What Is the Lifespan of a Rose?
The average tea rose bush lives six to 10 years, while several species of climbing roses live 50 years or longer, according to Clemson Cooperative Extension. A rose bush’s longevity depends on a number of factors, most notably pruning and other care.
Meanwhile, the average lifespan for a standard size rose bush is 35 years, reports Lia Leendertz, a gardening columnist for The Guardian. Providing thick mulch and feeding the plant regularly is likely to extend that lifespan by a number of years, she added. As perennials, roses grow and then bloom in the spring and summer, die back in the fall and winter and then begin the growth cycle again in the spring.
Roses are able to grow and even thrive in containers for up to 10 years, reports Ludwig’s Roses. Once the plant appears to stop flourishing or water takes longer than normal to reach drain holes, it is best to carefully transplant the rose from its container into a larger container or directly into the ground with fresh potting soil.
One of the older roses still alive as of 2015 is a white Lady Banks rose bush located in Tombstone, Arizona. In addition to dating back to 1885, the rose is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest rose in the world, occupying nearly 10,000 square feet of space.
