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Sterling Silver
Rosa 'Sterling Silver'
Medium · Some experienceAbout Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver is a legendary lavender hybrid tea rose that pioneered silvery-mauve color in modern roses, producing 4-inch blooms with a strong citrusy fragrance. Growing 3 to 4 feet tall on a moderate bush, it established the lavender rose category in 1957 and remains a collector's favorite for its unique coloring and powerful scent.
- Fragrant
- Cut-flower
How to care for Sterling Silver
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.
- Nitrogen · Leaves
- Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
- Potassium · Strength
- Springevery 30 days
- Summerevery 30 days
- Fallevery 45 days
At a Glance
- NativeNorth America
- Height3–5 ft (0.9–1.5 m)
- Spread2–3 ft (0.6–0.9 m)
- Flower colorPurple
- Foliage colorGreen
- SoilLoamy, Well-drained, Rich
- LocationsYard
Bloom time
BLOOM CYCLE
Peak bloom
May–Sep
Deadhead for repeat bloom; prune late winter
Fragrance
STRONG FRAGRANCE
The flowers have a strong lemon-verbena citrus 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 'Sterling Silver' is a lavender hybrid tea rose bred by American amateur hybridizer Gladys Fisher in California from a seedling of an unnamed mauve rose, released commercially by Hansen Nursery in 1957. It was among the first commercially successful mauve roses and caused an immediate sensation, its silvery-lilac color completely unlike anything previously available. Although the plant itself is moderately vigorous, disease-prone, and demanding in the garden, 'Sterling Silver' has been tremendously influential as a breeding parent and appears in the pedigree of most modern lavender cultivars including 'Blue Moon', 'Angel Face', and 'Paradise'.
The strong lemon-verbena fragrance was equally unusual. Enthusiasts still grow it for sentimental reasons, and specialist nurseries continue to propagate the original clone.
The first commercially successful lavender hybrid tea rose, it established an entirely new color class that paved the way for dozens of later mauve cultivars.
Symbolism & meaning
What It Symbolizes
Sterling Silver carries enchantment through its rare silvery-lavender hue, a color so unusual among roses it feels almost magical when it first opens. Its place in rose history is as a pioneer, the first commercially successful lavender rose, parent to every subsequent purple variety. It is often read as a flower of color breakthrough, a hybrid tea whose meaning is the moment a new shade became possible, opening a quiet door for every dusky rose that followed.
- Enchantment — rare silvery-lavender hue
- Pioneer — first commercial lavender rose
Where the Name Comes From
Named 'Sterling Silver' for the flower's distinctive shimmering silvery-lavender color.
Uses & Fun Facts
- Strong citrusy fragrance from pioneering lavender hybrid tea
- Silvery-mauve blooms cut for collector fragrance bouquets
- Heritage 1957 lavender rose for sensory gardens
Related plants
More Rosa plants
About FaceRosa 'About Face'
Abraham DarbyRosa 'Abraham Darby'
AmericaRosa 'America'
Angel FaceRosa 'Angel Face'
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Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Sterling Silver?
In summer, water about every 3 days; in winter, about every 14 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.
How much light does Sterling Silver need?
Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.
Is Sterling Silver 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 Sterling Silver easy to grow?
It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.
When does Sterling Silver bloom?
It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.
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