Roses in Hawaii can go into the ground in any month, and at sea level they keep growing and flowering throughout the year. Established repeat-blooming bushes get a hard cutback in January.
When to Plant Roses in Hawaii
Hawaii has no frost season where people garden, so planting follows your own schedule rather than the thermometer. Bare-root roses come first, and potted roses fit in around them.
- In winter, bare-root roses can go into the ground while dormant.
- In spring, dormant bare-root plants are usually available at nurseries, though January through December all work for planting them.
- Through summer and fall, bare-root roses can still be planted, and potted roses can go in later than bare-root ones, in any month.
- All year, the young plant never faces a freeze in inhabited areas, since frost reaches only the summits of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and Haleakala.
- In January, established repeat-blooming bushes get their yearly cutback, which sets up the next flush of flowers.
USDA hardiness zones across the islands span 9a-13a, which is a wide range, so the zone on your own plant tag depends on where you garden and how high up.
Hawaii — the year and the numbers
- State
- Hawaii
- USDA zones
- 9a-13a
- Frost
- none in an average year
- Annual rain
- 16 in
- Lawn zone
- warm-season
- Source
- NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals: not-computable flag for every freeze percentile at 32F and 36F, zero days per year at or below 32F, station USW00022521 — https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-annualseasonal&stations=USW00022521 · Honolulu
Which Roses Grow Best in Hawaii?
Roses do well across a wide variety of Hawaii’s climates. At sea level, the warm climate lets roses keep growing and flowering throughout the year.
The real difference between types is how they bloom, because that decides when each one gets pruned.
| Rose type | How it does in Hawaii | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid teas, floribundas and modern shrub roses | Grow and flower throughout the year at sea level | They repeat-bloom, so a January cutback brings a fresh burst of color |
| Old garden roses, ramblers and many climbers | Flower once a year | They bloom on last year’s wood |
Ask a local rose grower how groundcover roses and rugosas perform in your neighborhood before choosing a plant.
When to Prune, Feed and Protect Roses in Hawaii
Roses here get a short list of jobs. Pruning happens in January, and feeding runs all year. Winter protection never comes up, because no freeze reaches inhabited areas.
The detailed pruning method has its own page for Hawaii, so these are the key dates.
| Task | When in Hawaii | Why then |
|---|---|---|
| Prune repeat-blooming roses (hybrid teas, floribundas, modern shrub roses) | January | Many gardeners cut bushes back to within 24 inches of the ground, which gives up bloom for a while and then brings a burst of color |
| Plant bare-root roses | January through December | Dormant bare-root plants can go in at any time, and potted roses can go in later |
| Feed roses | January through December | Regular feeding keeps an adequate supply of nutrients available to plants that never stop growing |
Once-blooming roses are the exception to the January cutback. They flower once a year on last year’s wood, so they are pruned right after they bloom, never in early spring.
How Rose Care Dates Change Across Hawaii
The calendar above holds across the islands, but elevation and exposure to rain change how a bush behaves from one place to the next.
- Hilo and the windward coasts: Rain falls often here, so roses stay wet longer. Plant where air moves freely around the leaves.
- Kona and other leeward areas: Drier ground means a rose depends more on the watering you give it. Sea-level plantings keep growing and flowering through the year.
- Upcountry Maui on the slopes of Haleakala: Higher ground is cooler, so growth tends to slow compared with the coast. Frost is still confined to the summits, not the gardens.
Pick your planting spot by rainfall and elevation first, since the monthly dates stay the same.
Where to Get Rose Advice in Hawaii
A leaf spot, a bush that sulks or an odd soil is easier to sort out with someone who knows your island. Local help can cover most questions.
- The University of Hawaii CTAHR Extension offers rose growing publications and the contact details for county offices, useful any time a plant looks off.
- Your county extension office can help with a problem diagnosis or soil test before you plant or feed.
Common Questions
Do Roses Grow in Every Part of Hawaii?
Roses thrive in a wide variety of climates in Hawaii, from the coast to higher ground. Rainfall, elevation and windward or leeward exposure set the conditions, so watch how a rose does in your own spot before adding more.
Why Do Roses Lose Their Blooms After a January Cutback?
The hard cutback temporarily removes all bloom, but the new growth produces a spectacular burst of color 3 months later. Repeat-blooming bushes are the ones treated this way.
How Much Fertilizer Do Roses Need in Hawaii?
Organic fertilizers are applied at 3/4 pound per 100 square feet every 4 to 6 weeks. Follow the label if you use a different kind of feed.