Q: Are there any low maintenance roses I can plant in my landscape?
- If you desire a low maintenance rose bush, look to the Texas AgriLife Extension Service list of Earth-Kind® Roses. Roses cultivars are designated as Earth-Kind® roses after demonstrating excellent heat and drought tolerance and a high degree of pest resistance. Earth-Kind® roses are excellent landscape choices because they can tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions and require less fertilizer and water than other roses.
Selection
Belinda’s Dream rose in the Carolina Yard Demonstration Garden at Sandhill REC.
Regina Monteith, ©2018 Richland County Master Gardener
Rose cultivars underwent an intensive rigorous selection process to earn the designation Earth-Kind®. A team of seven specialists poured over research and data compiled from 12 field trials across the state of Texas. The growing conditions of the planting trial sites ranged widely in soil types and climates. The trials were held in USDA Cold Hardiness Zones 7 to 9. Most of the state of South Carolina is considered in Cold Hardiness Zone 8. One hundred roses were evaluated. The shrubs were planted with compost, mulched and drip irrigation was installed. During the eight-year trial, no conventional or organic pesticides were applied to the plants, nor was any fertilizer. The roses were not dead-headed and were only watered as needed after establishment. The roses were then evaluated for their beauty, low maintenance, and adaptability.
Twenty-one rose cultivars have earned the designation Earth-Kind® Rose. The roses range in size from dwarf shrubs to medium shrubs to vigorous climbing roses.
The Earth-Kind® Rose Cultivars:
| Cultivar Dimensions | Dimensions | Flower Color | Bloom | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marie Daly | 3 ft. tall 3 ft. wide 5 ft. apart on centers |
Pink | Semi-double | Resistant to spider mites Very few thorns on stem |
| Souvenir de St. Anne’s | 3 ft. tall 3 ft. wide 5 ft. apart on centers |
Light pink | Semi-double | Fragrant |
| The Fairy | 3 ft. tall 4 ft. wide 6 ft. apart on centers |
Light pink | Small double | Abundant flowers Cascading habit |
| Cultivar Dimensions | Dimensions | Flower Color | Bloom | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell Pink | 4 ft. tall 4 ft. wide 6 ft. apart on centers |
Lilac pink | Double blooms | Excellent disease tolerance Excellent heat tolerance |
| Cecile Brunner | 4 ft. tall 3 ft. wide 5 ft. apart on centers |
Soft, silvery pink | Double blooms | Looks like a hybrid tea rose in miniature |
| Perle d’Or | 4 ft. tall 4 ft. wide 6 ft. apart on centers |
Apricot buds opening to golden buff pink | Double– petals fold back to look like a pom-pom | Very drought tolerant |
| Cultivar Dimensions | Dimensions | Flower Color | Bloom | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belinda’s Dream | 5 ft. tall 5 ft. wide 7 ft. apart on centers |
Medium pink | Large double 100+ petals Up to 4 in. diameter |
Good disease tolerance Fragrant Can be used as a cut flower |
| Carefree Beauty | 5 ft. tall 5 ft. wide 7 ft. apart on centers |
Deep, rich pink | Semi-double Up to 4 in. diameter |
Performs well in dry, hot summers Produces abundant orange hips |
| Ducher | 6 ft. tall 4 ft. wide 6ft. apart on centers |
Ivory white | Very double Medium |
Fragrant Good heat tolerance |
| Duchesse de Brabant | 6ft. tall 4ft. wide 6ft. apart on centers |
Rose pink | Very double large |
Very fragrant Needs adequate spacing |
| Else Poulsen | 5 ft. tall 5 ft. wide 7 ft. apart on center |
Light pink | Semi-double Medium to large |
Prolific bloomer Has upright growth habit |
| Georgetown Tea | 6 ft. tall 6 ft. wide 8ft. apart on center |
Dark salmon pink centers fading to lilac pink | Double Star like blooms. |
Fragrant Good disease resistance Requires well drained soils |
| Knock Out | 6 ft. tall 6 ft. wide 8ft. apart on centers |
Cherry red | Single with medium size booms | Black spot resistant Drought tolerant Prolific bloomer |
| La Marne | 5 ft. tall 4 ft. wide 6 ft. apart on centers |
Pink and white blend | Single blooms | Few thorns |
| Madame Antoine Mari | 6 ft. tall 6 ft. wide 8 ft. apart on centers |
Pink blend | Double | Fragrant Drought tolerant Excellent as a cut flower |
| Mutabilis | 6 ft. tall 6 ft. wide 8 ft. apart on centers |
Yellow changing to pink then to crimson | Single | Great heat tolerance Covered with flowers of various colors |
| Spice | 5 ft. tall 4 ft. wide 6 ft. apart on centers |
Blush pink to white | Double | Peppery fragrance Drought tolerant Good cut flower |
| Cultivar Dimensions | Dimensions | Flower Color | Bloom | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climbing Pinkie | 10 ft. tall 7 ft. wide 9 ft. apart on centers |
Medium pink | Semi-double Spring bloomer |
Remove old canes after flowering each spring Very few thorns on stem |
| Sea Foam | 8 ft. tall 4 ft. wide 6 ft. apart on centers |
Creamy white | Double | Fragrant |
| Cultivar Dimensions | Dimensions | Flower Color | Bloom | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Dawn | 15-20 ft. tall 10 ft. wide 12 ft. apart on centers |
Blush pink | Double | Good disease tolerance Will tolerate partial shade. Fragrant |
| Reve d O’r | 10-18 ft. tall 8 ft. wide 10 ft. apart on centers |
Medium Yellow with shades of apricot, gold, and copper | Loose double blooms |
Very fragrant Virtually thornless |
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkindroses/
