Moss rose plants are a popular choice for growing in container gardens, along the front edge of garden bed borders, as edging along paved walkways, on top of stone walls, and in rock gardens. In addition, the trailing habit of moss rose works well in hanging baskets. Moreover, moss rose doesn’t typically spread fast outside of its bounds as a ground cover, so it’s ideal for small gardens. These plants will flourish in poor, dry soils where many other plants might struggle—in fact, soil that’s too wet can actually kill them. Moss roses typically bloom from summer to the first frost of the fall without any deadheading required. As annuals, the plants will die at the end of the growing season, but they do produce seeds that can potentially germinate and sprout the following year.
Light
Moss rose plants need full sun, at least six to eight hours on most days to look and bloom their best. If you try to grow them in a shady area, they will fail to produce flowers and the flowers they do have likely won’t open.
Soil
These plants thrive in sandy and rocky soil and demand excellent drainage. If your garden bed has clay soil, grow your moss rose in containers rather than try to improve the clay soil drainage. Soil that retains too much water can easily cause the plant to die.
Water
Moss rose plants have low moisture needs, though they aren’t quite as drought-tolerant as cacti. The plants will tolerate periods of dryness, but flowering is usually better with some (well-drained) soil moisture. Plan to water the plant if you have a long stretch without rainfall—as a general rule of thumb, one deep watering per week during the hot summer weather should suffice.
Temperature and Humidity
A native of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, moss roses like high heat and low humidity. It will tolerate cool, moist spring weather as long as it is frost-free. However, the best growth (and blooming) won’t occur until the summer heat comes along. Moss roses are frost tender and will die back come winter, likely at the first deep freeze (if not earlier).
Fertilizer
Moss roses can tolerate lean soil, so they typically don’t need fertilizer. However, feeding the plant with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the time of planting can help promote healthy growth and profuse flowering. You can also fertilize twice during the plant’s growing season, this time using a blend that’s high in phosphorous for more bountiful blooms.
Types of Moss Rose
There are several different types of moss rose plants that are popular for landscape gardens. They include:
‘Afternoon Delight’: A moss rose varietal with 2-inch wide blooms that are open all day until the evening (longer than most other varietals). ‘Calypso Mix’: Varietals feature double blooms in orange, yellow, and red. ‘Duet’ series: This varietal boasts bicolor flowers in yellow and red or yellow and pink. ‘Fairy Tale’ series: These varietals (with names such as ‘Snow White’ and ‘Sleeping Beauty’) resemble bomb-type peonies, with flowers that have a pom-pom center with flat petals that flare around the edges. ‘Happy Hour’ series: They are called such because these varietals (like ‘Banana’ and ‘Coconut’) bloom earlier than other types. ‘Mojave’: Large blooms come in tangerine, pinks, yellows, and white. ‘Sundance’: These feature more petals on each flower and blooms stay open longer than others. ‘Sundial’ series: A varietal that blooms earlier and tolerates cloudy days and cool weather better than many other varieties. Varietals are known as ‘Sundial White’, ‘Sundial Yellow’, and ‘Sundial Peppermint’ (bold pink and white striped flowers). ‘Tequila’ series: Various colored hybrid blooms, such as red blowers with yellow centers, bloom early and tolerate cooler, moist conditions. ‘Yubi Summer Joy’ series: Trailing flowers stay open later in the day than most.
Pruning Moss Rose
At the most, moss roses need light pruning, and only if you live in a zone where they can survive year-round. The best time for pruning moss roses is in the early spring before new growth begins to emerge. Remove any growth that looks dead or diseased—you can also thin out a dense plant to improve air circulation, which can reduce the risk of fungal disease. Deadheading the plant’s spent blooms is not necessary.
Propagating Moss Rose
Like most succulent plants, moss roses can be easily propagated through cuttings. In fact, the cuttings will root readily and most gardeners find great success with propagation methods. Here’s how:
How to Grow Moss Rose From Seed
If you’re growing moss rose plants from seed, you can either start them indoors six to eight weeks before your projected last frost date or plant them in the ground after your area’s last frost. Add the seeds to slightly moist soil and barely cover them—they need light to germinate. Maintain slight soil moisture until the seedlings emerge (germination should take about two weeks), then water the plants only when the top inch of soil is dry. Keep the seedlings by a bright window if you’re growing them indoors.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Moss roses are not affected by any notable pest or disease problems, though aphids might occasionally bother the plants, especially in the spring. With aphids, you might notice a sticky substance on the leaves, as well as yellowing and wilting of the foliage. Spray affected plants with insecticidal soap to treat the problem.
How to Get Moss Rose to Bloom
If you’re struggling to get your moss roses to bloom (or they’re not producing bountiful enough blooms for your liking), the problem almost always lies in the soil’s moisture level. Moss roses really dislike wet or soggy soil, and being planted in a medium that retains too much moisture will cause them to cease blooming. Try stepping back your watering cadence—you can also repot your moss roses into a container, which naturally drains faster than the ground would. Additionally, clay or terracotta pots can help wick excess moisture from the soil. Another hugely important factor when it comes to having your moss rose bloom is ensuring it gets the proper amount of sunlight. Moss roses like ample light and hot conditions, and even an hour or two of shade can make the difference between bountiful blooms and barely any buds. Make sure your moss roses get at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. If growing in a garden with other plants, you may even need to trim back nearby specimens so they don’t block the light.
