Whether or not to plant roses in your garden can be as divisive as today’s political climate. What a shame! If a rose would bring you joy, then plant one.
A rose is nothing but a flowering woody shrub and takes a similar amount of care and water as any other flowering woody shrub.
There are 20 native species of rose in North America, with some right here in the mountains of Arizona. Roses can withstand long periods of drought once established. Most have a lovely scent. Rugosa roses produce a red fruit called a hip which is a great food source for birds. Rose petals and hips are also edible for humans. They are not toxic to wildlife and yes, some, even the hybridized roses, can attract loads of pollinators. Rose foliage is often used by leaf cutting bees and ants as nesting material, further increasing the biodiversity of your garden. The open or loose flowered types are the ones that pollinators are attracted to the most because the insects can access the interior parts of the flower. Roses that are tightly budded are less accessible to pollinators, but beautiful for us humans. Which is okay. We need joy too.
It is a common misconception that roses must have a strict and complicated regimen of chemical sprays and fertilizers to keep them from becoming diseased. This is simply not true. Roses can do just fine being fertilized with nothing but a nice top dressing of compost in spring in our area. If they get aphids, so what? Pick them off with your fingers or remove them with a blast of water from your hose. They are not a big deal. Aphids feed birds and other beneficial insects, adding to a healthy balance in your garden.
Roses come in many cultivars that can withstand and thrive in hot, humid, and dry regions. As with all plants, watering deeply and less frequently when the plant needs it, and not according to your schedule, promotes a healthy deep root system that is able to withstand bouts of intense heat. Like any other shrub in your garden, mulch heavily with compost in spring and prune in late winter. Start by removing dead or damaged wood, crossing or rubbing branches, and crowded branches. Cut stems just above a healthy looking outward facing bud. Cut them back about one third if you want to control the height or shape of your rose, but it’s really not necessary.
Roses can take full sun or part sun, with six hours of sun per day being ideal. More sun means more flower power. As with most plants in the hot areas of the west, they would love having afternoon shade if possible.
Roses can do great in pots as long as the pot is large enough for the eventual size of the rose. Remember that anything in a pot will require more water and fertilizer since its roots are bound to that space. Read on for common rose lingo.
Climbers can climb 6-12 ft. Flowers form at the tips or lateral buds on branches.
Rugosas grow to 4-6 ft. Their open flowers are attractive to pollinators and are followed by red hips in fall.
Grandifloras grow to 6 ft. They have large single blooms on long stems good for cutting. Generally, they bloom continually over the flowering season.
Floribundas grow to 3-4 ft. The have clusters of flowers on one stem. Generally, they bloom continually over the flowering season.
Hybrid teas are 3-5 ft tall. They make a single large blossom per stem, and are usually the most highly scented. They tend to flower in bursts from spring to autumn.
Patio roses are a cross between a dwarf floribunda and a miniature rose, resulting in a compact rose bush which grows no higher than 20 inches or so. Perfect for pots.
Make flowers, not war, and explore the world of roses that would thrive in our climate at Patagonia Plants Nursery. We have dozens to choose from. Peace and Happy Spring Gardening!