A Bonica rose sends out long, arching canes tipped with pink flower clusters, and that spreading shape deserves room. Bonica roses reach a certain size, thrive in particular zones, need pruning at the right time and stay healthy in your yard when cared for through every season.
What Is the Bonica Rose?
Bonica is a shrub rose bred by Meilland, and it behaves as a mounding shrub, more rambling than upright. Mature plants reach 3-5 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide, so the width matters as much as the height when you choose a spot.
The flowers are double and pink, 3-4 inches across, mildly scented and carried in clusters toward the tips of the canes.
Bloom runs from late spring until frost. In the fall, the plant sets orange rose hips.
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 Bonica Rose Grow Best?
Bonica is rated for USDA zones 4–9. Full sun and moist, fertile, well-drained soil suit it, and light shade is tolerated. The state selector right below this section leads to the page for your own state.
- Upper Midwest, such as Minnesota and Wisconsin: Check your local hardiness zone and ask locally what winter protection is appropriate.
- Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia: Check your local hardiness zone before planting, because conditions vary within each state.
- Deep South and Gulf Coast, such as Georgia, Alabama and Texas: Check your local hardiness zone and choose a site with well-drained soil.
Check your zone against the plant tag before buying, especially at the zone 4 and zone 9 ends.
How to Care for the Bonica Rose Through the Year
Spring Wake-Up
New growth starts as the weather warms, and this is the moment to confirm the plant has sun and drainage. Moist, fertile soil gives it the best start, so work in compost if the bed is thin.
Pruning
Prune in late winter, before the buds swell. Cut out damaged and diseased canes first, then shorten the rest to control the size. Bonica spreads wide, so trimming the outer canes keeps it from crowding a path or a neighbor.
Bloom
Flowers open in clusters from late spring until frost. Because the blooms are held toward the cane tips, give the arching canes room to spill.
Summer
Keep the soil evenly moist, since the plant prefers moisture to dry ground. Water at the base rather than over the leaves, and clear any spent clusters if you want a tidier look.
Fall
Orange rose hips form in the fall. Leave them in place if you like the color, since they add interest while the flowering winds down toward frost.
Winter
Leave the canes standing until late winter, when pruning takes over. In zone 4, ask locally what winter protection is appropriate for your yard.
Bonica Rose Diseases and Weak Points
Bonica has good disease resistance and reliable landscape performance. It also has good resistance to black spot.
Good resistance still falls short of immunity, so airflow and sun matter. Give the shrub good airflow and enough sun to support healthy foliage.
| Threat | How Bonica handles it |
|---|---|
| Black spot | Good resistance |
| Disease in general | Good resistance, with reliable landscape performance |
Watch the plant through the season and prune out damaged or diseased canes in late winter.
Is the Bonica Rose Right for Your Yard?
Bonica suits a yard with a sunny spot wide enough for a 4-5 foot spread and an owner prepared to give it routine rose care. It is a poor fit for a narrow bed or a deep shade corner.
- Plant it where it has room to mound, in full sun, and check the plant tag for the mature size before you dig.
- Prune in late winter, then watch for blooms from late spring onward.
- Open the state page for your state through the selector above to see the planting and pruning months that fit your zone.
Common Questions
Does the Bonica Rose Bloom More than Once?
Yes. Flowers come in clusters from late spring until frost, so the plant keeps producing rather than flowering in a single flush.
Can the Bonica Rose Grow in Light Shade?
It tolerates some light shade, though full sun is preferred. A spot with morning sun and bright afternoon light is a reasonable compromise.
Is the Bonica Rose Fragrant?
The scent is mild. The flowers are large and double, but they are grown for their color and clusters more than for perfume.