Choosing the Right Rose

by Gene Meyer, Consulting Rosarian

Deciding what type of gardener you are will decide what type of roses you should grow.

Double Delight, hybrid tea
Double Delight, hybrid tea
Photo courtesy of ©Weeks Roses
If you enjoy spending time working in your garden, then you can grow Hybrid Teas with their classic form. Since this is Tennessee, growing Hybrid Teas will mean spraying, feeding regularly and watering often. There are many Hybrid Teas that are very fragrant. So, with Hybrid Tea roses you can have the best of both worlds, form and fragrance.

Be sure to check the American Rose Society Selecting Roses Handbook and only buy Hybrid Teas rated 7.5 and above. These will be easier to grow.

Monsieur Tillier, Earthkind
Monsieur Tillier, Earth-kind
Photo courtesy of Gene Meyer, NRS
If you’re the type of gardener that wants color in your yard without all the work then there are also roses for you also. Old Garden Roses (OGR) and Earth-Kind roses are suitable for you. With these roses you let them grow up, which takes three or four years, then every spring you prune out an old cane, and that’s it. They will be hardy, disease resistant and throw fragrant blooms from May to November. The fragrance of OGR’s really run the gamut. Almost all these roses are rated 8 and above in the ARS Selecting Roses Handbook! Lastly check the growing zone for the rose your interested in to make sure it is hardy for where you live.

Lastly check the growing zone for the rose your interested in to make sure it is hardy for where you live.

So decide what type of gardener you are, and the type of rose you should grow is easy.