skip to main content

Desert Sun Intensity

11 years ago

My Full Sail, which probably gets the least amount of sun (3 - 4 hours) in my SoCal High Desert garden has 8 buds on it today. The foliage looks happy and healthy and growth is compact (newer rose). My Lasting Love, in the same area, also looks great.

I was wondering if the intensity of the desert sun means (some) roses can do well without a full 6 or 8 hours. We had two months of very hot weather which stressed out several of my roses to no end. Now that the weather has cooled, I have a great fall flush of blooms. Full Sail and Lasting Love held up better in the heat and I'm assuming it's because they had more shade.

Any other desert (or any) gardeners have thoughts about this?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

jerijen
11 years ago
Jim, many people who grow REALLY good roses in the CA desert and in Southern AZ and NV give their roses some shade, using shade cloth structures.

You might fine the Desert Rose Society (Palm Springs) website helpful. (see link below)

Jeri

Here is a link that might be useful: DESERT ROSE SOCIETY
Jim_in_AV
Original Author
11 years ago
Jeri,

Thank you! I found it VERY Helpful!
Related Discussions
Douglas Iris in Desert Heat & Sun
Q
Comments (8)
I think you might have a bit of a misconception on the native growing conditions of these plants. A good portion of the native range of this plant experiences very dry summers (it is a recurring summer drought area) and excessive summer moisture is NOT recommended. Fog and/or high dew point do not equal daily irrigation. I grow an extensive assortment of Pacific coast native irises - I. tenax, innominata, douglasiana and many PC hybrids and they all share the same cultural requirements - sun to light shade, well-drained soil and moderate to scant water during the summer months. The varieties I sell at my nursery receive minimal watering (only when very dry) and these are in containers, not in-ground plantings. Sunset Western Garden Book cautions "intense heat coupled with water and poor drainage can be fatal". Rot from excessive watering is most definitely a concern. If they survive, flowering could be expected in a season or two. IME, all the west coast native irises need time to settle and establish well before producing blooms. Your few little fans are barely hanging in and are a long way from being well established.
...See More
Impossible to Acclimatize an Archontophoenix for Cali Desert Sun?
Q
Comments (5)
Sorry, never going to acclimatize a king to the desert. Too hot, too cold, and too dry. Humidity is a major factor, and there just isn't any humidity in the desert, so the air sucks the life out of the palm. Misting is insufficient. Coastal SoCal is typically 60-70% humidity; take that away and the palm suffers.
...See More
Tropicalesque for intense sun/heat?
Q
Comments (2)
Vines might be a good option, had you considered Bougainvillea? Other vines like Macfadyena unguis-cati, or Podrainea ricasolaina would also love this hot spot. Bird of Paradise would also work in this location. Perhaps a little taller growing than your request, but it can also be cut back to keep manageable, are the South African Cabbage Trees, such as Cussonia paniculata. One of the Aloes such as A. arborescens, A. marlothii, or A. ciliaris would also work, and the first two would also give winter blooms.
...See More
Desert rose - too much sun killed my buds?
Q
Comments (5)
Hi, Just wanna share my experience growing this plant. I grew a lot of this plant in Indonesia a long time ago. The condition in my hometown is always around 25 - 32C, high humidity, and intense sun light. I grew it in a pot, partly shaded where it didn't get midday sun when was the hottest, but morning and late afternoon sun (roughly 9 hours under sunlight). Normally, this plant like plenty of sun. I watered them everyday, just enough till the soil is wet, but not soaked wet. It seemed to love it, in fact the stems were growing bigger like a bottle tree, more younger shoots and leaves grew. It didn't seem to matter what type of soil it grew in, but grew in the dark loamy soil the best. Too much water around the crown of the plant rot part of it, but didn't kill it, then it grew like a bonsai. Responded well with fertilizer, I fed it with high potassium fertilizer, and it flowered profusely, nearly covered the whole plants. after finished flowering, occasionally I pruned them, and fed it a little with high nitrogen fertilizer. I know that they normally grew itself. However, I found that they produced bigger and healthier bud after it has been pruned. I haven't had any experience growing it in cooler and drier weather. But, I hope this help. I'm sure you have plenty of warm days in your area. Tirto
...See More
jerijen
11 years ago
I thought 'ya might! :-)

Jeri
roseseek
11 years ago
Jim, you definitely hit that nail right on the head. What you commonly read about roses requiring full sun, was originally written in Britain, where a "sunny day" is what we experience on a foggy or cloudy winter day. No joke. I gardened in Newhall, just south of you for eighteen years and found the roses which were the happiest, did NOT receive "full sun", but were sheltered either by other, larger plants or some other protection. Yes, give your roses as much protection from mid day and later sun as you can. Both you and the plants will be all the happier for it. Kim
jerijen
11 years ago
Yes. Even here, near the coast, the sun can be very very intense. MANY, if not MOST of our roses do best with less than "full sun."

Jeri
bluegirl_gw
11 years ago
Me too! In a broiling coastal zn9 climate, mine did best with limited full sun hrs. or in the partial shade of tall trees.

In a new desert zn8, so far, the partial shade, but lots of light situation seems to be working well for several types I'm growing.
jaspermplants
11 years ago
I grow roses in the Phoenix area and I would highly recommend partial shade. The roses that do the best for me have a few hours morning sun and afternoon shade. In the summer I use shade cloth for some roses. I find roses will also do well in dappled sun. I avoid subjecting my roses to "full sun", meaning sun all day long here.
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
11 years ago
I've been experimenting with shade cloth, since that is what growers use to get their for-sale perfection, and what a difference it makes. Gorgeous foliage, unblemished stems, deep rich flower color. If you can manage shade structures, you can get spectacular results. Do exhibitors use them?
ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
11 years ago
The roses that perform really poorly for me are those with morning shade and afternoon sun. Conversely, my best roses are in morning sun and afternoon to late afternoon shade. My Mutabilis, which is large and leafy after its alfalfa treat only gets 2-3 hours of morning sun in the winter and still does quite well. The intensity of the sun in hotter climates can really do a number on roses that are in full sun.
jerijen
11 years ago
Hoov -- You bet they do!

Ingrid -- As different as our conditions are, we find the same thing. Morning sun and afternoon shade trump morning shade and afternoon sun.

But, of course, there are only so many such locations in any garden -- so we make do. :-)

Jeri
Jeannie Cochell
11 years ago
Definitely morning sun; afternoon shade. Some roses can tolerate more afternoon sun but none of mine like morning shade, afternoon sun. Little like me....
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
11 years ago
Hoov -- You bet they do!
Thanks Jeri, thought so!

Also I have noticed that if the rose gets enough sun in spring/summer/fall it can handle winter in full shade no problem. It's stored enough energy over the "sunny" months to handle the lack of sun for part of the year.
harmonyp
11 years ago
Do roses really "store" energy? I have a spot surrounding a medium sized deciduous late-leafing tree. Tree is pretty naked from November -> late April, and the roses get full sun. But from May -> October, they get about 1-2 hours of sun, and a few hours of dappled sun. They do fabulously.

Related Stories

PLANTING IDEAS Great Garden Combo: 5 High-Intensity Plants for High-Intensity Sun

Blend bold foliage and flowers to create a powerful combination that will hold its own even in the harsh light of midsummer

NATIVE PLANTS 10 Top Plants Native to the Desert Southwest

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Get a thriving garden despite unforgiving conditions with these tough, unthirsty, sun-loving beauties

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Little-Leaf Cordia Handles Desert Extremes

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Its delicate white flowers are rare in hot and dry sites, but Cordia parvifolia offers more than mere beauty

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Garden Tour: A Colorful Patio Blooms in the Arizona Desert

By Vanessa Brunner

A landscape designer transforms a couple's backyard patio into a feature-packed oasis

SMALL HOMES Houzz Tour: A Student's Bed-Size Shelter in the Arizona Desert

Could you sleep in such a small space just above the desert floor? One Taliesin architecture student at a time does just that

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: A Glass House Harmonizes With the Desert

By Becky Harris

An expert collaboration results in a home designed to celebrate sun and shade, with plenty of ways to soak in the views

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Desert Marigold Cheers Up Hot, Dry Areas

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Sunny but tough, this perennial thrives with little water and lots of sun

ARCHITECTURE Houzz Tour: A Pond House in the Arizona Desert

With water in the back and a descent to get in, this skillfully designed modern home keeps its cool in the Southwestern sun

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: A Desert Stunner Highlights Nature

By Becky Harris

Careful siting of this contemporary Arizona home keeps sublime views, wildlife and outdoor living at the forefront

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Olneya Tesota Offers Desert Shade

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

This long-lived Southwestern native tree decorates the sky with its dusty gray-green foliage and lavender-colored blossoms

Sponsored

More Discussions

ROSES in UK/Europe.. 2024.. Spring/Summer

945

Anyone get their plants from Grace Rose Farm yet?

81

Thierry Marx is not happy!

16

My Evelyn rose has very pale leaves

16

Why? Heirloom Roses! WHY?

33