Elizabeth M.
Verified buyer
I don’t know what I was expecting really but the size of the roots on this plant was awesome! The roots were like 2 feet long at the longest.Fashion Forward™ Bare Root
Distant Drums
Bare Root Rose BushMoody shades of smoky lavender, antique apricot and dusky mauve, with a strong myrrh and spice scent. Famously hardy, rounded and disease resistant.
Also available as a potted rose →
$45.00
02
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Grade #1 · 2 Year Budded
$45.00
One year guarantee
If your rose doesn’t make it in its first year, approved claims get store credit for the plant’s price.
Grown in California
Every bare root is grown in California by our specialist bare root grower.
Beautifully packaged
Carefully packed with love and delivered to your door, ready to soak and plant.
Why our bare root roses are better
Grown in California with the best bare root rose grower in the world. Clean roses, bigger roots, no shortcuts.
About this rose
About Distant Drums
Distant Drums Bare Root Rose Bush
Distant Drums
‘Distant Drums’ is a rose that refuses to behave — and thank goodness. With shifting shades that drift from smoky lavender to parchment-apricot to dusky mauve, no two blooms are ever quite the same. This shrub rose is famous for its moody, unexpected palette and a myrrh scent that’s sharp, clean, and slightly haunting. Bred by Dr. Griffith Buck, it's also famously hardy and disease-resistant, thriving in cold climates with minimal fuss. Not a rose for formality — but perfect for the bold and the poetic.
Flower Form: Full, cupped, 26–40 petals
Color: Mauve, tan, smoky lavender, antique apricot (color shifts as flower ages)
Fragrance: Strong — myrrh and spice
Bloom Time: Repeats from spring through frost
Height: 3–4 ft
Spread: 2–3 ft
Foliage: Medium green, semi-glossy
Habit: Rounded, bushy
Zone: USDA 5–9
Type: Shrub rose
Breeder: Dr. Griffith Buck (USA, 1985)
Parentage: Seedling × ‘September Song’
Awards: Noted for hardiness and disease resistance in cold zones
Geographical Recommendations: Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Northwest, Intermountain West, West Coast, Southwest, Mid-Atlantic
Preparing or storing before planting
Never allow your bare root roses to dry out. Open the box as soon as your rose arrives and soak the roots in clean water for at least 24 hours, and up to 48 hours if you can’t plant straight away. Don’t cut the roots: they are the plant’s energy reserve.
Planting instructions
Once your bare roots have soaked in water for at least 24 hours, plant immediately in a container or in the ground. Make sure to bury the crown of the plant 2 to 3 inches below the soil level.
First season watering and care
Watering your bare root rose the first year is vital while your rose is establishing. We recommend a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch, a drip line and careful monitoring.
If you have more questions
View FAQs ↓
Rose Details
Flower Color
Peach or Apricot, Earth Tones or Taupe
Fragrance Intensity
Strong
Rose Type
Shrub
Mature Height
3 to 4 ft
Mature Width
3 to 4 ft
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zones 5 to 9
Sun
Full sun
Flower Form
Cupped, Double
Bloom Cycles
Repeat blooming
Plant FormBare root bush · 2 year budded · Grade #1
Regional recommendations
Midwest, Northeast, West Coast, Pacific Northwest, Intermountain West, Mid Atlantic
Vase Life
3 to 4 days
Uses
Cutting & bringing inside, gardens of all sizes
Petal Count
5 to 40
Country of Origin
United States
Grown in California ·
1 year guarantee ·
Beautifully packaged
From our community
What gardeners are saying
Reviews for this rose first. Fewer than three? We show our bare root reviews instead, clearly labelled.
Reviews from across our bare root roses
★★★★★
Based on 242 reviews
99% would recommend
Jo W.
Verified buyer
The bare root roses arrived well packaged and moist. You can see new growth on the canes, an indication that the rose is waking up. The bare roots have massive long anchor roots, some more than 2 feet long.Parfuma® Earth Angel™ Bare Root
Jacklyn L.
Verified buyer
My bare roots arrived huge and healthy! I was so impressed by them! I’ll come back and update when they start showing off 😊Moonstone® Bare Root
Beth H.
Verified buyer
Beautiful and so fragrant. Would buy again.Francis Meilland® Bare Root
Watch
Gracie walks you through planting, step by step.
How to plant your rose
Gracie’s Better Bare Root™
The Beauty of Bare Root Roses
01
What is a bare root rose?
A dormant rose shipped without soil, its roots wrapped and ready to plant. You are buying the energy stored in the roots, which wakes the plant in spring and drives strong new growth.Compare bare root and potted
02
Our grades, explained
Grade #1 roses are our highest quality plants, with strong roots and mature canes. They establish quickly and bloom in their first season. Grade #1.5 roses are slightly smaller but still establish well, a budget friendly choice if you can wait a little longer for full growth.See every grade
03
How it arrives
Your rose arrives dormant, with long, healthy roots. Never let them dry out: open the box straight away and soak the roots in clean water for at least 24 hours, then plant with the crown 2 to 3 inches below the soil.Read the planting guide
04
Grown in California
Our bare roots are grown in California by a specialist bare root grower: clean roses, bigger roots, no shortcuts.Why it’s a Better Bare Root™Every one counts toward your 6
More bare root roses you’ll love
Questions
Questions, answered
A dormant bare root rose, graded and packed to travel straight from California. You get long, healthy roots and strong canes, ready to wake up in your garden this spring.
- Grade #1 or #1.5, budded or own root
- Wrapped securely in plastic bags to retain moisture while in transit
- Backed by our One-Year Grow with Gracie™ Guarantee
Tip: unpack immediately and soak the roots for at least 24 to 48 hours.
We ship by region so your rose arrives when your ground is ready to plant: from January in the warmest states to April in the coldest. Pick your state in step 02 above to see your estimated month.
Plant it soon after it arrives, while it’s still dormant. Soak the roots for at least 2 hours first, and for up to 48 hours if you need to wait a day or two.
Yes. Any 6 or more bare root roses count, across varieties and forms: bushes, climbers and trees. The extra 15% applies to every bare root in your cart.
If your rose doesn’t survive its first year, approved claims receive the plant’s purchase price in store credit. The year runs from shipping. Tax, shipping and discounts are excluded, and eligibility and exclusions apply.
What arrives in the box?
A dormant bare root rose with long, healthy roots, packed to travel. Never let the roots dry out: open the box as soon as it arrives and soak the roots in clean water for at least 24 hours before planting.
When will my rose ship?
We ship by region so your rose arrives when your ground is ready to plant: from January in the warmest states to April in the coldest. Pick your state in step 02 above to see your estimated month.
When should I plant it?
Plant it soon after it arrives, while it’s still dormant. Soak the roots for at least 2 hours first, and for up to 48 hours if you need to wait a day or two.
Can I combine roses for the 6 rose offer?
Yes. Any 6 or more bare root roses count, across varieties and forms: bushes, climbers and trees. The extra 15% applies to every bare root in your cart.
What does the Grow with Gracie™ Guarantee cover?
If your rose doesn’t survive its first year, approved claims receive the plant’s purchase price in store credit. The year runs from shipping. Tax, shipping and discounts are excluded, and eligibility and exclusions apply.
· One-Year Grow with Gracie™ Guarantee
Your rose comes with peace of mind.
If your rose doesn’t survive its first year, approved claims receive the plant’s purchase price in store credit.*Explore our guarantee →*One year from shipping. Tax, shipping and discounts excluded. Eligibility and exclusions apply.
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