Clusters of small, soft pink buds open along the stems in spring with a sweet fragrance. That is the Cecile Brunner rose, a small, easygoing plant that asks little of you.
What Is the Cecile Brunner Rose?
Cecile Brunner is a polyantha rose whose flowers open in clusters. Also sold as Mme. Cècile Brünner and the Sweetheart Rose, the bush form grows as a small shrub up to 4 feet.
The blossoms are a soft silvery pink and look like a hybrid tea in miniature, with high-centered, pointed buds that open to double blooms. A sweet fragrance comes with them.
A climbing sport of the plant, found in 1894, is a different animal: it reaches 20-30 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide. Check the plant tag to see which form you are buying.
From the almanac
Roses in your state
The dates on this page depend on where you live. Your state's page carries its frost dates, its USDA zones and the year laid out month by month.
Northeast
Southeast
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Midwest
Southwest
West
Pacific Northwest
Canada
Where Does the Cecile Brunner Rose Grow Best?
Cecile Brunner is hardy in zones 5-9, which covers a wide band of the country. Within that band, the differences come down to how cold the winter gets and how much heat and humidity the summer brings.
- Upper Midwest and Northeast (Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, Massachusetts): the colder parts sit at the edge of zone 5, so a sheltered spot near a wall helps the canes come through winter.
- Mid-Atlantic and Southeast (North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia): winters are milder and the climbing form does well here, growing large on a fence or trellis.
- Texas and the Gulf Coast (Texas, Louisiana, Alabama): the plant sits in the warmer part of its range, with blooms continuing until frost.
- Interior West and Mountain States (Colorado, Utah, Idaho): lower elevations fit the range, while high, cold valleys can fall below zone 5.
The state selector just below this section leads to the page for your state, with the months that apply where you live.
How to Care for the Cecile Brunner Rose Through the Year
Waking Up
As the buds begin to swell in spring, the plant sets out new growth and the first flush of flowers follows. Grow it in full sun to partial shade, in amended, well-drained garden soil.
Pruning
The bush form needs little pruning. For the climbing form, prune in late winter to remove dead or diseased canes and to keep the size in check. Cut out damaged wood first, then thin what crowds the center.
Blooming
Bloom is heavy in spring, and the plant then keeps producing flowers in successive flushes through summer and fall. The climbing form flowers from late spring to early summer, then in scattered flushes through fall.
Summer
Summer flowering comes in waves rather than one show, so the plant looks best with steady moisture at the roots. Water at the base and keep the leaves dry. Regular watering carries the next flush along.
Fall
Blooms continue until frost, so let the last flush finish. Leave the shrub alone once flowering slows. Hard pruning now would push tender growth just as cold approaches.
Winter
Wait until late winter to tidy the canes.
Cecile Brunner Rose Diseases and Weak Points
The climbing form has good disease resistance.
The climbing form needs room for its mature size.
| Threat | How Cecile Brunner handles it |
|---|---|
| Disease in general | Good disease resistance |
| Cold winters | Hardy in zones 5-9 |
| Overgrowth of the climbing form | Prune in late winter to control size |
Watch the leaves for insect damage and act if you see it.
Is the Cecile Brunner Rose Right for Your Yard?
It suits a yard with sun and well-drained soil, and a gardener who wants flowers from spring until frost without much fuss. The bush stays small, so it fits a border or a corner.
- Choose the bush form for a compact planting, and plan on little pruning once it is established.
- Choose the climbing form only if you have a tall fence, arbor or wall, and prune it in late winter.
- Skip it if your winters fall below zone 5, or if you want a flower larger than the 1-2 inch blooms of the climber.
Common Questions
Is Cecile Brunner a Climbing Rose?
Both forms exist. The bush type is a small shrub, and the climbing sport grows far taller. The plant tag tells you which one you have.
Does Cecile Brunner Bloom More than Once?
Yes. It blooms in spring and then repeats through summer and fall until frost.
Does Cecile Brunner Need Full Sun?
Full sun to partial shade works, as long as the soil is amended and drains well.