Roses are the most popular flower in the world. There are more than 150 types and thousands of varieties, with new ones introduced every year. These versatile plants fill horizontal spaces as ground cover or reach for the sky on trellises. A delicate eight-inch floribunda grabs your attention, and a row of hearty shrubs makes your backyard a secluded oasis.

Plant selection

After selecting your site for roses, look at the growth habits of various types. There are many characteristics within each of the four basic rose types: shrub, hybrid tea, climbing, and patio tree.

Shrubs or Floribunda range from a delicate or hearty eight inches to five or six feet tall. Blooms are full and open quickly. They grow in large clusters (15-40+ petals) on a single stem. The stems range from quite delicate to fairly strong. These tend to offer a wide range of lovely fragrances. Depending on the variety, rose shrubs can be used for ground cover, containers, hedges, and stand alone plants.

Hybrid tea roses have been cross-bred to grow on a very strong single stem. They are known for a distinctive pointy bud that is slow to unfurl into blossoms as large as five inches across (up to 60+ petals). The plants grow three to six feet tall and should be planted four to five feet apart. These are favored by florists, but most varieties have lost their fragrance in hybridization.

Climbing roses present in clusters or singly along long reaching stems. Their blossoms resemble floribundas, except wild climbing roses, which have five petals per bloom. Climbers can reach twelve feet and are about four feet wide, requiring a trellis or fence for support and to train their growth.

Tree roses are shrub roses grafted to a strong length of climbing root stock. These are lovely in pots or in the center of gardens. Because they are grafted, the original rose will sprout at the base and requires pruning to maintain its tree shape.

Other selection considerations

Some, but not all, varieties of roses are quite susceptible to black spot and powdery mildew. Not all growers provide that information, but an Internet search yields a wealth of information on specific varieties and growing conditions. Though not a guarantee of resistance, a rule of thumb is to select plants with dark green shiny leaves.

Planting and care

Roses typically like full sun for at least six hours a day and well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter.

Roses are sold bare root or potted. Bare root plants require immediate attention. Unpack them and shake off all packing material. Prune any damaged roots for better absorption. Then prune the stems with a 45 degree cut, half an inch above existing buds. This is also an excellent time to remove crossed and dead stems. Now rehydrate the roots by placing them in a bucket of water up to the crown, where the roots meet the base of the main stem, for two to twelve hours.

Planting requires a hole a bit wider and deeper than the plant. You don’t want to squash the roots. If planting a bare root, create a mound in the hole and center the plant on it, holding it upright. Then fill in the soil around the roots or root ball. The crown of the bush should be level with the ground. Tamp down the soil around the central stem, leaving a soil ring around the bush to hold water. Feed with a slow release rose fertilizer. A monthly application is recommended.

If dreaded black spots appear, immediately remove the leaves from the plant and the surrounding area. Vigorously clean pruning shears between plants, as it’s contagious. Powdery mildew presents on lower leaves, curling them. Here too, remove the leaves and prevent cross-contamination.

Cut roses below the first five leaf stem. The more they are cut, the more they bloom. Enjoy!

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