How to plant julia child roses

Julia Child Roses: Care & Growing Guide

Erica Puisis

Erica Puisis writes about home products for The Spruce and specializes in interior design and plant care. She's contributed to Forbes and smart home blogs like Smart Home Solver and TechDigg.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 05/25/22

Reviewed by

Barbara Gillette

Reviewed by Barbara Gillette

Barbara Gillette is a master gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

The Spruce / Olivia Inman

In This Article

Care
Pruning
Propagating
Growing in Pots
Overwintering

The Julia Child rose is known for its luscious blooms and licorice-like scent. It is a smaller rose variety and is often grown in containers. Its three-inch double blooms are dense with soft yellow petals.

This rose is a floribunda variety, meaning it produces plentiful flowers in tight clusters. Deep green, leathery foliage creates a beautiful contrast against the yellow roses.

Developed in the United States in 2004 and introduced to the market by Weeks Roses, the common name of this plant comes from the famous chef Julia Child, who personally chose this rose to bear her name. These eye-catching blooms attract bees, butterflies, and birds and make great cut flowers.

Botanical Name	Rosa ‘Julia Child’
Common Name	Julia Child roses
Plant Type	Perennial
Mature Size	2-3 ft. tall, 2-3 ft. wide
Sun Exposure	Full, partial
Soil Type	Loamy, sandy, moist but well-drained
Soil pH	Acidic
Bloom Time	Spring, Summer, Fall
Flower Color	Yellow
Hardiness Zones	6-9, USA
Native Area	North America

Julia Child Rose Care

This rose variety is a perfect choice for gardeners who desire a luxurious rose in their garden without having to constantly tend to it. The Julia Child rose is low-maintenance and disease resistant. Its compact size allows this rose to be planted almost anywhere, from garden beds to containers.

Well-draining soil is key, as the Julia Child rose likes plenty to drink but dislikes soggy soil. Placing these roses in an area with good air circulation will help keep them healthy and free of moisture-related diseases. This variety is not often plagued by pests.

The Spruce / Olivia Inman

Light

The Julia Child rose likes a lot of sunshine and thrives when receiving 6-8 hours of sun exposure each day. Morning sunshine is best, as this allows the plant to dry early in the day and helps avoid moist conditions that can cause fungus or disease.

Soil

Well-draining soil is key for healthy roses. The Julia Child rose likes moist soil but never soggy soil. It prefers slightly acidic soil pH and can tolerate a wide range of soil types including sandy, clay, and loamy conditions.

Water

Ample water will keep these roses healthy and blooming. Water thoroughly and deeply, but be sure that the soil drains well so the roses do not sit in water. Water again once the soil begins to dry. You may water as little as once a week, but this rose's watering needs will depend on your location and climate conditions.

When watering Julia child roses, it is best to water heavily in the morning to allow the soil to drain before nighttime. Soggy soil during the night may increase the likelihood of problems with fungus or disease.

Temperature and Humidity

Julia Child roses are tolerant of heat and cold and can overwinter in freezing temperatures. They prefer moderate humidity, as high humidity can lead to fungal or disease problems.

Fertilizer

Because these roses are continuous bloomers, providing extra nutrients with a well-balanced fertilizer will help ensure healthy, plentiful blooms. Start in the early spring when the leaves begin to appear. Feed again in early summer to encourage healthy blooms.

Depending on your location and the length of the growing season, you may wish to fertilize again in mid-summer. Stop fertilizing in late summer to allow younger growth to harden before winter.

Pruning Julia Child Roses

Heavy pruning of floribunda roses is best done in the early spring before any leaves appear. Trim away any dead or damaged branches. Since this type of rose produces abundant growth, don't be hesitant to eliminate any branches that look weak. Shape your rose bush by pruning branches that overlap. This will eliminate any competition for sunlight once the leaves grow in.

After shaping the rose bush, trim about one-third of the remaining branches to encourage new, healthy growth. You may wish to prune the bush throughout the growing season to keep its shape.

Propagating Julia Child Roses

The Julia Child rose is patented, which means that propagating and creating more of this patented plant is, in fact, a form of stealing and is considered illegal. If you want to add more of these beautiful bloomers to your garden, return to the nursery or garden center where you purchased them.

Potting and Repotting Julia Child Roses

Because of their compact size, Julia Child roses are wonderful container plants. Be sure to choose a container with plenty of drainage holes since these plants are sensitive to excessive moisture. Potted roses will need more frequent watering than those in the garden, making adequate drainage very important. When the soil begins to dry, water thoroughly until the entire root ball is soaked, then allow all excess water to drain out of the pot.

Julia Child roses do well in large patio pots and enjoy ample room for the roots to grow. If the rose bush outgrows the pot, gently loosen the rose from the pot and move to a larger pot. Amend the soil with compost or fertilizer before filling it in. Early spring is the best time to repot roses.

Overwintering Julia Child Roses

Apply a heavy layer of mulch around the base of this plant to protect it from the cold. Remove this layer in the early spring, being sure to clean away any dead plant debris. Dispose of this to remove any overwintered pests.

To overwinter roses grown in containers, either bring them into an unheated garage or shed or cover them with mulch and wrap the pot in burlap.

10 Colored Roses You Can Grow

Julia Child’s Rose Info and Care

Do you wish to grow beautiful and luscious roses in your garden without having to deal with the work they come with?

In that case, Julia Child’s rose is the right pick for you. This rose is low in terms of maintenance and resistance to disease. You can plant this small-sized almost anywhere–even in containers!

This blog post will go over Julia Child’s Rose Info and Care and cover everything you wish to know.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

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Julia Child’s rose is a recent development and has been around since 2004. This variety of rose came into existence in the United States as an attempt to create a flower that not only smells divine but also blooms lusciously.

The rose is named after the famous chef, Julia Child and is marketed by the company, Weeks Roses.

Julia Child’s rose is of the floribunda variety, which means that the flowers bloom in tight clusters.

The roses stay relatively compact and the bush is about 2 to 3 feet in height, making it an excellent choice for patios and porches. The roses smell like licorice and bloom from spring to fall!

Heirloom Roses Rose Bush - The Julia Child™ Floribunda Plant , Live Plants for Outdoors , Own Root Bushes for Planting , One Gallon Potted Yellow Flowers

Own Root - All of our roses at Heirloom Roses are own root, which means they will produce more blooms, be more hardy, and stay true to variety throughout their lifetimes, contrary to grafted roses.
One Gallon - All of our roses are 12-16 months old and are delivered in one gallon containers with rich soil.
Continual Blooming & Hardy - Will bloom non-stop throughout the growing season. Hardy roses are easy to grow and low maintenance.
Lightly Fragrant
Hardiness Zones - 6-10

Planting the Julia Child’s Roses

Planting these roses isn’t too complicated and you don’t need to be an expert–or have a lot of experience to do so. How you should plant these roses depends on how you bought them.

If you got them from a local store, you can plant them directly into a pot until they start blooming and then relocate them to your garden.
If you got these roses shipped to you, you might probably have gotten a bareroot plant. It’s best to soak it overnight to rehydrate it before planting it in the soil.

Seems simple enough, right?

Caring for the Julia’s Child Rose: Here’s the Deal!

In this section of the article, we will go over some things you need to know to provide proper care to the Julia Child’s Rose.

One of the best things about the Julia Child’s Rose is that it is easy to maintain and hardy against pests.

Sunlight Needs

This variety of rose needs 6-8 hours of sunlight to thrive, however, it may start wilting in direct sunlight. The plant flourishes in morning sunlight–which is also the perfect time to plant it!

Soil and Water

The Julia’s Child rose does best in well-draining soil. Keep in mind that the soil shouldn’t be soggy, it should be moist for the best results. The rose prefers a higher pH and grows well in a variety of soils–loamy, sand, and clay conditions.

A lot of water is key to growing healthy and blooming roses.

You should water these roses early in the morning so that the soil drains before nighttime, decreasing the chances of running into problems like disease and fungus.

It’s best to deep water them once a week to ensure that the plant is properly hydrated.

Fertilizer

Julia Child’s roses are perpetual bloomers, which means they require more nutrients from the soil than an average rose. You should use fertilizer in the early spring as the new leaves and buds start making an appearance.

We also suggest that you fertilize mid-summer for the blooms, and stop during the fall.

Organic fertilizer is best for Julia Child’s roses. Not only is it inexpensive, but it’s also easily available.

Down to Earth Organic Rose & Flower Fertilizer Mix 4-8-4, 5 lb

Down To Earth Rose & Flower Mix is a five pound box of all natural fertilizer with 4-8-4 formula and supplies nutrients for vigorous growth and sensational flowers
A special fertilizer blend that provides ample nitrogen for vigorous growth, extra phosphorus for beautiful blooms and potassium and trace elements for healthy plant stock
Great for starting edible bulbs, like garlic and onion, apply when planting your favorite new roses, bulbs, perennials and use throughout the season when new growth appears on existing plants
Listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use in organic production and great to use on vegetable gardens, flower beds, containers and houseplants
Ingredients: Fish Bone Meal, Langbeinite, Blood Meal, Alfalfa Meal, Seabird Guano, Rock Phosphate, Humates and Kelp Meal

Temperature

This variety of rose is very hardy and can tolerate both hot and cold temperatures. They do best in moderate humidity.

Did we answer all of your questions?

Julia Child’s roses are one of the best choices for those new to gardening. These roses are easy to take care of and bloom beautifully throughout spring and right into fall!

They add a speck of color to your garden and smell unique.

You can plant them in your garden or in pots for your patio or porch. You should start pruning the rose in early spring and make sure that you clean up around the base of the plant.

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FAQ

How big does a Julia Child Rose Bush get?

The Julia Child Rose Bush is a medium-sized shrub, with a typical height and spread of 3 to 5 feet. If a larger bush is desired, you can pair one or two of these together. They also make excellent border plants.

Is Julia Child rose fragrant?

The absolutely fabulous Julia Child Rose has many wonderful traits, but one of its best is the wonderfully fragrant scent. It has a light, sweet, citrusy fragrance that makes it a perfect choice for your home or garden.

Is Julia Child rose grafted?

As with other floribunda roses, the Julia Child Rose is grafted. This means that it is a cross between two different plants that are grown onto one another, with their roots and stems connected. This creates a bush that is exceptionally healthy and disease resistant.

How does Julia Child Grow rose?

The Julia Child Rose is a vigorous grower, but it does not grow as rapidly as some other varieties. This makes it a good choice for the novice because it is quite easy to control in size. It can also be pruned to any height that you want by cutting off its growing tip.

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Rose "Julia Child" - description, photo and characteristics of the variety

Main characteristics:

Authors : carruth
Name synonyms : Julia Child nine0006
Selection year : 2004
Selection country : USA nine0006
Basic flower color : yellow
flower shape : cupped nine0006
Group : floribunda
flower size : large nine0006
Diameter cm : 9-10
Purpose : for single planting, for group planting, for growing in containers nine0006

See all features of

Floribunda rose Julia Child (Julia Child) - American profusely flowering variety, which can often be found in garden plots, decorated in different styles. Compact bushes with cupped yellow buds can be planted in groups or separately from other ornamental plants.

Who bred the variety and when? nine0031

Julia Child by Carruth was introduced in the USA in 2004.

Description of plant appearance and flowers

The bush is compact, looks neat, plentiful foliage. Plant height - 60-80 cm, diameter is 50 cm. Leaf plates are pale green in color, semi-glossy, medium in size. Flowers in bloom are cup-shaped, large, 9-10 cm in diameter, medium double, consist of 35 petals. The color can vary from pale yellow at the edges to amber-golden in the center. Buds form small few-flowered inflorescences up to 5 pieces. The aroma is strong, combining liqueur and sweet notes. nine0003

Features of flowering

Flowering is long, abundant, 2 times per season. Bushes bloom in June and completely shed their buds in late autumn.

Applications

Julia Child bright roses are used for single and group plantings, as well as as a container plant.

nine0030 Details of fit

Young plants can be transferred outdoors from March to May or August to October. The landing pit should be 80 cm deep and up to 50 cm wide. It should be prepared in the fall. A drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the hole, using expanded clay or crushed brick for this. The drainage layer should be about 15 cm thick. Next, the pit is sprinkled with fertile soil, which is mixed with mineral products. Until spring, fertilizers will dissolve, and the soil will slightly settle. nine0003

Seedlings are suitable for planting, the roots of which are about 20 cm long, as well as those with 2-3 or more powerful shoots, on which there are 6 buds. Before the planting procedure, all dry, rotten and damaged parts of the root system should be cut off, dried and weak shoots are removed, and the tops are cut in healthy ones.

The seedling is placed in the center of the hole and sprinkled with fertile soil from the top layer of soil. The grafting site should be 5 cm deep into the ground. The surface around the plant should be tamped and watered abundantly, 10 liters of water are consumed per bush. nine0003

Agrotechnics for cultivation and care

Spectacular garden roses Julia Child need periodic loosening of the soil in the root zone, as the root system of the culture needs a sufficient amount of oxygen. Watering should be plentiful, carried out once a week. It is recommended to fertilize 2 times per season: in spring (at the beginning of shrub growth) and in summer (after the first flowering has passed). Roses need to be fed with organic fertilizers (for example, rotted manure) and mineral. It is worth noting that an excess of nutrients in the soil negatively affects the condition of the rose. Every year, the bushes need to be pruned, getting rid of dry, damaged and weak shoots, and faded buds are also required to be cut off regularly. nine0003

Disease and pest resistance

Julia Child is highly resistant to diseases and insects that can harm the shrub. The rose is rarely affected by powdery mildew and black spot.

Frost resistant

In winter, bushes need good shelter. Preparations for winter should start from the beginning of November. For winter mulching of shrubs, peat and loose soil are used, which must be poured onto a pre-cut plant, forming a hill no higher than 15 cm. A layer of spruce branches is placed on top of a small hill. nine0003

Required climatic conditions

The variety Julia Child is recommended for growing in the middle lane and southern regions of Russia.

Pros and cons

Gardeners note the main advantages of Julia Child roses:

unusual color of flowers, their unique aroma;
profuse and long flowering; nine0006
excellent disease and pest resistance;
unpretentiousness;
sufficient winter hardiness;
very good rain resistance;
flowers do not fade in the sun;
compact bushes;
can be used for group and solitary plantings.

No objective minuses were found.

Rosa Julia Child is a very popular variety, as it has many virtues. Some consider it a disadvantage of the variety that it shows all its positive qualities only when grown in regions with a warm climate, but it is worth noting that shrubs perform well in cold regions if they are properly cared for, given the climate. nine0003

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