Miniature
Petite Knock Out
Red · repeat-blooming · Zones 5-11
Miniature Rose
Sweet Chariot
Fragrant purple cascade.
A purple member of the miniature roses group, Sweet Chariot is grown for its long succession of blooms and its fragrance. Below you'll find a full profile of Sweet Chariot — its characteristics, how to grow it, where to use it in the garden, and answers to the questions gardeners ask most.
About Sweet Chariot
As one of the miniature roses, Sweet Chariot carries the traits gardeners look for in the group — small, perfectly proportioned double blooms. A miniature is a full rose in every respect but size, which makes it the answer for balconies, patios, and the smallest gardens.
In flower, Sweet Chariot is purple and fills the plant with bloom in wave after wave, carrying a strong, carrying fragrance. It is hardy across USDA zones 5-9, so it suits a wide range of gardens with the right seasonal care.
Characteristics and form
Sweet Chariot makes compact, dense, twiggy plant, typically around 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 1.5 feet wide. The blooms are small, perfectly proportioned double blooms, small in size, set against small and proportionate foliage. Knowing a rose's habit and mature size is the key to placing it well: give Sweet Chariot room to reach its full spread without crowding its neighbors, which also keeps air moving through the plant and disease at bay.
How to grow Sweet Chariot
Plant Sweet Chariot where it will get at least six hours of direct sun a day in fertile, well-drained soil with good air movement around it. In cold climates, set the graft union — the swollen knob where the variety joins the rootstock — at or just below the soil line; in mild climates, keep it at soil level. Once planted, water deeply and less often to encourage deep, drought-resistant roots.
- Light: Full sun, six hours or more; morning sun is best because it dries dew early and limits disease.
- Soil: Rich and well-drained, slightly acidic at about pH 6.0–6.5. Improve heavy or sandy soil with plenty of compost before planting.
- Water: Deep, infrequent soakings at the base rather than frequent light sprinkling; more in heat, sandy soil, or containers.
- Feeding: A balanced rose fertilizer in early spring, repeated after the first flush to fuel the next.
- Pruning: Prune it in late winter to an open, outward-facing framework, then deadhead through the season.
Bloom habit: Repeat (recurrent). Sweet Chariot blooms in repeated flushes from late spring until the first frost. Deadhead spent flowers to bring on the next wave.
Where to use Sweet Chariot in the garden
Sweet Chariot suits containers and window boxes, edging, the front of borders, and small gardens. Grow it in pots and troughs, or use it to edge a path where its small scale can be appreciated. For more ideas, see our guide to companion plants for roses.
Common problems and care
Keep containers airy and watch for spider mites in hot, dry spots. Watch for the usual rose troubles — black spot, powdery mildew, and aphids — and head them off with good air flow, base watering, and a tidy autumn clean-up. See our full guide to rose diseases and pests for identification and treatment.
Sweet Chariot — frequently asked questions
How big does Sweet Chariot get?
Sweet Chariot typically grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 1.5 feet wide, forming a compact, dense, twiggy plant. Its final size depends on your climate and how you prune it.
Is Sweet Chariot fragrant?
Yes — Sweet Chariot has a strong, carrying fragrance, and scent is one of the reasons to grow it.
Does Sweet Chariot bloom more than once a season?
Yes. Sweet Chariot is a repeat-blooming rose that blooms in repeated flushes from late spring until the first frost, especially if it is deadheaded and fed through the summer.
What hardiness zones does Sweet Chariot grow in?
Sweet Chariot is hardy in USDA zones 5-9. That range describes the winter cold it can survive; gardeners colder than zone 5 should give it winter protection or grow it in a movable container.
Is Sweet Chariot easy to grow?
Keep containers airy and watch for spider mites in hot, dry spots. Give Sweet Chariot full sun, well-drained soil, and the ordinary seasonal care any rose appreciates, and it is a straightforward rose to grow.
How and when should I prune Sweet Chariot?
Prune Sweet Chariot in late winter to an open, outward-facing framework, then deadhead through the season — see our step-by-step guide to pruning roses for the full method.