux Ancien: legendary moss rose, vintage 1825, blooms once with purple-pink, densely mossy calyxes, height 100-120 cm.
FAQ
Are moss roses suitable as cut flowers?
Moss roses are excellent cut flowers. For a long-lasting, lush, romantic bouquet, cut flower stems with closed and half-open buds. Before placing in the vase, cut each stem diagonally with a sharp knife. This complementary cut ensures optimal water absorption. In a bright, not too warm location, the nostalgic flowers will last for weeks if you change the flower water every two to three days.
Is the moss rose multi-flowering?
The majority of moss roses bloom once, like all old rose varieties. The flowering period usually extends from June to July or August. A few moss rose varieties have multiple blooms. This includes, for example, the historic variety 'Mme de la Roche Lambert', which produces pink flowers from June to September.
My moss rose isn't blooming. What to do?
There are generally two reasons why a moss rose flower fails. Pruning in spring removes most of the buds that have formed on the perennial wood. Once the rose has bloomed, the time window for pruning only opens in August when all the flowers have withered. The second cause is incorrect nutrient supply. Commercially available fertilizers contain too high a nitrogen concentration and too low a phosphorus content. Phosphorus is the most important nutrient for lush flowering. In the future, fertilize with a special rose fertilizer.
Should you cut off wilted flowers from a moss rose?
For aesthetic reasons, you can clean up wilted moss rose flowers. However, since this is a rose variety that blooms once, cutting does not encourage re-blooming. Furthermore, in autumn you will look in vain for the bright red rose hips that all rose varieties form with single or semi-double flowers.
