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Gold Medal (Rosa 'Gold Medal'), whole plant
  • Gold Medal — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Gold Medal — seasonal appearance
  • Gold Medal in a garden setting

Gold Medal

Rosa 'Gold Medal'

Medium · Some experience

About Gold Medal

Gold Medal is a tall deep-yellow grandiflora rose tinged with orange and red on petal edges, producing 4 to 5 inch high-centered blooms on 5 to 6 foot stems. Strongly fragrant with a tea-apple scent, this 1983 Jackson & Perkins introduction is considered one of the best yellow grandiflora roses ever bred for American gardens.

  • Fragrant
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Full sun
6+ hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to -20°F (-29°C)
USDA hardiness zones 5–9

How to care for Gold Medal

Watering

  • Springevery 5 days
  • Summerevery 3 days
  • Fallevery 7 days
  • Winterevery 14 days

Soil · Rich & loamy

  • Top dressingBark mulch15%
  • Main mixRich loam + compost 3:170%
  • DrainageGravel15%

Use fully finished compost — fresh compost burns roots.

FERTILIZER

Balanced Feed 14-14-14

An even feed covers all three needs at once, keeping leaves, roots and blooms moving together with nothing pushed out of balance.

N33%P33%K33%
  • Nitrogen · Leaves
  • Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
  • Potassium · Strength
  • Springevery 30 days
  • Summerevery 30 days
  • Fallevery 45 days
Get watering reminders for Gold Medal — free on iPhoneDownload on the App Store

At a Glance

  • NativeNorth America
  • Height5–7 ft (1.5–2.1 m)
  • Spread3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
  • Flower colorYellow, Coral
  • Foliage colorGreen
  • SoilLoamy, Well-drained, Rich
  • LocationsYard

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Deadhead for repeat bloom; prune late winter

Fragrance

LIGHT FRAGRANCE

Light tea and fruit scent.

Toxicity

Humans Slight

Unknown toxic principle

Slight

  • Stem
  • Contact

EXPOSURE Touching stems.

EFFECT Pricks from thorns.

NOTE Not toxic; thorns cause mechanical injury.

Safe

EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.

EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.

NOTE Listed as non-toxic for dogs; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.

Safe

EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.

EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.

NOTE Listed as non-toxic for cats; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.

Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

DISTRIBUTION

Gold Medal · Native
  • Native
  • North America

History

Illustrated historical scene for Gold Medal

Rosa 'Gold Medal' is a deep yellow grandiflora rose bred by American hybridizer Jack E. Christensen at Armstrong Roses in Ontario, California, released in 1982 from a complex cross involving 'Yellow Pages', 'Granada', and 'Garden Party'. The long pointed buds open slowly to classic high-centered blooms of warm golden yellow with coral-pink flushing along the petal edges, a coloring unusual among yellow roses and prized by exhibitors. Tall upright growth, glossy disease-resistant foliage, and exceptionally long straight stems make 'Gold Medal' a premier cut-flower rose and a reliable performer in hot climates where many yellows fade.

Light tea and fruit fragrance. The cultivar has won several regional trials and remains among the best-selling yellow grandifloras in North America.

Bred by Jerry Christensen at Armstrong Nurseries in California and introduced in 1982 by Jackson & Perkins. Named for its rich gold petal color, it has won multiple international gold medals and became one of the most widely planted yellow grandifloras in American gardens.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

The Gold Medal rose has earned its name in international competition — multiple gold medals from rose trials around the world, awarded to a clear yellow grandiflora of unusual vigor. As an emblem of excellence it remains the standard yellow grandiflora against which others are measured. The rose carries its reputation lightly, blooming reliably for any gardener who plants it well.

  • Golden achievement — multiple international gold medals
  • Excellence — top yellow grandiflora

Where the Name Comes From

Named 'Gold Medal' for both its rich golden flower color and the international medals it won in rose trials.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Golden-yellow grandiflora blooms with light tea-fruit fragrance
  • Long straight stems and pointed buds ideal for cut arrangements
  • AARS grandiflora celebrated for sturdy long-stemmed yellow blooms

Related plants

More Rosa plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Gold Medal?

In summer, water about every 3 days; in winter, about every 14 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.

How much light does Gold Medal need?

Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Gold Medal toxic to cats or dogs?

Pets Safe (Dogs Safe · Cats Safe) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Is Gold Medal easy to grow?

It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.

When does Gold Medal bloom?

It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.

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