Landscaping with
Roses
D
riving into work I have noticed how most front yard landscapes have similar types of plantings. Boxwoods, yews or some other type of evergreen. Most of the color comes from flower pots on the front porch or a few annuals scattered here and there. The evergreens are a safe choice and keep the landscape green during the winter months. However, also notable are the number of evergreen shrubs that are overgrown and encroaching the house, completely taking away from the beauty of the home. It might be time for a landscape change. Roses may not be the first shrub you think of when you are planning a new landscape, but many rose varieties take minimal maintenance and can replace annual beds. Eliminating the need to replant every season. Here are a few of the rose varieties you should consider when you refresh or add to your landscape this year. Alba Meidiland, a white shrub that gets 2 feet to 5 feet tall with no fragrance. It has an explosion of small white blooms and gives continuous blooms throughout the season, making up for its absence of fragrance. The persistent bloom makes it a must in any garden. Belinda’s Dream, is a pink shrub rose, with a fruity raspberry fragrance giving you the best of both worlds. Fragrance as well as a multitude of blooms. In our garden, it grows 3 feet to 4 feet tall. The disease resistance is exceptional and it is very heat tolerant. So it would do well along driveways, sidewalks or stone walls.
Heritage Carefree Beauty, a pink shrub rose, grows 4 feet to 5 feet tall and has a strong sweet fragrance with continuous blooms throughout the season. This rose also has the added benefit of producing large rose hips, which if left on the rose in the fall, turn bright orange and are a beautiful addition to fall flower arrangements. Quietness, a pink shrub, has a strong rose fragrance and blooms in flushes throughout the season. Reaching heights of 4 feet to 6 feet. The soft pink color is delightful. Also noteworthy, this rose will also
JUDY PENNER Expert Rosarian 20
May 2021 | kcgmag.com
grow in some shade. Elina is a light yellow hybrid tea that blooms in magnificent flushes. Growing to a height of 4 feet and in our garden it is breathtaking. The light yellow bloom from a distance, can appear white in color. Morden Blush, is a light pink shrub with a mild fragrance and is 2.5 feet to 4 feet tall. Growing in flushes throughout the season. This rose is very hardy and even in our harshest winters, this rose stays green. Paloma Blanca, is a white shrub, with a mild fragrance and
dark green, leathery foliage. It blooms in clusters, reaching heights of 3 feet to 6 feet. This rose typically stays green during the winter in our area. Heritage, is a pink shrub rose and one of my favorites. It grows 4 feet to 4.5 feet and gives off a strong lemon fragrance. It has large clustered flowers that bloom in flushes throughout the season. It is almost thornless and can grow 4 feet wide. So this could be a stand alone rose in a perennial garden or massed together for a spectacular display. Heritage will also perform well in partial shade. Heritage rose remains green during the winter months. My Girl, a deep pink shrub rose, has a mild rose fragrance and blooms in flushes throughout the season. It can grow 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. This bright color will give your landscape a great pop of color. All the roses mentioned in this article are very hardy and disease resistant. All roses need at least six hours of sun and should be watered at least once a week during the growing season. The roses that can grow in partial shade, will need at least four hours of sun. All roses in our area need pruning in late March to keep them in shape and remove any dead wood. All of these roses will need the spent blooms removed throughout the season for optimal bloom. My hope is that you will consider roses for your front landscape this year! Remember to Stop and Smell the Roses.
Judy Penner is an ARS Consulting Rosarian and Director at Loose Park, Kansas City, Missouri. You may reach her at judyssecretgardens@gmail.com.
