Selecting Roses for
Landscapes
High Plains Landscape Workshop
Fort Collins, CO
February 27, 2016
Lecture Worksheet
Presented by
Roger Heins, BS, MS
Rosarian
Nearly Perfect Roses
• Blooms all summer
• Great flowers, color,
fragrance
• Attractive foliage
• Disease resistance
• Hardy for our climate
• Easy care through the
season
• Available locally
Landscape Vision/Needs
• Attractive focal point
• Hedges
• Eye-catching edging and
borders
• Covering fences
• Adding height to the garden
• Covering the ground
• Filling small spaces
• Formal, country or cottage look
• Containers
American Rose Society
RIR Ratings
• 9.3 – 10 - one of the
best ever
• 8.8 – 9.2 - top 1 %
• 8.3 – 8.7 - excellent to
very good
• 7.8 – 8.2 - well above
average
• 7.3 – 7.7 - somewhat
above average
• 6.8 – 7.2 - average
rose
• 6.1 - 6.7 - below
average
• 0.0 – 6.0 - not
recommended
USDA Growing Zones
Minimum Temperature Hardiness Guide
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Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Below -50 F
-50 F
-40 F
-30 F
-20 F
-10 F
0F
Rugosa
Canadian hardy shrubs
Many shrubs
Most shrubs, climbers, minis
Hybrid Teas, Floribundas
Not recommended
Bloom Forms
Flat or 5-petal shaped
‘Sally Holmes’ 8.9
Shrub rose and form
on wild roses
Classic high-centered
or pointed
‘Mister Lincoln’ 8.3
Hybrid Tea rose
Bloom Forms
Rosette shaped
‘Evelyn’ 7.9
David Austin rose
Quartered
‘Baronne Prevost’ 8.5
Hybrid Perpetual
3 Major Rose Categories
• Species Roses: occur
naturally in nature or
wild roses
• Old Garden Roses: in
existence before 1867
• Modern Roses: in
existence after 1867
Rose Types
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Hybrid Teas
Floribundas
Grandiflora
Miniatures and minifloras
English (David Austin)
Climbers
Rose Types
• Hybrid teas, floribundas
and grandifloras
– Very popular
– Tend to need more
care and winter
protection
– Most are grafted
– Own-root becoming
available more
Rose Types
Miniatures & Minifloras
• Smaller plant, bloom and foliage
• Clusters or one bloom on each
stem, classic to informal bloom
shape
• Short to medium growing height,
bushy
• Hardy, repeat, often fragrant
• Ideal for containers
Rose Types
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Climbers
Old Garden Roses
Species and Species Hybrids
Shrubs
Climbers
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Clusters of blooms on each stem
Classic or informal bloom shape
Tall growth habit
Most need support or training
Best blooms in spring
Minimal pruning
Old Garden Roses
• Classes in existence
before 1867
• Clusters or individual blooms
on each stem
• Informal bloom shapes
• Short to very tall growth habit
• Best bloom in spring
• Many have strong fragrance
and beautiful rose hips
Species Roses
• Wild, occur naturally in
nature
• Most single, 4-8 petals
• Once blooming
• Produce hips
• Size 2’ to 20’
• Tough and hardy
Shrub Roses
• General classification given to roses from classic
and modern categories. They can sprawl, sized
anywhere from compact to giant climbers. Noted
for vigor and large quantities of blooms
• Today we’ll view shrubs from the several types ~
floribundas, miniatures, climbers, old garden roses
and rugosa, species and shrubs simply classified
as shrubs!
Shrub Roses- basic traits
• Clusters or one bloom on
each stem
• Informal bloom shape
• Easy care, disease resistant
• Good repeat throughout year
• Some are self-cleaning
• Many own root roses
• Many fragrant
Shrub Roses
•Consider these shrubs ~
– Griffith Buck or ‘Buck’ roses hybridized at Iowa
State for cold hardiness, tough roses
• ‘Applejack’
• ‘Carefree Beauty’
• ‘Folksinger’
• ‘Music Maker’
• ‘Wild Ginger’
• ‘Winter Sunset’
Shrub Roses
•Consider these shrubs ~
– Meidiland roses – introduced by Conrad Pile Co
(same folks as Knockout), bred for disease
resistance
• ‘Bonica’
• ‘Carefree Wonder’
• ‘Fire’
• ‘Lavender’
• ‘Pink’
• ‘Sevillana’
Shrub Roses
•Consider these shrubs ~
– Rugosa and Hybrid Rugosa
for hardiness, fragrance,
recurrent bloom, and hips,
veined and crinkly foliage,
avoid spraying
– Hybrid Kordesii, Hybrid
Musk, Hybrid Moyesii
David Austin English Roses
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Old + New
Fragrance!
Form of the flower
Color!
Repeat-flowering
Diversity
Charm!
Zones 4 – 6
Grafted or own-root?
“Beauty in flower, growth and leaf”
Hedges
• Great choices for screening, dividing garden rooms,
property lines, block out poor views
• A thicket makes them more informal
• Have a spreading habit, better for larger spaces
• Depending on rose choices and space needs, heights
can range from 3’ on up
• Plant from 18” to 2’ apart, further apart for climbers
Hedges
• Try these –
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‘Simplicity’ Floribunda
‘Iceberg’ Floribunda
‘Knockout’ Shrub
‘Sunsprite’ Floribunda
‘Bonica’ Shrub
‘Livin Easy’ Floribunda
‘Carefree Wonder’ Shrub
‘Robusta’ Shrub
‘Bonica’ Shrub Rose 8.4
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Height: 3’ tall x 4’ wide
Color: clear pink
Bloom: double
Fragrance: no
Repeat: all season
Zone: 4
Comments: glossy green foliage, use in beds,
borders, containers, low hedge, cut flower. Orangered hips, very disease resistant
‘Carefree Wonder’ Shrub Rose 8.0
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Height: 2-5’ tall x 2-3’ wide
Color: candy pink w/white
Bloom: cupped
Fragrance: mild
Repeat: all season
Zone: 4
Comments: use in beds, borders, containers, low
hedge, cut flower. Remove spent flowers to
encourage more bloom. Hips, very disease resistant
‘Livin Easy’ Floribunda Rose 8.1
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Height: 3-4’ tall x 3-4’ wide
Color: orange/apricot
Bloom: double, small clusters
Fragrance: sweet citrus
Repeat: all season
Zone: 5
Comments: glossy green foliage, rounded shape.
Use in beds, borders, low hedge, very disease
resistant
‘Robusta’ Rugosa
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Height: 5-6’ tall x 5-6’ wide
Color: red
Bloom: single
Fragrance: light
Repeat: all season
Zone: 3
Comments: glossy, leathery, medium green foliage,
turns orange-red in fall. Thorny canes. Use as hedge
or large specimen, less sun okay, very disease
resistant
‘Iceberg’ Floribunda
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Height: 3-5’ tall x 4’ wide
Color: pure white
Bloom: double
Fragrance: medium
Repeat: all season
Zone: 5-6
Comments: glossy light green foliage, upright, use in
beds, borders, hedge, can take less sun, very
disease resistant
‘Rainbow’ Knock Out
Shrub Rose
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2007 AARS winner 8.5
Height: 2-3’ tall x 2-3’ wide
Color: coral pink with yellow center
Bloom: single
Fragrance: no
Repeat: all season
Zone: 4/5
Comments: semi-glossy dark green foliage, use in
beds, borders. Self cleaning, very disease resistant and
resistant to rose midge
‘Hot Tamale’ Miniature Rose 8.3
• Height: 2’ tall x 2’ wide
• Color: yellow/orange blend
Bloom: opens like a hybrid,
then to a many-pointed star
shape
• Fragrance: mild
• Repeat Blooms
• Zone 5
• Disease Resistant
• Containers, Front Borders, Cuts
‘Gourmet Popcorn’ Miniature Rose 8.6
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Height: 3’ tall x 2-3’ wide
Color: white w/yellow stamens
Bloom: semi-double
Fragrance: mild
Repeat: all season
Zone: 4
Comments: sport of ‘Popcorn,’ which is a smaller
miniature. Dark green foliage, use in borders, beds,
hanging baskets, very vigorous, no deadheading
needed, very disease resistant
‘Sunblaze’ Miniature Rose
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Height: 14” to 2’
Color: red, salmon, yellow
Bloom: double
Fragrance: mild
Repeat: all season
Zone: 5
Comments: use in beds, borders, containers, mass
plantings, disease resistant, hardy
‘Abraham Darby’ David Austin Shrub Rose 8.0
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Height: 5’ tall x 5’ wide
Color: large deeply cut
Bloom: peachy pink
Fragrance: rich fruity
Repeat: all season
Zone: 5
Comments: multi-stemmed upright, needs room and
balance in the border, mass planting, accent, train to
climb, cut flowers, dense to the ground, almost
thornless, blooms tend to nod
‘Golden Wings’ Shrub Rose 8.7
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Height: 5-6’ tall x 5-6’ wide
Color: light yellow, w/red stamen
Bloom: single
Fragrance: mild
Repeat: heavy early, flushes later
Zone: 4
Comments: light green foliage, medium rounded, use
in beds, borders, very disease resistant, heat tolerant,
can take some shade, hardy
‘Winnipeg Parks’ Shrub Rose 8.0
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Height: 3’ tall x 4’ wide
Color: deep pink to coral red
Bloom: semi-double
Fragrance: mild tea
Repeat: repeat
Zone: 2
Comments: new foliage has red cast, remains bronzy
use in beds, fall color, or/red hips, borders, mass
plant, ground cover, sidewalk border, hedges, very
disease resistant. Can take tough conditions
‘Sally Holmes’ Shrub 8.9
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Hybrid Musk Shrub
Height: 6-10’ tall x 3-5’ wide
Color: cream with yellow stamens
Bloom: large single
Fragrance: mild
Repeat: all season
Zone: 5-6
Comments: glossy dark green foliage, tall, bushy, use
in beds, borders, hedge, almost thornless, very
disease resistant
Vertical Interest
• Climbers or large shrubs add height, interest and
density to a garden
• Enhance a plain brick or stone wall, cover an unsightly
fence or view
• Create a beautiful focal point with an arbor, pillar or
post planting
• Space climbers 5-6 feet apart, ramblers 6 feet apart
• Attach to an underlying support, a trellis is easiest
• Or train rose on heavy wire using eye screws attached
to the wall
‘America’ Climber
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Height: 6-12’ tall x 6’ wide
Color: salmon pink
Bloom: double
Fragrance: medium
Repeat: all season
Zone: 4
Comments: medium green foliage, use in beds, in
front of walls, fences, posts, cut flower, very disease
resistant. Introduced in 1976, AARS selection.
• ARS 8.2
‘Zephirine Drouhin’ Old Garden Rose 8.0
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Height: 8-12’ tall x 6-8’ wide
Color: deep rose pink
Bloom: semi-double
Fragrance: high
Repeat: all season
Zone: 5
Comments: dark red young foliage, semi-glossy
green, nearly thornless, use on arbors, fences, pillars
for hedges, cut flowers, tolerates light shade
‘Dortmund’ Climber 9.0
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Height: 6-10’ tall x 6’ wide
Color: red w/white eye
Bloom: single
Fragrance: light
Repeat: all season
Zone: 4
Comments: glossy dark green holly-like, foliage, use
on posts, walls, trellis, free standing large shrub, very
disease resistant. Remove spent flowers to encourage
more. Red hips
‘William Baffin’
Climber 8.9
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Height: 10-15’ tall x 10’ wide
Color: deep pink
Bloom: semi-double
Fragrance: light
Repeat: slight
Zone: 4
Comments: strong, arching, climbing, glossy medium
green foliage, use on walls, trellis, pillar. Very hardy,
can take shade, very disease resistant
‘New Dawn’ Climber
8.5
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Height: 10-15’ tall x 8’ wide
Color: silvery pink
Bloom: double
Fragrance: light
Repeat: all season
Zone: 5
Comments: arching, climbing glossy medium green
foliage, use on walls, trellis, pillar. Cut flower, very
disease resistant
‘Jeanne LaJoie’ Climbing Miniature 9.0
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Height: 6-10’ tall x 6-8’ wide
Color: medium pink
Bloom: double
Fragrance: mild
Repeat: all season
Zone: 4
Comments: vigorous, hardy upright bush, use in back
of the border, very disease resistant
Roses as Ground Covers
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Great for non stop bloom on banks or beds
Use small, rounded forms for edging
Taller shrubs work in large beds or hedges
Can be used to divide landscape into rooms or in front
of larger shrubs
• Check plant tag for sizing, many can cover 20 square
feet per plant. Heights can be from 1 to 3 feet
• Generally require no deadheading with a long bloom
season
‘Flower Carpet’ 7.7
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Height: 1-3’ tall x 3’ spread
Color: pink, red, yellow, coral
Bloom: double
Fragrance: slight
Repeat: all season
Zone: 5/6
Comments: arching, bushy, spreading, small glossy
green foliage, use in beds, borders, containers, low
hedge, ground covers, front of the border, very
disease resistant
‘Sea Foam’ Shrub Rose 8.1
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Height: 2-3’ tall x 2-4’ wide
Color: white, near white
Bloom: very double
Fragrance: mild
Repeat: all season
Zone: 4
Comments: glossy dark green foliage, use in beds,
borders, containers, ground cover, very disease
resistant
‘Meidiland’ Shrub Roses
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Height: 1-4’ tall x 5’+ wide
Color: red, white, pink, more
Bloom: variable
Fragrance: no to some
Repeat: all season
Zone: 4
Comments: glossy green foliage, use in beds,
borders, containers, ground cover, many fun colors,
very disease resistant
Containers
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Versatility in selection
Artistry in plant choices
Portable
Try unique varieties
Tree roses
Can winter over with care
Miniatures work well
‘The Fairy’ Rose
8.7
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Height: 2-3’ tall x 2-3’ wide
Color: soft pink turns white
Bloom: double
Fragrance: mild apple
Repeat: all season
Zone: 4
Comments: arching, thorny, groundcover, hedge,
container, very disease resistant
‘Rose de Rescht’ ’ OGR Rose 8.7
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Height: 3’-4’ tall x 3’ wide
Color: fuchsia pink
Bloom: double
Fragrance: strong, lovely
Repeat: flushes thru summer
Zone: 4
Comments: compact, dense, flowers close to foliage,
use in beds, borders, low hedge, cut flower, drying,
cooking, some shade, very disease resistant
‘Victorian Memory’ Cl. Shrub Rose
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Height: 9-12’+ tall x 6’+ wide
Color: varied pinks
Bloom: deeply cut
Fragrance: strong
Repeat: all season
Zone: 2
Comments: arching canes, blooms hang in large
clusters, borders, large hedge, focal, archway, nearly
thornless, takes less sun, very hardy
‘Rosa rubrifolia’ Species 8.8
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Size: 4-6’ wide 6-8’ tall
Bloom: single
Color: pink
Fragrance: mild
Zone: 2
Comments: known as the Red
Leaf Rose, once bloomer,
graceful red canes, orange hips
remain through winter, purple
fall foliage, drought resistant,
very hardy, 2010 Plant Select®
‘Sweet Chariot’ Miniature 8.4
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Height: 18” tall x 30” wide
Color: mauve/purple
Bloom: very double
Fragrance: strong
Repeat: all season
Zone: 5
Comments: glossy green foliage, use in beds,
borders, containers, hanging baskets, excellent
fragrance
‘Morden Sunrise’ Shrub Rose 8.1
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Height: 2-3’ tall x 2-3’ wide
Color: yellow blend
Bloom: semi-double
Fragrance: mild+
Repeat: flushes all season
Zone: 3
Comments: deep green glossy upright foliage, use in
beds, borders, container, hardy, very disease
resistant
‘Knock Out’ Shrub Roses 8.5
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Height: 3-4’ tall x 3-4’ wide
Color: assorted
Bloom: single/double
Fragrance: mild or none
Repeat: all season
Zone: 5/6
Comments: most sold rose in North America (recently
took over from ‘Peace’ rose). Beds, borders, hedge,
foundation. Self cleaning. Prune to 12” above soil line
each spring. Very disease resistant
‘Ruby Voodoo’ Shrub Rose
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Height: 5-6’ tall x 4-5’ wide
Color: purple/pink
Bloom: double
Fragrance: nice
Repeat: all season
Zone: 4
Comments: Beds, borders, hedge, foundation, cut
flower, specimen. Easy care. Very disease resistant.
2012 Plant Select®
‘Linda Campbell’ 8.2
Hybrid Rugosa Shrub
Height: 4-6’ tall x 5-6’ wide
Color: red Bloom: medium double
Fragrance: none
Repeat: flushes through season
Zone: 5
Comments: Beds, borders, hedge, foundation, dense,
Easy care. Dark rugosa leaves
Proven Practices for Growing
Garden Roses
• Right rose, right place: Select for form,
function, color and location
• Prepare your soil. Test, compost entire area
• Plant properly. Depth, water in
• Prune properly. After last frost in Spring
• Water. When, how much
• Fertilize. Rose specific. None first year
• Be observant and use gentle intervention for
pests and diseases
Site Selection
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Level site with 6 to 7 hours sun
(won’t blossom well in shade)
No competing tree roots
Accessible for care
Adequate drainage
Exposure
Reference and guide:
Selecting and Planting Roses
CSU Extension Fact Sheet # 7.404 on line
Soil
• Soil Test to determine soil type,
organic matter (OM) and nutrient
levels
• Add organic matter to break up
clay or remedy sandy soils (results
of test)
• Bagged products – many may
be high in salts and nutrients
Always read the label
Using Compost in the Home Garden
CMG GardenNotes # 243 on line
Own Root or Grafted?
• Improperly planted grafted roses
can revert to Dr. Huey, the planting
stock
• Grafted more mature first year.
Good selection
• The graft must be planted 2-4”
below the soil.
• Own root catch up, may be healthier
• Own root roses are planted 1-2”
below the soil
Bud union (or graft) 2 – 4 inches below soil line
Planting Container Grown
• Do not plant container
• Keep root ball intact
• Plant graft on rose 2-4”
below ground
• Plant own-root roses 1-2”
below ground level
• Best planted well after last
frost date
• Water well 10 to 14 days
Bare Root Roses
• Plant by mid-April
• Never let roses dry out prior to
planting. Soak in bucket of water
hours before planting
• Prepare the planting hole when
soil is workable (fall or during
mild, dry winter days)
• More information in Growing
Roses In CO, or CSU Extension
Fact Sheet #7.404
Mulch is your Friend
• Moderates soil temperature
• Pull back in May when you
fertilize, then cover again. Reapply early July if layer is thin
• Keep mulch away from canes
• Organic mulch enriches soil
• Helps prevent weeds
• Conserves water
• Gives the garden a finished look
Watering
• Dependent on weather, drainage,
and soil structure
• Don’t over water, need is less
than turf
• Check soil moisture before
watering, mature plants need 1”
per week during growing season
• Water early so foliage can dry
• Watering at base is best
• Reduce watering in fall but winter
water during dry spells
Fertilizing
• No universally accepted right fertilizer for
roses
• Chemical – give a quick release
• Organic – slow release, warm
temperatures, works on entire bed
• Most roses bloom better on a fertilizer
schedule, none after early August
• Consider adding Kelp
• No need to fertilize ‘new’ plantings in their
first year
Understanding Fertilizers
CMG GardenNotes # 233 on line
When To Prune?
• Major prune only in Spring, late April
or after last frost
• At the same time:
– Remove winter protection
– First fertilization
– Exception! Once bloomers –
prune after flowering (often July)
– Prune to green healthy new
growth
Pruning Basics
• Remove dead, diseased and
damaged canes
• Open up center to improve
sunlight and air movement
• Cut along canes to healthy new
growth above outward-facing
bud eye
• Cut to ground if canes are only
green that low
• Otherwise no more than 1/3 of
cane
• Common sense can’t go wrong
Deadheading
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Process of removing old blossoms
Remove spent bloom forcing re-bloom
Encourages faster re-bloom
Improves air circulation
End by early September
Can groom and shape at same time
Groom – during growing season
• Goal is to produce an open
centered plant allowing air and
light through
• Shape the bush for nice look
• Cut flower stem back to outfacing bud above a 5 or 7 leaflet
leaf
• Cut back to in-facing and side
bud for fuller bush
• Equipment – sharp by-pass
pruners
Resources
» Selecting & Planting Roses: CSU Extension
Fact Sheet #7.404
» Growing Roses in Colorado: Denver Rose
Society booklet
» American Rose Society: www.ars.org
» Understanding Fertilizers: CMG Garden Notes
#233
» Using Compost in the Home Garden: CMG
Garden Notes #243