What’s New in Roses for 2022 by Diane Brueckman
‘Blushing Drift’
T
he beautiful seed and rose catalogues have been a comfort as I sit by the warm fire and dream of spring. The extreme cold in January could have damaged or killed unprotected roses. Fortunately, my roses were well covered but a few plants that were weak may not survive. So, I study the new roses being offered this year. One thing I noticed most are classed as shrubs, which is not to say they are not beautiful. Trends in roses are toward bushier, fuller plants with lots of flowers and fragrance. Best of all, disease resistance is also easier to find in the new offerings. Looking for disease resistance begins with research. Check out the
‘Celestial Night’ 16
‘Easy on the Eyes’
ARTS (American Rose Trials for Sustainability) winners. If you go to their website, you will find a list of about 50 roses that have won the award. Almost all modern classes of roses are represented on the list. Another award to look for is AGRS (American Garden Rose Selections). This award is given to roses regionally. The country is divided into four regions each rose is rated in each region. Select the rose that is best for your region. They also have a fragrance award.
There are four AGRS winners for 2022. The first is ‘Celestial
‘Pink Freedom’
‘Pretty Polly Pink’
The Gateway Gardener™ MARCH 2022
