The summer season is when gardens really come into their own, with flowers in full bloom offering a wonderful display of colour.
Roses in particular are at their best from late spring into summer, with most varieties thriving in the sunshine and warm weather. The Royal Horticultural Society says roses need at least four hours of sunshine per day for healthy blooms, along with well-drained soil and plenty of watering. So conditions are ideal at the moment for the pretty plants, especially for some unique colour-changing varieties.
Some varieties of rose, including Double Delight and Moonstone have the ability to change colour in certain conditions, so gardeners can take advantage of this in the summer months.
Double Delight roses start with a creamy white colour but as the flowers open and get exposed to sunlight, the edges of the petals begin to turn a vibrant pink or red.
This change in colour is influenced by the amount of sunlight the plant gets and the temperature. While it’s not possible to control the weather, you can control the placement of the plants in your garden.
So if you want to enhance the pinkness of the rose, you need to ensure it is in a spot that gets a lot of sunlight, rather than planting it in the shade.
Garden Focused explains: “The flowers are the true beauty of this variety. As the flowers form and begin to open out they are white / ivory. As the flowers fully open, the outer petals turn a deep pink and the inner petals are tinged pink at the edges. There is a strong spicy / sweet scent. Larger than normal, each flower is about 10cm (4in) wide.
“Light levels and the amount of exposure to sun will dictate the colour of the flowers. The more sun, the more pink will be the flowers. As an aside, if this variety is grown in a greenhouse the red colour will be almost missing – greenhouses filter out ultra-violet light which is what causes the red colouration.”
Moonstone roses can also shift in colour depending on sunlight and temperature, with cooler temperatures typically leading to a more vibrant hue on the edges of the petals, while warmer conditions will cause the colour to lighten.
So if you have this variety and want to get striking pink blooms, picking a shady spot is the best option as temperatures will be slightly cooler.
Bloom and Song explains: “Certain types of roses, such as “Double Delight” and “Moonstone,” can shift colour depending on environmental conditions. These roses may start with a specific colour and gradually change as they open or with age.
“The main reason roses change colour is due to temperature and light exposure. For example, a rose might start as a creamy white and then develop a red or pink tint as it matures, especially in varieties with multiple layers of petals.
“To encourage colour changes, adjust exposure to sunlight: some roses bloom brighter or change hue when exposed to more sunlight. Plant in an area with varying temperatures to encourage subtle shifts in colour.”