Rose bush ‘Julio Iglesias’, ideal to give on Valentine’s Day

Any day is perfect to give roses, but during Valentine’s Day, without a doubt, any lover of these flowers will probably enjoy a gift such as rose bush ‘Julio Iglesias’. Unlike the ones we are more used to seeing, its petals are of two colors instead of just one, and they also give off a delicious, soft aroma, like citrus fruits.

Its maintenance, of course, is similar to that of any other rose bush, so it is very easy to keep it in good health. So if you want to show your partner that you love them with a special gift, or you want them to give it to you , It is time to find out where this rose bush comes from and, above all, how it is cared for.

Origin and characteristics of the rose bush ‘Julio Iglesias’

Our protagonist is a hybrid tea rose bush, created by the grower Meilland. It was presented to the world in 2004, and since then more and more people have been planting it in their gardens, as well as in pots to decorate their patios and terraces. The name was given in honor of the Spanish singer known both inside and outside of Spain, Julio Iglesias.

It grows as a vigorous and quite thorny shrub, reaching a height of between 80 and 170 centimeters. The leaves are the same as those of the other rose bushes, that is, they are made up of five to nine leaflets or pinnae, with a serrated margin and petioled, dark green in color.

Its flowers are large, 11 centimeters in diameter, formed by 50 cream-white petals with red stripes. They appear in groups of 2 to 5, and they do so for a good part of the year. In fact, I can tell you that in an area with a Mediterranean climate, with minimums of up to -2ºC and maximums of up to 38ºC, the normal thing is to be able to enjoy the beauty of its petals from spring to autumn (And there may even be some in winter if it is being especially mild, although yes, this is rarer than it happens).

How do you take care of yourself?

If you dare to have a copy, or give it away, we recommend that you take into account the following:

Location

It is a plant that has to be placed outside, in full sun. In order to flourish, it needs a minimum of five hours of direct sunlight each day. For this reason, it is not recommended to have it inside the house.

Earth

• Flower pot: fill it with universal substrate mixed with 30% perlite. You can also use mulch mixed with 20-30% clay or similar.
• the garden: grows in soils rich in organic matter, with good drainage.

Irrigation

Irrigation must be frequentespecially during the summer. The substrate or the soil must always remain slightly humid, so that in general it will be watered an average of 4-5 times a week in the hottest and driest season of the year, and an average of 2 times a week the rest. of the year.

If in doubt, check the moisture in the soil before watering, for example by inserting a thin wooden stick or digging a little into the soil. In any case, if you have it in a pot, you can put a plate under it in summer and fill it with water more or less frequently.

Pruning

You have to prune the rose bush ‘Julio Iglesias’ from time to time:

• End of winter: it has to be given an important pruning. It will depend on the size of the plant and how big you want to keep it, but if it measures 1 meter for example, the ideal is to shorten the length of its stems by at least 20 centimeters. If you are going to shape it into a tree, leave it with two or three main branches and remove the rest.
• Flowering: during flowering you have to cut the withered flowers every time it is necessary, since otherwise the new roses that you take out will be of lower quality and smaller.

Use pruning shears previously disinfected. This will keep you protected from fungi.

Planting or transplanting time

In springwhen the frosts have passed.

If it is in a pot, it must be changed to a larger one every 2-3 years.

Plagues and diseases

It is quite sturdy, but in dry and very hot summers, be careful with insects that are similar to ladybugs, except that they have a long and thin bodyinstead of rounded. Some of the most common in Spain are macrolenes dentipes or Lachnaia.

If you see a few, two or three, chances are there are many more. But if there is still not much damage, that is, if you have only seen a few flowers and / or leaves with a few bites, treat them first with diatomaceous earth. This is a white powder made from algae, which is made up of silica. When they come into contact with insects, they pierce their bodies, causing them to die dehydrated. Therefore, it is one of the best natural insecticides out there.

So in the late afternoon, we advise you to spray / mist the plant with water, and then sprinkle it with diatomaceous earth. As it is such a fine and light powder, in this way it will remain longer acting on the insects that affect the rose bush.

By the way, don’t worry it doesn’t leave a trace. If it falls to the ground or the substrate, it will fertilize it as it also serves as a compost.

If the pest is widespread and the damage begins to be significant, better use an insecticide based on Chlorpyrifos, following the instructions specified on the package.

Rusticity

It resists cold and frost well up to -7 ° C.

What is the rose bush ‘Julio iglesias’ used for?

It has several uses:

Ornamental

Like any precious plant that boasts, the main use that is given to the rose bush ‘Julio Iglesias’ is, precisely, to decorate. Beautifying the garden, patio, terrace and / or roof terrace is easy with this shrub. Whether in a pot or on the ground, as a compact shrub or shaping it like a tree, having one is always a source of joy.

Cut flower

A good option to have rose flowers ‘Julio Iglesias’ inside the house and get their aroma close, is to cut them and put them in a vase. But it is important to change the water and clean the container every dayto avoid the proliferation of bacteria and others. In this article you have more useful tricks with which you will be able to keep them longer:

Where to buy?

You can buy it from here!.