Gloria Dei Rose (Peace)
Rosa 'Gloria Dei' (Peace)
Height
100–120 cm
Flower size
14–16 cm
Bloom time
June – October (flushes)
Light
Full Sun / Light Partial Shade
Watering
Moderate (10-15 L)
Hardiness
Zone 6 (up to -23°C without cover)
Fragrance
Mild, sweet fruity
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Giant flowers (up to 16 cm) with a unique shimmering color
- High resistance to black spot and fungal diseases
- Powerful bush that recovers quickly after winter
- Long-lasting blooms (doesn't drop petals for 5-7 days)
Disadvantages
- Fades quickly to creamy white in hot weather
- Fragrance is mild compared to modern varieties
- Requires mandatory winter protection in regions colder than Zone 6
Use in Landscape Design
Gloria Dei is a queen that dislikes crowding. It looks ideal as a specimen plant (solitaire) against an emerald lawn. It is also used for tree roses (standards). In mixed borders, plant it in the background, surrounded by low-growing blue perennials like lavender or sage.
Variety Description and History
Gloria Dei (known as 'Peace' in the English-speaking world) is not just a rose; it's a symbol of an era. Bred by French hybridizer Francis Meilland before WWII, it was smuggled to the USA via diplomatic pouch. The bud opens from light yellow to creamy-ivory with a delicate raspberry-pink flush on the petal edges. The intensity of the pink margin depends on the weather: the cooler the summer, the brighter the edges. The foliage is dark green, leathery, and glossy, looking decorative even without flowers.
Planting and Site Selection
Choose an open, sunny spot for Gloria Dei, protected from northern winds. Cold air pockets are detrimental. The soil should be fertile, loose, and slightly acidic (pH 5.6–6.5). The planting hole should be 60x60 cm with drainage (broken bricks or expanded clay) at the bottom. When planting, bury the graft union 3–5 cm below the soil level to protect the cultivar from freezing and drying out.
Watering and Fertilization
This variety has a powerful root system, so watering must be deep. Water once every 7–10 days, applying 15–20 liters of water strictly at the base. Surface watering is harmful as it encourages weeds and doesn't reach the main roots. Feeding schedule: 1. Nitrogen (Urea) — immediately after removing winter cover in spring. 2. Complex mineral (NPK) — during the budding period. 3. Potassium-magnesium or wood ash — in late August to prepare shoots for winter.
Pruning (Spring, Summer, Autumn)
Gloria Dei belongs to the Hybrid Tea group, which blooms on current year's growth. • Spring: Hard pruning. Leave 4–6 healthy skeletal shoots, shortening them to 20–25 cm (above the 3rd or 5th bud). Make slanted cuts 0.5 cm above an outward-facing bud. • Summer: Promptly remove deadheaded blooms along with part of the stem down to the first true five-leaflet leaf to stimulate new flower stalks. • Autumn: Sanitary pruning. Remove unripened (red) shoots, leaves, and diseased branches.
Winter Preparation
Despite good hardiness, the rose requires protection in temperate climates. With the onset of steady frosts (-5°C), mound the base of the bush with dry soil or peat to a height of 20–30 cm. Install a frame (hoops) over the bush and cover it with two layers of non-woven material (60 g/m² spunbond). It is important to leave an air gap between the branches and the cover.
Diseases and Pests
This variety boasts enviable health. Black spot rarely affects it. However, in rainy summers, powdery mildew outbreaks are possible. If white coating appears, treat with fungicides like 'Topas' or 'Score'. The most dangerous pest is the rose aphid, which sucks sap from young shoots. Control: wash off with a water jet or treat with insecticides like 'Aktara' or 'Fitoverm'.