World War II Memorial Rose

World War II Memorial Rose (Rosa 'Wezgrey')

World War II Memorial Rose brings a refined, timeless look to the garden with elegant, high-centered blooms in soft pink to pale mauve tones with a silvery cast. It repeats in steady flushes from spring through frost, so you get long-season color instead of a brief peak. Strong, sweet fragrance makes it especially rewarding near walkways and seating, and the long stems are ideal for cutting. With an upright, tidy habit, it fits cleanly into rose beds, memorial plantings, and mixed borders where you want a polished finish.

Distinctive Features

This hybrid tea rose is known for exhibition-style, high-centered blooms that open large and full, showing soft pink to mauve coloring with subtle silver undertones. Flowers are strongly fragrant and held on long stems, making them an excellent choice for bouquets. The plant grows as an upright, medium shrub with healthy green foliage and a clean vertical profile that reads well in formal and informal designs. Mature size is typically about 3 to 4 feet tall and 18 to 24 inches wide, with repeat bloom through the growing season.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun is best for strong stems, abundant bloom, and healthier foliage.
• Soil: Plant in fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter for best vigor and flowering.
• Water: Water deeply during establishment, then water when the top few inches of soil are dry while avoiding consistently soggy soil.
• USDA Zones: Zones 5 to 9.
• Mature Size: Typically grows about 3 to 4 feet tall and 18 to 24 inches wide with an upright habit.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use as a focal point in a sunny bed where the silvery pink to mauve bloom color can anchor a calm, refined palette.
• Cut Flower Garden: Long stems and high-centered blooms make it a standout for bouquets and arrangements.
• Memorial Plantings: Adds meaningful presence with elegant form, soft coloring, and strong fragrance.
• Formal Rose Beds: Creates a polished look when planted in groups with clean spacing and simple edging.
• Mixed Borders: Adds upright structure and repeat bloom among perennials and shrubs without overwhelming the planting.

Low Maintenance Care

• Pruning: Prune in late winter to early spring to remove dead wood and shape for vigorous new flowering growth.
• Deadheading: Remove spent blooms to encourage repeat flowering and keep the plant looking tidy.
• Feeding: Fertilize in spring and again after the first bloom flush to support continual flowering.
• Watering: Water at the base to keep foliage drier and reduce disease pressure.
• Mulching: Mulch to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and protect the root zone through temperature swings.

Why Choose World War II Memorial Rose?

• Soft Mauve-Pink Color: Silvery pink to pale mauve blooms bring a refined tone that pairs easily with many planting palettes.
• Strong Fragrance: Sweet scent adds an extra layer of enjoyment near paths and outdoor living spaces.
• Exhibition-Style Form: High-centered blooms deliver a classic hybrid tea look from bud to full flower.
• Excellent For Cutting: Long stems and large blooms make it an easy choice for bringing color indoors.
• Upright, Tidy Habit: A narrow profile fits well in beds and borders while still creating strong presence.

If you want a hybrid tea rose with elegant form, memorable fragrance, and soft, silvery color that keeps returning through the season, World War II Memorial Rose is an excellent choice. Give it sun, good drainage, and a simple seasonal routine, and it will reward you with long stems of refined bloom from spring well into fall.