The rose is our national flower and a universal symbol of love, friendship, beauty and peace. It’s a flower of unsurpassed importance in art, history, music and literature.
The rose is the world’s favorite flower, which has provided inspiration to mankind since the beginning of time, according to the American Rose Society (P.O. Box 30,000, Shreveport, La. 71130-0030; 318-938-5402/e-mail: ars@ars-hq.org).
Although some roses are high-maintenance, the antique, China and tea rose varieties that have thrived in the Brazos Valley do not require any more care than native plants.
Some “trouble-free” varieties are Abraham Darby, Belinda’s Dream, Ballerina, Betty Prior, Bonica, Bluff Beauty, Carefree Beauty, Cecile Brunner, Dortmund, Dr. W. Van Fleet, Duchesse de Brabant, Enchantress, Flower Carpet, Lady Bank’s Rose, Knock Out, Blushing knock Out, Double Knock Out, Pink Knock Out, Lamarque, Margo Koster, Marie Daly, Marie Van Houtte, Martha Gonzales, Mister Lincoln, Mrs. B.R. Cant, Mutabilis, Nacogdoches, Nearly Wild, New Dawn, Old Blush, Peggy Martin, Perle d’Or, Simplicity, Souvenir de la Malmaison, The Fairy and Zephirine Drouhin.
The growth habits of rose plants may be classified as ground cover, miniature, small hedge, border or container, medium hedge or border, specimens and short, medium or large climbers.
Other traits are super-fragrant flowers, no thorns and flowers that bloom in light shade.
The label with the plant should indicate its traits.
The classes may be grouped as:
• Hybrid tea: plants 4 to 6 feet tall, with a large single flower at the end of each stem.
• Floribundas: plants 2 to 4 feet tall, with clusters of flowers.
The flower colors range from white, pink, red and yellow to bicolor. And the flower types range from single to double with many petals.
If you are interested in starting plants this year, 3,000 varieties have been rated from 1 to 10 (look for an asterisk * before their name with a numeral such as 8, 9 or 10 rating) and are listed in the Handbook For Selecting Roses ($3) from the American Rose Society.
The lower-rated varieties may be susceptible to some disease or insect problems, and they may need a treatment every week or two, and about 75 percent of these lower-rated plants do not survive the first year or two.
Flower type and color, plant size, disease and insect resistance as well as adaptability to the climate should be considered in the selection process.
The major diseases are black spot, powdery mildew and rust. Some cotton root rot, crown gall and nematodes may be in the soil, however, and these can harm the rose plants. Insects that may damage roses are aphids, thrips, spider mites and Japanese beetles.
Additional rose varieties are available each year as new hybrids are developed and antique plants are found. An All-American variety is selected each year.
Brazos County master gardeners are comparing EarthKind varieties that do not require special management. The Texas Superstar varieties are adaptable throughout the state without needing special care such as chemical sprays.
The rose bed should have fertile soil with good drainage and should be located where there is good air circulation and direct morning sunlight for at least six hours total each day. The plants should be spaced well apart in this lower south region.
Much more information is available in garden books such as Antique Roses for the South (2004, $25 paperback) and Roses in the Southern Garden (2000, $35 hardcover). Another helpful resource is Texas A&M University’s horticulture Web site: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/ornamentals/rose.htm.• Write to Elmer Krehbiel, master gardener, c/o Brazos County Office, Texas Cooperative Extension, 2619 Texas 21 W., Bryan, Texas 77803. His e-mail address is elmer.krehbiel@theeagle. com.
article by Momoy
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