Sweet Chariot Miniature Rose
Rosa 'Sweet Chariot'
flowerSweet Chariot is one of the most fragrant miniature roses ever bred, a 1984 Ralph Moore introduction that breaks the rule that little roses have no scent. It makes a low, spreading, cascading plant 12 to 18 inches tall, and wider in a basket, smothered in large clusters of small, very double flowers that open deep purple and fade to soft lavender, all carrying a strong damask perfume. It flowers in repeated flushes all season and is ideal at nose height - the top of a wall, a raised bed, a patio container, or a hanging basket - where the fragrance can be enjoyed up close.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 4 days
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Bloom
~45 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
18-24 in. apart
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Planting Depth
Set the root ball level with the soil surface (most miniatures grow on their own roots)
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Soil pH
6.0-6.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 6 – 9
When to Fertilize
Regularly through the season, especially in containers
Fertilizer
Balanced rose or all-purpose fertilizer
🌱 Growing Guide
Grow Sweet Chariot in full sun in rich, well-drained soil or a quality potting mix; miniatures are simply small roses and want the same sun, water, and feeding as their full-sized kin. In containers and baskets it dries quickly, so water whenever the top inch is dry and never let it wilt, and feed regularly through the season with a balanced fertilizer since pots leach nutrients. Deadhead the spent clusters to keep the repeat bloom coming. Prune lightly in early spring, just shaping and removing dead twigs. It is hardy in the ground in zones 6 to 9; container plants should be sheltered over winter in cold climates since pots freeze harder than open ground.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first bloom
May 30
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Sweet Alyssum — A fragrant low filler that spills over the pot or basket edge and draws aphid-eating hoverflies
- Catmint — A small-scale companion that echoes the lavender tones and feeds pollinators
- English Lavender — Shares the hot, well-drained container conditions and doubles the fragrance
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Keep foliage dry, give airflow around pots, and remove any spotted leaves promptly
Avoid crowding pots and water at the base, not over the leaves
Rinse off new-growth colonies and avoid heavy nitrogen feeding
Common on potted minis in hot dry spots - rinse leaf undersides with water and do not let plants drought-stress
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Sweet Chariot makes sweetly scented miniature posies - snip the little clusters in the cool morning for a fragrant tabletop arrangement. Deadhead spent clusters to keep the flushes coming. Because the plant cascades, it is at its best spilling from a hanging basket or the top of a wall where you can catch the perfume at nose height.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
A purely ornamental container and edging rose. Its real distinction is fragrance, rare in a miniature, rather than any food or major wildlife value, though bees visit the open blooms.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.