1. Roses that respond the best in MY garden with minimal care ... meaning irrigation, fertilizer, and fungicide when I remember to do it. I live in north central Virginia, which is USDA Zone 7A.
2. Roses that bloom with more flowers than my level of effort should produce.
3. Roses that look their absolute best in the worst of conditions. At the end of a hot, dry summer these were among the stand-outs ... both in quality of flowers and the appearance of the bush itself.
I further narrowed the list to a manageable number that could be presented to a group in less than an hour, allowing time for questions.
Let's sit for a while and look at lots of pretty rose pictures. (Any of you folks with slow internet connections are going to hate me for this.)
Small Shrubs
"Caldwell Pink", found rose
Polyantha, Lilac Pink, 3-4 feet, repeat blooming
White Pet, 1879
Polyantha, White, 2-4 feet, repeat blooming
Echo, 1914
Polyantha, Pink blend, 3-4 feet, repeat blooming
Ducher, 1869
China, White 3-4 feet, repeat blooming
La Marne, 1915
Polyantha, pink blend, 3-5 feet, repeat blooming
Apothecary Rose, bef. 1240
Gallica, dark pink, 3-4 feet, spring blooming
Rosa Mundi, bef. 1581
Gallica, pink striped, 3-4 feet, spring blooming
Medium Shrubs
"Angel's Camp Tea", found rose
Tea, light pink, 4-6 feet, repeat blooming
Madame Antoine Mari, 1901
Tea, pink blend, 4-5 feet, repeat blooming
"Tutta's Pink Noisette", found rose
Noisette, light pink, 4-6 feet, repeat blooming
Duchesse de Brabant, 1857
Tea, light pink, 4-5 feet, repeat blooming
Marie Pavie, 1888
Polyantha, white blend, 4-5 feet, repeat blooming
Marie Daly, sport of Marie Pavie
Polyantha, light pink, 4-5 feet, repeat blooming
Charles de Mills, 1829
Gallica, dark pink, 4-5 feet, spring blooming
Large Shrubs
"Darlow's Enigma", found rose
Hybrid musk, white, 6-12 feet, repeat blooming
"Portland from Glendora", found rose
Portland, medium pink, 6-8 feet, repeat blooming
Sidonie, 1846
Portland, light pink, 6-8 feet, repeat blooming
Mutabilis, 1894
China, yellow blend, 4-8 feet, repeat blooming
Sarah Van Fleet, 1926
Rugosa, medium pink, 6-8 feet, repeat blooming
Madame Plantier, 1835
Hybrid alba, white, 5-12 feet, spring blooming
Shailer's Provence, 1799
Hybrid china, medium pink, 6-10 feet, spring blooming
Banshee, 1773
Hybrid damask, light pink, 6-8 feet, spring blooming
Repeat-blooming Climbers
Crepuscule, 1904
Noisette, apricot, 10-12 feet, repeat blooming
Climbing Pinkie, 1952
Climber, medium pink, 8-10 feet, repeat blooming
Alba Meideland, 1986
Climber, white, 10-12 feet, repeat blooming
Awakening, 1935
Climber, light pink, 12-16 feet, repeat blooming
New Dawn, 1930
Climber, light pink, 12-16 feet, repeat blooming
White Cap, 1954
Climber, white, 8-10 feet. repeat blooming
Parade, 1953
Climber, dark pink, 8-12 feet, repeat blooming
Spring-blooming Ramblers
"Peggy Martin", found rose
Hybrid multiflora, dark pink, 10-16 feet, scattered repeat
Alberic Barbier, 1900
Hybrid wichurana, white blend, 15-20 feet, spring blooming
Albertine, 1921
Hybrid wichurana, orange pink, 12-15 feet, spring blooming
Aviateur Bleriot, 1910
Hybrid wichurana, light yellow 15-25 feet, spring blooming
"Arcata Pink Globe", found rose
Hybrid setigera, light pink, 15-20 feet, spring blooming
Leontine Gervais, 1903
Hybrid wichurana, apricot blend, 20-30 feet, spring blooming
Gardenia, 1899
Hybrid wichurana, white blend, 16-24 feet, spring blooming
Ghislaine de Feligonde, 1916
Hybrid multiflora, yellow blend, 8-12 feet, spring blooming
As I said in THIS post from earlier in the month ... if you want easy care roses, you have many choices beyond Knock Out. The roses I presented here are mostly available at specialty nurseries, and they usually cost less than the Knock Outs that you see at the big box stores. Why not grow a piece of history in your garden?
This is by no means a comprehensive list of ALL roses that grow well with minimal care ... these are some of the roses that please ME the most. I offer them, hoping that they might also please you.
Do you have a rose or two that you grow that you think should be on this list? I would love to hear about it.
Do you have a rose or two that you grow that you think should be on this list? I would love to hear about it.