YardMate
Joseph's Coat
Rosa 'Joseph's Coat'
Medium · Some experienceAbout Joseph's Coat
Joseph's Coat is a dazzling multicolor climbing rose bred by Armstrong and Swim in 1964, famous for blooms that open yellow, turn orange, and age to crimson red all on the same plant at once. Growing 8 to 12 feet on vigorous canes, it produces clusters of semi-double flowers from late spring through fall, creating a living tapestry of changing color. A showstopper for American arbors and large trellises.
- Climbing
- Long-blooming
- Pollinator-friendly
How to care for Joseph's Coat
Watering
- Springevery 7 days
- Summerevery 5 days
- Fallevery 10 days
- Winterevery 21 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.
- Nitrogen · Leaves
- Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
- Potassium · Strength
- Springevery 45 days
- Summerevery 45 days
At a Glance
- NativeNorth America
- Height8–12 ft (2.4–3.7 m)
- Spread4–8 ft (1.2–2.4 m)
- Flower colorYellow, Orange, Red, Pink
- Foliage colorGreen
- Fruit colorOrange
- SoilLoamy, Well-drained, Rich
- LocationsYard
Bloom time
BLOOM CYCLE
Peak bloom
May–Sep
Yellow-orange-red color shift, deadhead and train canes horizontally for repeat
Fragrance
LIGHT FRAGRANCE
The flowers have a light tea 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
- Native
- North America
History
Rosa 'Joseph's Coat' is a multicoloured climbing rose bred by American hybridizers Herb Swim and O. L. Weeks at Armstrong Roses in Ontario, California, released in 1964 from a cross between 'Buccaneer' and 'Circus'. The cultivar was named for the biblical Joseph's coat of many colours because each flower cluster displays blooms in every stage of color transition simultaneously: buds open golden yellow, pass through orange, coral, and pink phases, and finish as deep crimson before dropping, so a single plant shows the full warm-color spectrum at once. The climbing plant reaches about three meters with semi-double blooms in continuous clusters from late spring to heavy frost.
'Joseph's Coat' won the Bagatelle Gold Medal in 1964 and the Madrid Gold Medal in 1966. Light tea fragrance; best on a pillar or short trellis where every color can be admired.
Bred by David Armstrong and Herb Swim at Armstrong Nurseries in California and introduced in 1964, Joseph's Coat was named for the biblical coat of many colors and dazzled American gardeners with its unprecedented color-shifting blooms. It remains one of the most beloved multicolor climbing roses in American gardens.
Symbolism & meaning
What It Symbolizes
Joseph's coat rose is a many colored gift — its name a direct reference to the biblical coat of many colors given to Joseph, every petal shifting through yellow, orange, and red as it ages. The result is ever-changing beauty: a single climber simultaneously displays buds of one color and open blooms of another, like a small living tapestry. Few roses change so visibly, so cheerfully, hour by hour.
- Many colored gift — biblical coat-of-many-colors reference
- Ever-changing beauty — each bloom shifts through yellow, orange, red
Where the Name Comes From
Named for the biblical 'coat of many colors' given to Joseph by his father Jacob, referencing the flowers' multi-hued display.
Uses & Fun Facts
- Multicolor red-orange-yellow blooms shift hues as they age
- Pillar-style climber trained on trellises, arbors, and pergolas
- Open-form flowers attract honeybees and native bumblebees
Related plants
More Rosa plants
About FaceRosa 'About Face'
Abraham DarbyRosa 'Abraham Darby'
AmericaRosa 'America'
Angel FaceRosa 'Angel Face'
Plants with similar care
Mexican AbeliaAbelia floribunda
Fraser FirAbies fraseri
Paperbark MapleAcer griseum
Sugar MapleAcer saccharum
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Joseph's Coat?
In summer, water about every 5 days; in winter, about every 21 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.
How much light does Joseph's Coat need?
Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.
Is Joseph's Coat 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 Joseph's Coat easy to grow?
It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.
When does Joseph's Coat bloom?
It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.
YardMate
Identify any plant in seconds
Snap a photo — YardMate names the plant, diagnoses problems, and reminds you when to water.
Download on the App Store