- The Peace rose grows from a shrub that reaches about 5 to 6 feet high. The showy flower, which might have as many as dozens of petals, is about 5 inches in diameter. A rich golden-yellow color suffuses the flower, complemented by pinkish hues near the petal edges. The shrub's dark green foliage provides a striking backdrop for the brilliant blossoms. The Peace rose generally has good disease resistance, although it is susceptible to blackspot, a fungus that attacks the foliage.
- The creator of the Peace rose, French grower Francis Meilland, developed the first rose in 1935. When World War ll threatened France, Meilland wanted to avoid having his creation fall into the hands of the Nazis. He sent cuttings of the rose to various growers outside of France. The roses thrived in their new homes. After the war, one grower in the United States, Robert Pyle, named it the Peace rose. The name stuck, and the plant has remained a favorite of rose enthusiasts ever since.
- The Peace rose was produced by crossing hybrid tea roses, including the George Dickson and the Joanna Hill. The hybrid tea rose, the most widely planted rose by home gardeners, was developed in the 1860s. The hybrid tea resulted from crossing the hybrid perpetual rose with the tea rose. The hybrid tea varieties produce large flowers seen in descendants such as the Peace rose. The ascendancy of the Peace rose after 1945 played a large part in the dominance of hybrids teas in home gardens.
- Peace roses need full sun to thrive. If you do not have a well-drained soil, grow them in raised beds. When planting, dig up the soil to a depth of 12 inches, and mix in some compost. Although reasonably hardy, the Peace rose might need winter protection in colder climates. Placing mulch up to the cane, or stem, covering the graft union should suffice.
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