Plant experts are hard at work developing new hues and colors while improving the vigor and brilliance of garden roses.
Plant experts are hard at work developing new hues and colors while improving the vigor and brilliance of garden roses. From the calm vibes of an all-white garden, the contrast of the color wheel, or the free-spirited look of a cottage garden, there is a rose color to suit everyone.
Roses Simplified Start with a color that tickles your fancy. This one choice narrows the rose field the most. Then, let your nose choose your favorite fragrance. Here is a list of the top six choices in each color proven to grow in local landscapes with minimal care.
Bi-color Roses These delight a gardener when planted among companions that emphasize a predominant color. Although bi-color roses are striking and different from single hues, they require no more care than a typical rose. Striped and two-toned roses offer soft blends like Tropical Delight, the reverse pattern on each petal of Parade Day and exquisite blooms like the picotee Betty Boop and the candy stripes of Scentimental.
Blue Roses Any royal blue found at a florist is painted with artificial dyes. The demand keeps rose breeders busy. Roses lack the genetics to produce a genuine blue bush. Advanced genetic breeding has transferred blue genes from pansies and irises to roses for fragrant introductions. The latest long-stem roses are Barbra Streisand, Blue Girl and Stainless Steel. For shrub and climbing roses, look no further than Blue Moon, Love Song and Shocking Blue.
Orange Roses Cheerful tangerine and dreamy apricot glow in the sunny garden. Oranges bring just the right blend of energy and warmth to the summer garden. Enormous oranges on long stems are found on Fragrant Cloud, Good as Gold and Vavoom. For roses that pop in shades of saffron look no further than All A Twitter, Gingersnap and Rosie the Riveter.
Pink Roses These are in various colors, from bubblegum and fuchsia hues to romantic blushes of salmon and mauve. Some of the most fragrant roses are pink. Easy to Please, Sexy Rexy and the original Knockout Roses are the easiest pinks. The most famous pinks are All My Love, Peach and Perfume Delight for long single flowers per stem. Each fills the garden in pink delight.
Purple Roses Most roses marketed as blue are variations of violet and purple. For bushes covered in repeat blooming dark purple, you want to grow Burgundy Iceberg, Fragrant Plum and Love Song. You want to plant Ebb Tide, Intrigue and Twilight Zone for deep plummy purples.
Red Roses Trips to the florist for red roses end when you cut bushels from your garden. The best long-stemmed roses come from Hybrid tea varieties. The best clusters of easy-care reds come from Double Knock Out, Take it Easy and Home Run varieties. Perfect reds with robust aromas are grown on Ink Spot, Mister Lincoln and Veterans Honor.
White Roses Gardeners who favor white roses are in for a real treat because some of the hardiest varieties are white. Giant flowers are cut from hybrid John F Kennedy, Pope John Paul and Sugar Moon. The intensity of the fragrance is felt by everyone. Many white roses have a touch of cream or pink that adds to their allure, but if you’re looking for a pure white rose with no undertones, grow Iceberg, Gourmet Popcorn and Pillow Fight.
Rainbow Roses These are straight out of a unicorn’s garden. Rainbow Roses are created with trickery from professional sprays and dyes that add color uptake through rose stems. Two roses that naturally fade to a different color as the bush matures through the season come to mind. Joseph’s Coat and Pinata are fragrant and bright, requiring no trickery to add beauty to the garden.
Until next month, I’ll be helping gardeners grow brighter roses here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN
By Ken Lain
Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Road in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Roses.com.
Leave a Reply