Do Roses Need Full Sun?

Roses need six hours of sunlight every day.

As a general rule, roses should be planted where they get six hours of full sunlight every day. If full sunlight isn't possible, roses will still perform well if they are planted in areas that get only morning sun.

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the plant's way of trapping the light from the sun by storing it in the choroplast cells of its leaves. The rose uses the energy of the sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and moisture in its leaves into sugars. The sugars make cellulose, which feeds and strengthens the cell walls of the plant.

Benefits

Sunshine ensures that photosynthesis takes place, feeding the rose the necessary sugars it needs. Roses planted away from the shade of tree canopies and tall, competing hedges and shrubbery are ensured good air circulation. Morning sunlight is preferable when a full six hours isn't possible as it will dry out the morning dew, strengthening the plant's disease resistance.

Shade-Tolerant Roses

In areas where the rose may only get dappled shade, choose cultivars that are known to be more shade-tolerant than most. Some shade-tolerant cultivars include Alain Blanchard, Felicite Parmentier, Dagmar Hastrup, Complicata and Fantin Latour.

References

• Alabama A&M Cooperative Extension: Growing Roses
• University of Illinois Extension: Our Rose Garden
• University of Cincinnati: Photosynthesis
• Main Rose Society: Shade Tolerant Roses

Resources

• Ohio State University Extension: Planting Roses