Rose Report

What needs to be done in the rose garden in February?

First, roses continue to need moisture during the winter, about one inch of precipitation a month. Snow and rain can be supplemented by watering on a warm day if the ground is not frozen. Second, if the protective mulch has settled, supplement it with additional mulch to maintain an 8- to 12-inch layer covering the crown of the bush. Third, check for rodent damage and small rodents nesting in the protective mulch. Further information can be found at www.kansascityrosesociety.org/rose-care-calendar. Fourth, there is still time to order new plants online for spring planting. Information about roses grown in the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden at Loose Park can be found at: www.kcrsroselibrary.com.

Where did our roses come from?

All roses have been bred from wild roses, of which there are over 100 species spread across the Northern Hemisphere, i.e., North American, Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia. There are 12 species of wild roses found in Kansas and 14 species in Missouri. Nine of these species roses are found in both states. Wild roses usually have five petals and are a shade of pink or white. This group is known as Species Roses.

The Old Garden Roses (OGRs), roses in existence prior to 1867, are the result of pollination between species resulting in natural hybrids. This process was enhanced by breeders in Europe planting different varieties of roses near each other to allow cross pollination by wind and insects. These roses were generally cold hardy, often had stiff canes supporting an upright flower, but they only bloomed once in the spring and the colors were limited to lavender, white, or shades of pink. Rose breeding was greatly enhanced by the importation of roses from China to Europe in the late

18th and early 19th centuries. Four varieties, ‘Slater’s Crimson China’, ‘Parson’s Pink China’, ‘Hume’s Blush Tea-Scented China’, and ‘Park’s Yellow Tea-Scented China’,

GLENN HODGES Master Rosarian

were the primary varieties used for breeding. Although these varieties were cold sensitive and had weak canes, they were reblooming and added red and yellow to the color palette. The combination of the characteristics of the European roses with those of the Chinese roses produced many new varieties. The American Rose Society (ARS) recognizes 21 classes of OGRs.

Modern roses were recognized with the introduction of the hybrid tea, ‘La France’, in 1867. The development of modern roses was enhanced by improved breeding techniques, which allowed both the pollen parent (male) and the seed parent (female) to be known. With better control and knowledge of rose genetics, a vast array of modern roses has been developed. The ARS recognizes 14 classes of modern roses, including Hybrid Teas, Grandifloras, Floribundas, Miniatures, Minifloras, Shrubs, Large Flowered Climbers, and many more.

The wide spectrum of colors, bloom form, bloom time, fragrance, size, growth habit, and disease resistance make the rose, a multistemmed shrub that can provide color in the garden all season long, a versatile option for every sunny spot in the garden.