Two-coloured roses

A striped or variegated rose is no more frost-sensitive than other varieties of the same class. They can usually be overwintered easily.

Above all, the old striped Gallica roses, Bourbon roses and multi-coloured Remontant roses are very robust.

The first rose with striped markings is probably Rosa Mundi (R. gallica 'Versicolor'). 

The variegation is due to infection with a harmless virus. It does not harm the rose, but when crossing new roses with markings it is sometimes passed on with the genetic material. 

This is something rose breeders who specialise in multi-coloured roses, such as Delbard, Tom Carruth or McGredy, like to exploit for new striped rose varieties.

Multi-coloured and striped roses do not differ in the care measures throughout the year or in pruning. 

To bring out the colours better, a fertiliser slightly richer in phosphorus can be used. Heavily nitrogen-based fertilising makes the colour turn out very pale and should be avoided.