Question
Hello, I'm from Hawaii and just started growing a bare rooted Oklahoma rose about 2 months ago.  The first two flowers bloomed quite a dark red color but then turned into a pink color as the flowers developed.  I'm not sure if it's because of the hot climate and if I'm not mistaken, more sunlight will darken a rose's flower color.  Is my rose's color change supposed to happen?  I prefer the flower to stay a dark red color, though it is interesting to see the petals turning pink.  Two more flowers have bloomed the same red color but I don't know if they'll turn pink yet.

Answer

Oklahoma   Oklahoma is one of the best of the dark, very fragrant red roses. However it is an old rose and the colour is not stable. I grow Oklahoma in the PNW because is prefers a milder climate which doesn't effect the colouring as much. But the colour still changes and I have it growing in no hot afternoon sun. All of the older deep carmine reds start out very dark and then change to a deep carmine pink or a blue shade of bright red. I have enclosed a photo of my Oklahoma at the peak of perfection, and you can see, even growing in part shade, the colour is not a deep red. If possible, try and place the rose where it doesn't get the high heat of mid-day. This rose is in my opinion, the best of the deep reds of yesterday, so it is worth a little extra work.