Rose (Grandma’s Yellow)

Rosa Nacogdoches

This Texas Superstar plant is a very vigorous shrub that has vibrant yellow, almost tulip-shaped, Floribunda-type blooms and very deep green foliage. It’s also very thorny, so be careful not to place it too close to paths or doorways. It has a very upright and bushy habit, getting up to 5 feet tall and over 3 feet wide.

Grandma’s Yellow begins blooming in early spring and will be covered in flowers all summer long. As all Texas Superstars are, it is disease-tolerant and insect-resistant, a very important quality for a rose. And another important quality for many people who enjoy roses, the flowers are fragrant, with a light spicy note. They also do very well as cut flowers, remaining beautiful in a vase for many days.

In order to perform well in the landscape, Grandma’s Yellow needs at least 6 hours of full, bright sun a day, and it prefers well-drained soil, with a little organic matter. But it will also tolerate clay soils, as long as it is not over-watered and has good drainage. It does need a little more water than our xeric recommendations, and although it doesn’t require it, Grandma’s Yellow will be more vigorous and have more flowers if it’s fertilized in the spring and a few times during the growing season.

Grandma’s Yellow looks great planted as hedges, so try it instead of red-tip Photinias, Eleagnus and Ligustrum.