Gemini Rose – Hybrid Tea for Texas

Hybrid tea roses bloom after the shrub roses.  Their root structure is typically not as deep, but when they bloom in Texas – their blooms are grand.  Here is Gemini — in all honesty, I have made the full bloom images more beautiful than the rose actually is at that stage — sorry, do not mean to be misleading.  However, this IS a rose to be treasured — more in the bud phase than the full bloom.  Gemini is an excellent rose for the Texas garden and a 2000 AARS Winner.

The Gemini Hybrid Tea Rose is a celebrated cultivar known for its striking coloration and robust performance. Bred by Dr. Keith W. Zary in 1991 and introduced to the U.S. market in 1999, it has garnered acclaim for both its beauty and resilience.​

Overview

• Type: Hybrid Tea Rose

• Color: Creamy white petals edged with coral-pink; the coloration intensifies as the bloom matures

• Bloom Size: Approximately 4.5 to 5 inches in diameter

• Petal Count: 25–30

• Fragrance: Mild to moderate

• Growth Habit: Upright, reaching 4–6 feet in height

• Foliage: Glossy, dark green leaves

• Blooming: Repeat bloomer throughout the growing season​

Awards & Recognition

• All-America Rose Selections (AARS) Winner – 2000: This prestigious award highlights the rose’s exceptional qualities in terms of beauty, performance, and adaptability. ​

• Garden.org Member’s Choice Award – 2005: Based on evaluations from nearly 800 members, Gemini received the highest rating among new roses at the time.

Performance in Texas

Gemini has demonstrated strong adaptability to Texas’s diverse climates, particularly in USDA Zones 7–9, which encompass much of the state. Its heat tolerance and disease resistance make it a suitable choice for Texas gardeners seeking a reliable and visually striking rose. The rose’s vigorous growth and repeat blooming habit ensure continuous visual interest throughout the growing season.

1. What are common diseases that affect the Gemini Rose in Texas?
Common diseases include black spot fungus, powdery mildew, downy mildew, and rose rosette disease, all of which can severely impact rose health in Texas’ humid and variable climate.

2. What is Rose Rosette Disease (RRD) and how does it affect the Gemini Rose?
RRD is a virus-like disease spread by a tiny mite that causes abnormal growth, red shoots, excessive thorniness, and eventual plant death. Gemini Roses are vulnerable to this disease if exposed.

3. How can gardeners protect their Gemini Roses from diseases in Texas?
Preventative measures include good air circulation, regular pruning, fungicide application, removing infected plants, and avoiding overhead watering to reduce fungal spread.

5. Is there a cure for diseases like Rose Rosette in Gemini Roses?
Currently, there is no cure for RRD. The only solution is to remove and destroy infected plants to prevent spread to healthy roses.