The Chicago Peace Rose

The saying “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” certainly applies to the Chicago Peace rose. It’s a member of the Peace Rose family, which means it’s known for having beautiful colors and a pleasant, mild fragrance. Like the Peace rose it’s a sport of, Chicago Peace is a standout, award-winning rose that makes a great addition to any garden.

Whether you want a lovely arrangement for inside your home or a well-known rose for your landscape, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the Chicago Peace Rose.

History of the Chicago Peace Rose

The Chicago Peace rose is a hybrid tea sport, or mutation, of ‘Peace’ that was created by Stanley Johnson and introduced by Star Roses in 1956. Johnson named it ‘Chicago’ in honor of the Windy City where the rose was developed.

Characteristics of the Chicago Peace Rose

The Chicago Peace Rose has some striking characteristics that separate it from other cultivars that share the Peace name.

The Chicago Peace Rose grows 4 to 7 feet high and maintains a tall, upright shape while growing. This makes them a great choice for gardeners looking for a rose with a more formal, geometric look. The Chicago Peace Rose can have a spread of up to 3 feet which means it can be easily managed and not overtake the space where it’s planted.

The thing that really makes Chicago Peace rose stand out from other roses are its flowers.

The roses from Chicago Peacer can reach up to 6 inches in diameter and feature a stunning coloration. The petals are mostly a bright pink color, but also feature yellow tones and a warm orange glow near the center.

These flowers have a very pleasant, but mild fragrance. If you’re cultivating a garden for scent as well as sight, Chicago Peace Roses are an ideal specimen.

Different Varieties of the Chicago Peace Rose

The Chicago Peace Rose has been used as a parent for other rose cultivars. The two most common are:

Don Charlton Rose

This hybrid tea rose was developed in 1991. It has a much softer pink coloration than Chicago Peace and grows a few feet smaller. The Don Charlton rose is well-known for its powerful aroma.

Desert Peace Rose

The petals of the flowers of a Desert Peace rose are a soft yellow that turns bright magenta towards the edges. This rose is eye-catching in any yard or garden.

Unlike the Chicago, the Desert Peace rose is susceptible to mildew and gardeners need to be vigilant for signs of this disease.

How To Grow the Chicago Peace Rose

The Chicago Peace Rose grows best in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9. Gardeners in extremely hot or very far northern climates might have difficulty growing this rose. Keep these climate requirements in mind and your Chicago Peace Rose bush will thrive in your garden.

The Chicago Peace Rose does very well in containers. So if you live in a climate that might be a little too harsh to plant this particular variety of rose outdoors, you can grow it in a container and move it indoors as necessary.

Container planting is also a great way to start a Chicago Peace Rose, especially if you’ve acquired yours outside the normal planting season. Care for your rose as you would any rose planted outside and then transplant it into the ground when it’s time to plant roses in-ground.

When To Plant Roses

Roses can be planted in the spring, before temperatures get too warm (above 70 degrees) or in the fall. There advantages to either planting time.

Spring planting rewards you with blooms you can enjoy sooner. Planting in the fall lets the rose’s roots get established before the shrub goes dormant in the winter, which means much less “babying” of the rose during the first year — and possibly a more spectacular first year of blooms.

Rose Bush Care

Roses require full sun — 6 to 8 hours of sunlight everyday.

Chicago Peace Roses need average water amounts that are typically met by rainfall in the zones this rose grows in (about a gallon per rose per week). During dry spells however, increase watering to 3 gallons of water per rose per week to keep the soil moist.

A Chicago Peace does best in rich soil, although it can withstand a wide variety of soil types including clay, chalky soil, and loamy soil. It does need three feedings from early spring to mid-summer, so select a high-quality fertilizer for roses.

The Chicago Peace does very well against disease, however it is susceptible to Black Spot.

Pruning Roses

To keep a rose shrub healthy, it needs annual pruning in the late winter or early spring. Prune roses before new growth starts. Remove dead, injured, or visibly sick wood from the rose bush. You can also cut back or remove old and dead canes. This hard pruning will prepare the rose for the upcoming growing and blooming season.

The Chicago Peace Rose does well with light pruning to maintain its shape. We’ve got a full guide to help you care for and prune roses that you can check out today.

Transplanting

If you find that you have to move rose from the location you originally planted it in, all is not lost. Roses survive transplanting and bounce back quickly — provided you follow the best practices for transplanting roses.

First, don’t transplant during hot weather. If possible, wait for a day when it’s overcast (several days in a row is ideal). Water the rose well in its old location prior to beginning the transplant process.

Before you dig up your existing rose shrub, prepare the new site for the transplant. It sounds simple, but a lot of people forget to do this! By having the hole in the new location all ready to go before you begin digging the old location, the rose spends the least amount of time out of the ground. Once the new hole is dug, fill it with water and allow the water to soak in.

After their new home is ready to go, dig up your rose bushes. Dig a 1 foot to 2 foot diameter around the base of the rose bush to accommodate the root ball without damaging the roots. Roses are susceptible to transplant shock. This is when a plant becomes stressed and fails to root well after being replanted. To avoid transplant shock, make sure to leave the root ball intact and undamaged when you transplant roses.

Creating Bouquets & Decorating with Chicago Peace Roses

The large flowers, their unique coloration, and the mild fragrance of Chicago Peace roses naturally lends them to creating bouquets and arrangements. The warm orange glow in their centers and yellow and pink tints throughout the petals allows them to be a great transition between lighter and bolder colors.

Where To Buy

If all of this has motivated you to buy your own Chicago Peace Roses, then we can tell you where to find them. Whether you’re looking to buy a shrub ready to be planted in your garden or you just want a bouquet or an arrangement for a special occasion, there are retailers who can help you.

Where To Buy Chicago Peace Rose Bushes

Chicago Peace Rose bushes can be found at local nurseries and garden centers — contact ones in your area to ask if they have them in stock or can have them shipped in . You can also order them online from retailers like Nature Hills Nursery.

Where To Buy Chicago Peace Rose Bouquets

The best way to get a bouquet of Chicago Peace Rose is to get in touch with your local florist. They’ll be able to not only source these flowers, but work with you to create an arrangement that helps you meet your needs.

Wrapping Up the Chicago Peace Rose

The Chicago Peace rose is one of those roses that won’t be able to help stealing the show in your garden! Whether you use it for mass plantings, as a stand alone specimen, for special gardens (like cutting or butterfly gardens), or in containers, you’re sure to be a huge fan of this rose that lives up to the prestige of its parent, ‘Peace.’

Is there a Chicago Peace rose taking center stage in your garden? If so, let us know all about your experiences with this rose in the comments section below!

Excited for more rose content? Then keep reading all about these beautiful flowers, how to take care of them, and more on our roses page!