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In this series of articles I’ll discuss the different types of roses, how to plant, how to care for them. You’ll learn about disease and insect problems. Fertilization, spraying and general upkeep. You’ll become an expert on America's flower in no time at all.
IIve been an avid grower of roses for over 10 years; I truly love this plant more than any other in my garden. I grow about 75 plants of all types on my averages sized suburban lot. I belong to 2 local rose societies where I’m always attending meeting to learn more about this plant. I’m also a member of the American Rose Society where I’ve been certified as an ARS Consulting Rosarian. That title is earned by many hours of studying the rose and passing a lengthy test administered by the ARS.
I want to share my love and knowledge of roses with all of you and hope to entice more of you to grow roses.
Rose Facts
Roses have been in existence for 34 million years.
There are more than 100,000 different rose varieties know to have been in existence.
There are currently more than 18,000 different rose varieties commercially available.
About 50,000,000 rose bushes are grown in the United States every year.
Most of the commercial rose growers are located in California, Arizona, and Texas.
Most roses are grafted onto a more vigorous root stock; however more commercial growers are beginning to produce “own root” roses.
Rose colors are white, yellow, apricot, orange, red, pink, mauve, and russet. There are variations in each of these colors, solids, lights, darks, blends, and stripes. There are no true blue or black roses.
Types of Roses
I’ll describe the most popular types of roses and give some examples of each type
Hybrid Teas & Grandiflora
One bloom per stem
Long Stems
Medium to tall growth habits.
Most repeat bloom very well
Examples of hybrid teas include 'Mr. Lincoln', 'Touch of Class', 'St. Patrick' and 'Gemini'
Examples of Grandiflora include 'Gold Medal', 'Earth Song' and 'Tournament of Roses'
(Note: in 1954 a hybrid tea was crossed with a floribunda to create the grandiflora class.)
Mr. Lincoln H.T.
Floribundas
Clusters of blooms on each stem
Plant has a bushy growth habit
Short to medium growth habit
Repeats blooms well
Examples are, Europeana, 'Iceberg', 'Hot Cocoa' and 'Sexy Rexy'
Hot Coco Fl.
Miniature and Mini-Flora
Smaller plant overall
Clusters of blooms all over the plant
Bushy growth habit
Short to medium growth height
Examples of minis include 'Minnie Pearl', 'Giggles', and 'Rise ‘N’ Shine'
Examples of mini-floras include 'Foolish Pleasure', 'Memphis King', and 'Dr. John Dickman'.
(Note: The mini-flora roses are a new class recognized by the American Rose Society in 1999. The class was created to accommodate the larger bloom and foliage size between the miniature and floribunda.)
Minnie Pearl mini
Shrub
Clusters of blooms on each stem
Plant has a bushy growth habit
Comes in short, medium and tall heights.
Repeat blooms well all season
Examples of shrub roses are, 'Sally Holmes', 'Ballerina', and 'Abraham Darby'
Abraham Darby Shrub
Climbing Roses
Clusters of blooms
Very tall climbing growth habit
Needs structure on which to climb for best results
Needs very little pruning
Best blooms are in the spring, some repeat in late summer.
Examples include 'Don Juan', 'New Dawn', and 'Fourth of July'
Don Juan Cl.
Polyanthas
Has clusters of small blooms on each stem
Short to medium growth height.
Bushy growth habit
Repeat blooms well
Examples: 'The Fairy', 'Verdun', 'Marie Pavie'
The Fairy poly.
Old Garden Roses
This is a large classification of roses. The American Rise Society defines old garden roses as those types of roses that existed before 1867.There are many sub classifications that fall under this category. Alba, Bourbon, Centifolia, Damask, Hybrid China, Hybrid Gallica, Hybrid Perpetual, Moss, Noisttte, Portland, and Tea areexamples of old garden roses.
Clusters or single blooms on each stem dependent on variety.
Short to very tall depending on variety
Usually blooms in spring, some bloom only once a season.
Many have a strong fragrance
Some examples of this large group include 'Mme Hardy', 'Sombreuil', 'Henri Martin'
Sombreuil ogr.
Species Roses
Often referred to as “wild roses”
Single petals (4-8 petals)
Blooms once a season
Listed as their Latin name beginning with Rosa or just "R.", for example R. foetida. Other examples include R. rugosa, R. glauca, R. x alba
Rosa Rugosa sp r.
So, those of the types of roses you have to choose from. In the next installment I’ll discuss how to choose a rose bush, how to plant and care for it. I’ll also talk about diseases and insects you need to watch for.
Facts courtesy of American Rose Society.
Photos courtesy DG PDB & author.
About Paul Rodman
Paul Rodman has been gardening for over 40 years. He is an Advanced Master Gardener, and American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian. He is currently president of the Western Wayne County Master Gardener Association in Wayne County, Michigan.
Rodman is the garden columnist for The News Herald newspaper, in Southgate, Michigan. He has also written for the OrganicGardening.com web site.
He has lectured on various gardening topics throughout southeastern Michigan.
His favorite pastime is teaching children about gardening. For the past several years he has conducted classes for second grade students teaching them about subjects ranging from vermi-composting to propagation.
Posted by fluffysquirrel (from Sicklerville, NJ) on June 4, 2008 at 6:03 PM:
I recently bought and planted climbing roses; blaze, I believe the color is. They started out okay, but less than halfway up the six foot trellis, they stopped, turned white around the edges of the petals and just under the buds and started to droop.What's going on and what can I do to make them look pretty and grow healthy? PS; I live in South Jersey. The picture is of when they were healthy looking; now they look, not so good.
...
Subject: knock out roses
Posted by schyberg (from Savannah, GA) on December 25, 2007 at 1:03 AM:
What do people know about these roses ? I live in Savannah GA and mine have become rather leggy when and how much can I cut them back? Also what about commom care of this type of rose bush ? fertalizer, diseases etc. Thanks for your help.
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Subject: Ash from Zaca Fire fertilizing Roses
Posted by tallflower (from Santa Barbara, CA) on December 24, 2007 at 10:53 PM:
Hi, we in Santa Barbara, zone 10 I believe, are still getting ashed from the fire. Our soil is being fed potash every time it gets windy from the East. Deciduous plants are retaining leaves, and the Roses are growing profusely. We have cold, dry and clear weather mainly. Freezing or slightly above freezing at night.
I fed humic acid in August to one plot of roses and they won't quit blooming. Wonderful stuff.
My question is this; should I prune just slightly and let them continue blooming?
Thank you!
Rose Tallflower
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Posted by paulgrow (from Allen Park, MI) on December 25, 2007 at 8:14 AM:
I wouldn't prune until the danger of freezing weather has passed.
Paul
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Posted by sesitz (from Fort Worth, TX) on December 28, 2007 at 12:00 AM:
What is humic acid and where can it be purchased?
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Posted by paulgrow (from Allen Park, MI) on December 28, 2007 at 9:25 AM:
Here's a link that will tell you about humic acid.
It's a soil ammendment.
Paul
Posted by tallflower (from Santa Barbara, CA) on January 4, 2008 at 1:24 AM:
Paul, thank you for your advice. I'm a practicing gardener and have clients wanting me to prune now. I have a gut feeling to wait. Last January we had a hard freeze. This year the semi deciduous and deciduous plants have not stopped or dropped their growth. I'm doing a little now and will do a little later. No heavy all at once business this year. The ashes are still blowing in. Great for plants, bad for lungs! Hack hack..
I'm wondering, as another topic, do you know of any body selling Trichostema setaceum seeds or plants? Apparently, its rare.
Thank you!
Rose
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Subject: high society and social climber (JP)
Posted by psull (from Brighton, MA) on December 24, 2007 at 4:23 PM:
i planted these climbers 2 years ago on a trellis against a brick chimney and the problem i'm having is (are) weak peduncles that won't support the bloom.
they get full sun and good water. i've been doing roses for 20 years but have not faced this problem before.
Any help would be appreciated.
...
Posted by paulgrow (from Allen Park, MI) on December 24, 2007 at 7:48 PM:
1st thing in the spring get a soil test of those beds.
We need to know what's going on in the soil chemically.
Paul
...
Posted by shellabella (from West Central, FL) on December 24, 2007 at 9:10 PM:
Psull,
This is interesting because I have had a similar problem with my ( JP) Social Climber also. I have some canes that support blooms well and others not. Not as many blooms as I thought it should have either.
I know we have completely different growing environments, but it's interesting we have similar problem with the same Rose.
I am not very experienced with Roses, but I did test my soil before planting. I amended the soil according to the instructions in a book called "You Can Grow Roses in Florida." 1978 by Linus Olson.
All in all I have not found this Rose to be nearly as vigorous as my Don Juan, which is planted near it. The blooms are wonderfully scented and color is nice . So I do enjoy the ones I have gotten.
Paulgrow, enjoyed your article and looking forward to the rest of the series!
Can't wait to hear what you guys come up with as a solution for Psull's Social Climber problem.
I think mine might need a little more sun. The neighbors tree has grown a branch that now extends over the fence to the point that it is shading my Roses a bit too much, especially the Social Climber. I'll get that branch trimmed before Spring and then see how that Rose does this next year.
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Subject: Growing Roses A - Z
Posted by t1turner (from Crane Hill, AL) on December 24, 2007 at 12:07 PM:
Can't wait for Part II. Thanks.
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Posted by Fitsy (from Hayesville, NC) on December 24, 2007 at 5:51 PM:
Me, too. Fitsy
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Posted by Kinzey (from Jacksonville, FL) on December 25, 2007 at 12:50 AM:
Me too. Hope our Florida experience and climate becomes part of my new
education. Thanks much for your addition to Daves Garden.
Kinzey
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Subject: your new series of articles
Posted by loubarr (from Wyoming, MN) on December 24, 2007 at 10:44 AM:
Looking forward to the rest of your articles... I have always loved roses, and have started growing them the past couple of years. However, I know there's tons more I could learn to really make them shine in my garden. Thanks.
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Posted by classytchrnj (from Haddonfield, NJ) on December 24, 2007 at 10:49 AM:
I'll be another avid reader of these articles. Thanks!
Leslie
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Posted by Degarotty (from West Ipswich, QLD
(Australia)) on December 24, 2007 at 8:28 PM:
Hey Lou,
Just enjoyed reading how smart you are with your roses.
They where just fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was wondering if I may ask a question, I have two Roses growing in the morning sun, they produce a beautiful smelling pink rose.
But when they first started to shoot again I hit them with "Pyrethrum" insect spray. Those leaves look wonderful and happy but the leaves comming on now look like they have rust or something eating them. Should I hit them again with the incest spray. How oftern do you spray yours?
Thanks from Debi - Downunder - AUSTRALIA
P.S. In your experience would it be possible for me to move there roses or will it hurt them? Our weather here is hot and overcast today.
ANY info I would appreciate as they are so beautiful and smell devine.
...
Subject: Good article
Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on December 21, 2007 at 1:57 AM:
Excellent presentation of a complex subject in a made very understandable and very easy to read. Thank you :)
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Posted by pupilpropogtr (from Birmingham, AL) on December 21, 2007 at 3:41 AM:
Thank you so much. You may have helped me identify the rose bush which was here when we bought our house. I love it and must move soon. So now I think I know what to look for. Can't wait to read more of the article.
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Posted by chris_lcf530 (from Peachtree City, GA) on December 21, 2007 at 7:35 AM:
Excellent, the basics that I have been searching for all wrapped up into 1 article. Makes me want to go out and buy another rose bush. Looking forward to next article.
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Posted by drapelady (from Denham Springs, LA) on December 21, 2007 at 1:54 PM:
Thankyou so much for this article and the ones to follow. I am a new gardener and have just begun to plant roses. This is very needed info for me. Thanks again.
Debbie
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 21, 2007 at 4:16 PM:
Many years ago I tried to grow roses, and failed miserably, except for 2 polyanthas. Your article makes me want to try just one more time.
Thank you.
Sharon
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Posted by soapwort243 (from South Milwaukee, WI) on December 21, 2007 at 6:28 PM:
I really liked your article and I'm looking forward to the up coming ones. I need all the tips I can get. I have never had luck with roses, in the past. I had quite a few beautiful yellow ground cover roses and the next year I think they got mildew or black spot. They started to grow, then died. Last year I decided to try again and planted Rugosa shrub roses and they seem to be doing well. Also, I planted Bonica and Carefree Delight Shrubs and they seem to have gotten a slow start, but are okay, I'll see in spring. Thanks for the great article -(and upcoming articles.)
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Posted by Seandor (from Springfield, MA) on December 21, 2007 at 7:18 PM:
This was my first year growing roses - so I really appreciate an expert sharing knowledge with us. Thank you so much.
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Posted by McGlory (from Southeast, NE) on December 21, 2007 at 9:46 PM:
I found all the information you provided before buying and planting my first roses this year, but I wish it had been all together and easy to find like your article. Since it is my first winter with roses, so I am anxious to read your next articles. Great job, Paul, as usual.
