When Do Roses Come Out of Dormancy? A Guide to the Rose Growing Cycle

One of the highlights of spring is seeing rose bushes burst into lush green growth and colorful blooms. But when exactly do roses transition from bare dormancy to active growing mode? Understanding the natural cycle of rose plants helps time pruning feeding and other care tasks for optimal health and flowering.

What Is Dormancy in Roses?

Dormancy is a period of arrested growth that many plants enter to survive harsh conditions like winter cold or summer drought Metabolic activity slows down dramatically Leaves drop and plants go into energy conservation mode. This gives them resilience to temperature extremes and other stresses.

During dormancy, roses:

• Lose all their leaves
• Stop actively growing
• Halt blooming
• Minimize metabolic functions to require less energy

Entering dormancy allows rose bushes to safely overwinter. In spring, warming temperatures break dormancy, restarting the growth cycle.

Do All Roses Go Dormant?

Interestingly not all roses actually become fully dormant

• Non-repeat blooming roses (like heirloom varieties and old garden roses) naturally go dormant after flowering or when cold weather arrives.

• Repeat blooming roses are bred to bloom continuously through the season. They do not typically go into true dormancy, instead taking short breaks between flower cycles.

• Climbing roses also generally stay semi-active over winter in warm zones, only losing some leaves.

So in general, continuously blooming modern roses will not experience the depth of dormancy that old roses programmatically go through. But all roses need some period of winter rest.

When Do Roses Enter Dormancy?

The timing varies slightly depending on climate:

• In northern zones, roses enter dormancy in late fall as temperatures drop and daylight wanes. This coincides with the first hard frosts.

• In warmer southern climates, roses may remain actively growing into winter, only going dormant when cold snaps hit.

On average, roses enter dormancy between October and December as colder weather settles in. Day length declining below 10 hours also prompts dormancy.

Roses require a certain number of chilling hours below 45°F to break dormancy, ranging from 200-800 hours depending on variety.

Signs Roses Have Gone Dormant

How do you know when rose bushes reach their period of winter rest? Look for these cues:

• Leaves dropping – Foliage will yellow then shed entirely by late fall.

• No new growth – Dormant roses halt any extension of canes or forming of flower buds.

• Dieback of small branches – Tips may turn brown and die back due to cold injury.

• Lack of blooms – Flowers cease as plants go into energy preservation mode.

• Blackened hips – Any remaining rose hips from summer will shrivel and turn black.

• Bark slips easier – Canes lose moisture making bark more prone to slipping when rubbed.

Once roses lose all foliage and stop all growth, they have entered dormancy.

When Do Roses Break Dormancy?

Dormancy ends when conditions improve and roses resume active growth. But what triggers roses to wake back up?

• Warmer temperatures – Daytime highs consistently above 50°F energize roses.

• Increased daylight – 12-14 hours of sun prompts growth hormones.

• Chilling hours met – Each variety requires a set amount of chilling for dormancy release.

This wakeup call comes at different times based on climate:

• In warmer zones (7-9), roses may only go dormant briefly and begin new growth as early as January.

• In colder areas, roses break dormancy starting in March when temperatures have warmed sufficiently.

• Across most regions, roses transition out of dormancy March-April on average.

Signs Roses Are Waking Up

Look for these clues that rose dormancy has ended and new growth will soon emerge:

• Swelling leaf buds – Buds fatten just before sprouting new foliage.

• Green shoots – New canes begin pushing out leaves.

• New basal canes – Extensions form from the bud union at ground level.

• Loose bark – Bark begins slipping more as sap flow resumes.

Once buds have swollen, expect small leaves to unfold within days as roses launch back into growth and flowering mode.

Timing Rose Care Around Dormancy

Knowing when roses go dormant in fall and reawaken in spring allows you to plan seasonal care effectively:

• Prune in late winter just before dormancy ends to maximize growth.

• Apply dormant spray treatments to control pests while plants are inactive.

• Plant new roses in winter during dormancy.

• Hold off fertilizing until dormancy has fully ended.

• Watch for early sprouts if warmer weather arrives early and break dormancy sooner.

Syncing rose care routines to the dormancy cycle results in healthier plants and maximum flowers.

For non-repeat bloomers that go fully dormant, understand dormancy is essential to their growth pattern. Allow them an uninterrupted rest period for reblooming the following year.

So keep an eye on your roses and note when dormancy begins and ends in your climate. Adjusting care to match their seasonal rhythms will yield happy, vigorous rose bushes for years to come!