When Should I Plant Roses in Zone 7?

There’s a choice of which roses to plant – container-grown roses or bare-root roses. 

For each, planting times vary, as does the technique of planting. 

Roses grow in the majority of climates. In the U.S. roses will successfully grow in zones 3 through 10. That is, given that the appropriate rose species and cultivars are selected depending on the zone. 

Obviously, rose planting times depend on the zone. 

When to Plant Bare-Root Roses

Over the winter months, roses are dormant. This means that rose growers can safely dig up their roses (or plant new roses) during those winter months and transfer them to a position that is more to the liking of the gardener (and hopefully to the rose bush as well).

There is, though, a limited timeframe as to when roses can be planted. That’s because ideally, you’ll want to get that job out of the way before the rose bush begins to grow again.

In USDA zones 7 to 3, typically you’ll want to plant roses in March or April. The key here is that the soil is workable and any possibility for hard frosts has dissipated.

In USDA zones 8 through 11, you can plant bare-rooted roses from mid-December right on through to the middle or end of February.

When to Plant Container-Grown Roses

Most container-grown roses that are sold by nurseries are, in fact, bare-rooted roses that have failed to sell prior to the time they begin to grow.

There are some rose varieties though – species roses and antique roses – that are grown in containers and are never sold as bare-root plants.

In zones 7 to 3, early spring planting of container-grown roses is ideal. This will allow the rose to establish because it has a full growing period ahead.

In USDA zones 8 through 11, while it’s best to plant container-grown roses in spring or in fall, really, you safely plant at any time of the year.