First Light rose is a hybrid shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae) bred by Jeanne Arlene Marciel of the United States and released in 1998. Parentage is Bonica® × Ballerina. This rounded upright shrub grows 2-4 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide in full sun in amended, well-drained, moist garden soil. Prune in late winter. Protect new growth from spring frosts. The flowers are light pink with darker on the reverse side and purple stamens. They are 2-3 inches wide with 4-8 petals, a moderate spicy fragrance and bloom in flushes through fall. The dark green foliage is on stems with prickles. This plant can be grown in the garden or in containers. Use on the patio, along walkways, in the border and in small groups. It may be difficult to find for sale. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Good disease resistance. See pests of roses to the left. Deer will browse roses. More information on Rosa .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheRosa 'Echo'Rosa Frida Kahlo™ 'WEKcifrabaun'Rosa Rise 'n' Shine 'MELcupag'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Rose; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Dark green leaves
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Long Bloom Season
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Pointed pink buds open to pink flowers with purple stamens that at 2-3 inches wide, 4-8 petals and grow in clusters with a good fragrance. Repeat blooms.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Stem detail
Stems with prickles
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
USA
Wildlife value
Attracts birds and butterflies.
Attracts
Butterflies; Songbirds
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container
Landscape theme
Rock Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Hedge; Mass Planting; Specimen
Garden tags
#rose #shrub #pink flowers #small groups #full sun #long bloom season #fragrant flowers #border middle #container plant #repeat flowering #shrub rose #walkway