Do your rose bush’s leaves turn red? While red leaves can be a normal part of the bush’s growth pattern, they can also be a sign that something major is wrong. Anyone who loves roses should know the difference between normal growth and signs that something big is wrong with their rose bed or garden. Keep reading to learn more about what causes leaves to turn red on roses.
As a rose gardener, it can be concerning when you notice red leaves on your rose bushes. Sometimes red foliage is normal, but other times it can signal a more serious underlying issue. Read on to learn the reasons rose leaves may turn red and what you can do about it.
New Growth Is Red By Nature
The first thing to know is that new rose foliage emerging after pruning or deadheading often has a deep red or purplish cast. This is totally normal for many rose varieties. The red pigment helps protect tender new leaves from sun damage. As the leaves mature they typically turn green. But sometimes the red color persists along the leaf margins or veins. Again, this is natural especially if you’re growing a red-leaved variety. Enjoy the colorful new growth as a sign your rose bush is healthy and actively growing.
Environmental Stresses
While red new growth is normal, if mature leaves suddenly turn red, it could indicate a problem. Several environmental factors can stress roses and cause leaf reddening, including:
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Cold Weather – Early fall frosts or plunging winter temperatures can damage rose leaves. Damaged areas turn red or purple at first, later yellowing. Shelter plants to protect from extreme cold.
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Heat – In summer, intense sun and hot weather can scorch or sunburn rose leaves, turning edges red or brown. Dappled shade helps prevent this.
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Herbicide Drift – Exposure to drift from weedkillers like 2,4-D can make leaves twist, distort, and turn red. Keep roses protected if spraying nearby.
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Drought – Lack of water stresses roses Leaves may wilt, shrivel, and turn red or burgundy until watered again Deep weekly soakings prevent this.
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Nutrient Deficiencies – Lack of nutrients like nitrogen phosphorus iron, or magnesium can sometimes show as reddish leaves. Fertilize roses regularly to avoid shortages.
Diseases That Cause Red Leaves
Unfortunately, certain rose diseases also lead to red leaves. These include:
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Rose Rosette – This lethal viral disease causes distorted red foliage, excess thorniness, and witches’ broom growths. Remove and destroy affected plants immediately.
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Downy Mildew – This fungal disease leads to mottled yellowish-red leaves with dark undersides. Use fungicides to treat promptly.
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Rust – Rust fungus causes yellow/orange spots on upper leaves with rusty reddish spores on undersides. Apply appropriate fungicides.
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Black Spot – Though mostly causing dark spots, this fungus can sometimes make whole leaves turn red before they yellow and drop. Use preventive fungicides.
What To Do About Red Rose Leaves
If your rose leaves are reddening, first identify the cause. New growth? No problem! Environmental stress? Mitigate the issue. Disease? Treat appropriately.
Make sure you:
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Provide adequate water – about 1-2″ per week.
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Mulch to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature.
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Fertilize regularly with a balanced rose fertilizer.
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Watch for pests like aphids, mites, or thrips that can weaken plants.
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Prune lightly and regularly to encourage vigorous growth.
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Monitor for diseases and treat early.
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Shelter roses from extreme cold and heat.
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Rule out herbicide damage if leaves twist or distort.
With proper rose care and growing conditions, you can help prevent reddening leaves. But some red on new growth is perfectly natural, so enjoy that pop of color in your garden! It’s a sure sign of the beauty yet to bloom.
Common Questions About Red Rose Leaves
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about red leaves on rose bushes:
Why are the edges of my rose leaves turning red?
Red edges on mature leaves often indicate sunscalding, especially on hot southern exposures. Providing some shade should help prevent this. Make sure plants are well-hydrated too.
Why do knockout rose leaves turn red?
While very disease resistant, even knockouts can get Rose Rosette disease. Watch for distorted growth and excessive thorniness along with red leaves, and remove the plant immediately if these symptoms arise.
My rose leaves are turning red during winter – is this normal?
Some redness due to winter cold is expected, especially following a hard freeze. But excessive leaf drop or dieback indicates too much cold damage. Next winter, provide more protection such as hilling dirt around the base or covering the plant.
I have red spots and yellowing leaves – could this be black spot?
Black spot fungus usually causes distinct dark spots, not an overall red leaf color. But advanced infections can sometimes lead to reddish leaves as plants weaken. Try a fungicide labeled for black spot prevention. Improve air circulation around plants.
What nutrient deficiency causes red rose leaves?
Phosphorus deficiency can sometimes cause a purplish-reddish discoloration of leaves. Make sure roses are regularly fertilized with a balanced fertilizer containing phosphorus. Do a soil test to determine if the soil itself is lacking in phosphorus.
The Takeaway On Red Rose Foliage
While red leaves can be a worry, this guide will help you troubleshoot the causes and remedies for reddish rose foliage. Focus on providing ideal growing conditions for robust health. Monitor for pests and diseases and take prompt action when needed. With proper care, you can help keep those leaves green and gorgeous. But do enjoy that pop of crimson when new growth emerges – it’s a sure harbinger of flowers to come!
When Rose Leaves Turning Red Signal a Problem
If Jack Frost comes to visit our rose beds and there is a heavy enough frost, his cold touch can hurt the leaves on the bush. The rose bush’s leaves may change color as they die from this damage. The dead leaves may turn red, and the new leaves will usually be a mottled red and yellow color. As the seasons change, this is also a normal thing to see in the rose bed or garden. Now, if that growth turns bright red and the leaves become wavy, long, or crinkled, that could be a sign that something very bad is happening! It’s possible that some herbicide spray got on the leaves, or it could be the start of the terrible Rose Rosette disease, also called Witches Broom. Once the bush is infected with the Rose Rosette disease (virus), it is doomed. The bush and the immediate soil around it must be taken out and destroyed, tossed in the trash. It is a disease that kills and there is no known cure. The other rose bushes in your garden or rose bed will benefit from getting rid of and destroying the bush as soon as possible.
When a Rose Bush with Red Leaves is Normal
The new foliage of many roses starts out a very deep red to nearly purple in color. From this new growth comes the forming of buds and future beautiful blooms. Every time we deadhead our roses (remove the old blooms), we will see this new foliage coming forth. We are excited to see the blooms soon because of its rich, healthy color, which also lets us know the bush is happy and healthy. Most of the time, the deep red leaves will turn either a deep or light green color as they age. It happens on some roses that the deep red color of the leaves moves to the edges and stays there. It may appear that the edges of the leaves are burned in some manner. When we look more closely, we can see that the edges of the leaves have a nice sheen that goes with the green part of the leaf or leaves. The textures of the two areas and that little glisten tell us that things are okay. If the darker edges of the leaves look dry or broken, on the other hand, it could be chemical or heat stress burn.