Sundowner Rosa Grandiflora

Sundowner is a beautiful Grandiflora rose. After planting it in my rose garden this spring I think it is now one of my favorite roses. Here you will find tips, ideas, pictures and how-to's for growing the Sundowner rose.

Note: The photo to the left is of my first Sundowner rose bloom. It was just starting to open that morning and the orange was so bright it was almost fluorescent.

'Sundowner' Rosa Grandiflora was introduced in 1978 and bred by Samuel Daragh McGredy IV with a cross of Bond Street à Peer Gynt.

Sundowner was patented in the US in 1979 and in New Zealand in 1980. Patents have expired and will allow for propagation now.

In 1989, Sundowner won the prestigious title of All American Rose Society Award.

Sundowner is an bright orange to apricot colored rose. Depending of the maturity of the bloom, the colors range from a deep, rich colored orange to a soft apricot color. Blooms tend to last 7 to 10 days depending on the weather and how well it is taken care of.

Bloom Size: Medium- 4" blooms

Petal Count: 35

Sun: Full Sun

Type of Rose: Grandiflora, Modern Bush

Disease Resistant: Yes, very!

Height 4-7 ft

The Sundowner Rose has petal count of 35 and around 4" in diameter. It's petals are thick and tend to curl down as the bloom opens. Sundowner petals have a rigid edge and seem to unfold one or two petals at the time extending the life of the bloom. The bloom changes colors as it matures leaving the petals to be different colors depending on the location of the petal on the bloom.

Prune Sundowner Often to Produce Abundant Blooms

Sundowner blooms on new growth only. This means that a Sundowner, like most roses, will need to be pruned every Spring to promote healthy, new growth to allow for plenty of blooms.

Prune spent blooms often to encourage new growth for new blooms and to keep the plant looking tidy. For more information on pruning roses visit How to Prune Roses.

Sundowner is hardy in USDA zone 7 and warmer. Be sure to mulch your Sundowner rose during Winter and protect during unexpected frosts. Some climates cooler than zone 7 may be able to grow Sundowner if adequate protection is given.

Sundowner won the All American Rose Society Award in 1979 with an AARS Rating of 5.9.

Sundowner Grandiflora is a very disease resistant plant for the most part. It is resistant to Black Spot which makes it perfect for growing in the South and other warm, humid climates. Unfortunately, it is susceptible to Mildew which can be controlled very easily.

If you would like to propagate Sundowner you would need to do so by cuttings. Since the patent has expired it would be both legal and ethical to reproduce Sundowner. To learn how to grow Sundowner and other roses by cuttings visit How to Grow Roses from Cuttings. It will provide you with a step-by-step guide to growing roses from cuttings.

How to Grow Roses from Cuttings
Learning how to grow roses from cuttings can save you a lot of money and help you extend your rose garden. Growing roses from stem cuttings is easy with the ...

Sundowner has become one of my favorite roses. I have gotten several compliments from neighbors and online viewers who have seen my pictures above. One of the things I love about this rose is how long the blooms last and the foliage. Sundowner has a flawless, dark green foliage. It seems to grow rather quickly and tall. It started waking up from it's dormancy around mid March and here it is mid April and it's nearly 3 foot tall. I could not ask for a better rose!

I purchased my Sundowner Rose in the early Spring of 2012. I purchased it at Marvin's as a grade 2 rose for $3. You know, one of those bareroot roses you see in the bags with a few small canes sticking out the top. Don't let the price fool you. Those roses bloom just as well as the big ones! They only look different than the $20 version because they haven't been forced to bloom in a warm greenhouse during the winter.

All the Sundowner pictures listed on this page with the exception of the AARS plate are my actual pictures that I have taken. They are of the same two blooms as well. You can see how the colors change and blend into different shades!

How to Prune Roses
Knowing how to prune roses can mean the difference between having healthy, beautiful roses and a blooming mess. Knowing how to prune roses will lead to a hea...

10 Tips for Growing Beautiful Roses
Whether you are a beginner in rose gardening or looking for useful tips on growing roses you have come to the right place. Here you will find tips for everyt...

How to Grow Roses from Cuttings
Learning how to grow roses from cuttings can save you a lot of money and help you extend your rose garden. Growing roses from stem cuttings is easy with the ...

Sundowner Rosa Grandiflora
Sundowner is a beautiful Grandiflora rose. After planting it in my rose garden this spring I think it is now one of my favorite roses. Here you will find tip...

Share your thoughts on Sundowner.