Diagnosing Yellowing and Browning Leaves on Rose Bushes

Common Causes of Leaf Discoloration

A reader asks for help diagnosing browning or yellowing leaves on their rose bushes.

What Leaf Location Tells You

• Yellow leaves falling from the bottom: Often just the rose shedding its oldest foliage—a natural process.
• Leaves dropping from the top: Typically indicates water stress or heat stress. High temperatures can shut down rose growth temporarily.

Heat Stress Recovery

Many times, leaf issues are simply due to excessive heat putting the plant under stress. When temperatures cool, roses typically recover and resume normal growth without intervention.