Hot Tamale is a miniature hybrid rose that was developed by Dr. Keith W. Zary and introduced to the USA by Jackson Perkins in 1993. It is sometimes seen marketed as Sunbird. It is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae). This rose shrub grows to 2-3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. It does best in full sun and well-drained soils. Prune out dead or diseased canes at any time and prune to shape in the fall. This is a fairly easy rose to grow and will need some fertilizer in spring. In colder climates, it will need winter protection. The fragrant flowers of Hot Tamale are a yellow-orange blend changing to yellow-pink and fading to a pink-and-white blend. It repeat blooms throughout the season. and is covered in a variety of colored roses. Rose hips are produced that mature to orange. Use this shrub in the front to middle of the border, in groups, along a walkway or in a container. Container plants will require extra winter protection. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Resistant to diseases. Black spot could be a problem. See pests of rose to the left. 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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Small compound green leaves with new growth being reddish. 5-7 leaflets per stem.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Pink
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower shape
Cup; Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
1.5 in. double blooms of a Yellow-orange blend changing to yellow-pink, fading to pink and white blend borne singly or in small clusters. It repeat blooms throughout the season. Flowers have 26-40 petals.