Modern roses
Centuries of dedicated rose breeders and hard-working growers are to thank for the many lovely colors, forms, shapes and sizes of roses available today. Rose hybridizing takes years, and sometimes decades, to complete, with generations of operations sustaining this passion. From cross-pollination of two rose varieties in the beginning to the final phase of production, hybridizing a single rose variety can become a life’s work for a professional breeder or cultivator. The bottom line is that roses today are easy to grow with little maintenance required.

Rose experts David Wilson, marketing director for Garden Splendor, and Linda Guy, new product development director of Novalis/Plants that Work, cultivate and market prestigious rose collections from breeders worldwide. They have helped clarify some of the most important rose selection, planting, care and maintenance tips to help make decisions about what, where and when to plant simple and fun.

Selecting your rose variety
There are so many different colors, scents, flower forms and growth habits of roses that it can seem overwhelming making a selection that feels right for your particular garden. But simply knowing the basics of landscape application and being familiar with premium rose varieties can turn the task into a hobby.

Landscape
First, consider your landscaping needs, including where and how you want to use your roses. “Form is a key factor to function,” Wilson says. “Conventional rose borders will require the use of different varieties than a cutting garden or a mixed garden might.”

For instance, a floribunda rose, like the “Livin’ Easy” variety, will produce flowers of varying size and color all summer long and its low, bushy form makes it ideal for landscaping in hedges, borders, mixed gardens or mass plantings. Shrub and groundcover roses like the “Carefree Wonder” and “Double Knock-Out” varieties are the easiest to grow and maintain in the garden, either as a complement to other plant types or as an easy and beautiful solution to a landscape problem. Other common forms are hybrid tea, climber, grandiflora and rambler.

Climate
Although most roses will grow in a range of climates, some are cultivated for cooler conditions, and others thrive in heat and humidity. In addition, the severity of the winter season should be considered, as some roses will not survive harsh cold.

Tough shrub roses like the “Carefree Delight” and “Pink Double Knock-Out” varieties provide a lot of flower power while standing up to humid and dry conditions. “Roses that can withstand less than ideal conditions are the epitome of modern plants today; they are disease-resistant and good performers requiring little care,” Guy says.

Colo
Modern rose hybridizers offer a very wide and distinct palette of colors that serves every preference. In addition to solid colors, rose flowers may be bicolored, blended with several shades or even striped.

When choosing roses for your garden, color is very important, according to Guy. “Color choices reflect your personality and complement your home. Study your home’s structure and color to choose the best garden color scheme,” she says. “When planning a more formal garden, try to work within a limited color scheme. Too many colors, or colors that do not work well together, cause distraction. Start with a dominant hue and add one or two contrasting or complementary colors. Above all, be sure to work in colors
you love.”

Also consider your climate’s effect on color; select roses that notably tolerate heat and intense sunlight without fading.