Hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Dolly Parton')
Rosa 'Dolly Parton' is a fragrant Hybrid tea rose known for showy orange-red blooms from May to frost in Zones 5-9.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’ is a highly valued Hybrid tea rose, celebrated for its vigorous growth and classic florist-style blooms. This cultivar stands out due to its extremely fragrant, rich orange-red blossoms measuring up to 6 inches across. As a Hybrid tea rose, the Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’ offers stunning, high-centered flowers perfect for cutting and enjoying up close throughout the season. Successful cultivation generally requires dedication to proper pruning and preventative disease management typical of this popular class of shrub.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Rosaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 3-4 ft
- Spread: 2-3 ft
- Bloom Time: May to frost
- Bloom Description: Orange-red
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Plant Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’ in its permanent size area while dormant, ideally in spring or fall once frost danger has passed or before the ground freezes. This Hybrid tea rose thrives in medium moisture, slightly acidic, well-drained garden loams. While it tolerates some light shade, full sun exposure is crucial for the best flowering performance and robust disease resistance.
Water Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’ deeply and consistently, aiming for morning watering to prevent leaf moisture retention overnight, which discourages fungal issues. Good air circulation is vital; ensure adequate spacing between plants to promote vigorous growth. Apply a summer mulch to conserve soil moisture, keep the roots cool, and suppress weeds.
Deadheading—removing spent flowers—is key to encouraging repeat blooming well into the season. In colder winter climates (like St. Louis), provide winter protection for the crowns. Be diligent with seasonal cleanup: remove and destroy diseased foliage during the growing season and perform a thorough cleanup during dormancy to manage overwintering pathogens. Pruning back hard, usually 12-18 inches from the ground, is necessary in late winter to shape the plant and promote new, strong stems.
Landscape Uses
The dramatic blooms and potent fragrance of Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’ make it an exceptional specimen plant. Use this Hybrid tea rose as a striking accent in a mixed border or feature it prominently within a dedicated rose garden. Its long stems and wonderful fragrance make it a prized choice for cutting gardens, ensuring you bring the beauty indoors.
Consider grouping the Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’ near patios or entryways where its intense scent can be fully appreciated. While excellent in formalized displays, its medium size also allows it to anchor foundation plantings or blend into cottage garden designs, provided it receives the required full sun.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
Noteworthy Characteristics
Rosa is a genus of about 150 species of deciduous (occasionally evergreen) shrubs and climbers noted for their beautiful, often fragrant, single, semidouble or double flowers which are borne singly or in clusters on often prickly stems clad with 5-9 leaflets often having toothed margins. Hybrid tea, floribunda and grandiflora roses are the classic florist-type roses. Hybrid tea roses have high centers, long stems and usually produce just one terminal flower per shoot. Floribundas produce clusters of flowers and grandifloras produce clusters of high-centered flowers. These roses require regular, severe pruning to maintain size and produce the long-stemmed blooms they are known for.Genus name comes from the Latin name for rose.‘Dolly Parton’ is a vigorous, bushy, large-flowered hybrid tea rose that typically grows to 4’ tall. It is noted for its extremely fragrant, rich orange-red flowers that appear in late May and repeat bloom in flushes throughout the season. Flowers (to 6” diameter) are fully double. Each flower typically has 35-40 petals. Foliage is a glossy medium green. Parents are Rosa ‘Fragrant Cloud’ and Rosa ‘Oklahoma’. Winchel 1984. U.S. Plant Patent PP5,608 was issued on December 24, 1985.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
Roses, including the Hybrid tea rose Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’, are susceptible to several common fungal diseases, most notably black spot, powdery mildew, and rust. Proactive cultural care is the first defense, but gardeners, especially those in humid climates, should plan for regular preventative fungicide applications during the growing season. Common pests needing monitoring include aphids, scale, spider mites, and borers. Routine inspections and immediate attention to sanitation—removing diseased fallen leaves—are critical preventative measures against disease recurrence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’ suitable for?
This Hybrid tea rose variety performs reliably in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.
How large does Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’ grow?
This vigorous cultivar typically reaches a mature height between 3 and 4 feet, with a spread of 2 to 3 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’ need?
For optimal showy blooms and the best defense against disease, ensure this variety receives full sun exposure daily.
When does Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’ bloom?
You can expect the fragrant bloom cycle of this Hybrid tea rose to begin in May and continue in flushes until the first frost arrives.
Conclusion
The Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’ Hybrid tea rose delivers exceptional aesthetic value through its large, intensely fragrant, orange-red flowers, making it a showpiece in any garden setting. Its manageable size and reliability secure its place as a perennial favorite. Before planting, confirm your local hardiness zone compatibility and prepare well-drained soil for the best results with your new Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’.
Seasonal Care Calendar
The spring cleanup is crucial for managing disease pressure heading into the growing season. As soon as dormancy breaks, prune the Hybrid tea rose aggressively, cutting canes back to 12–18 inches from the ground. Simultaneously, remove all old, dead leaves from around the base of the plant that may have harbored fungal spores over winter.
Summer care focuses on consistent moisture and disease management. Water deeply in the mornings and avoid overhead spraying. Begin a preventative fungicide program if black spot or powdery mildew is historically an issue in your area. Regular deadheading of spent blooms will maximize the flowering period of the Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’.
As autumn approaches, cease fertilization to allow the plant to prepare for dormancy. If you experience harsh winters, plan to apply winter protection, such as blanketing the lower canes or mounding soil/mulch around the crown, before the first hard freeze sets in.
Companion Planting Ideas
Companion planting around your Hybrid tea rose helps manage pests naturally and enhances the visual appeal. Avoid planting aggressive shallow-rooted annuals directly beneath the rosebush, which compete heavily for nutrients. Consider low-growing herbs like chives or thyme, which naturally deter some common rose pests through their scent.
For structural companions, choose plants that share the need for full sun and medium moisture, such as lavender or nepeta (catmint). These provide contrasting silvery or blue-purple foliage and flowers that beautifully complement the rich orange-red blooms of the Rosa ‘Dolly Parton’ without overcrowding the rose’s base, thereby improving air circulation.
