The Peace rose bush is one of the most famous and beloved rose varieties. A hybrid tea rose, it is a lightly-fragrant flower with blooms that typically range in color from a light cream to a dark yellow, with pale pink edges. The Peace rose has been the recipient of several honors including the 1946 All American Rose Selection (AARS) award and a 1976 induction into the World Federation of Rose Societies Hall of Fame.
The blooms of the Peace rose bush are particularly dense. They grow to approximately 6 inches (15.2 centimeters) in diameter, and usually have over 40 petals. The foliage is dark green, with glossy, sturdy leaves. They usually grow to an average of 4.9 feet (1.5 meters) tall.
This variety of rose is noted for being fairly easy to grow and a good plant for beginning gardeners. Most Peace roses thrive in partial sun. They are fairly hardy and resistant to disease. Peace rose bushes also grow well from cuttings, a quality which helped the plant spread quickly when it was first developed.
The blossoms will usually grow well upon previous growth each year if they are lightly pruned around early spring, when buds typically begin to grow. This variety of rose tends to thrive best when given plenty of surrounding space, though it has been known to prosper in more crowded gardens as well. The Peace rose bush typically requires yearly mulching and light watering.
There are other similar varieties of the Peace rose bush. A less bushy, more upright version of the rose is known as pink Peace. The Rosa Chicago peace was developed in Chicago in 1962. There is also a climbing rose known as Peace which is typically more difficult to encourage to bloom.
The first Peace rose bush was grown in 1935. It was created by French hybridizer Frances Meilland. He named it after his mother, Mme A. Meilland, who died at a young age. When Berlin fell to the Allied Forces in 1945, the rose acquired its current name to commemorate the newly won world peace.
When Meilland created his first rose, golden state, in the 1930s, it sold out quickly via catalog sales. That early triumph and the huge success of the Peace rose bush led to a lasting institution known as The House of Meilland. This organization continues to develop new kinds of roses with the goal of introducing hardy, easy-to-grow varieties to gardening enthusiasts.