A rose is a rose in any climate where it grows – and these days, that’s just about in every region of North America. There are roses for the frozen North, for the hot and humid South, and everywhere in between, from Alaska to Mexico.
‘La France’ is a hybrid tea shrub rose.
Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Antique Rose Emporium
‘Mermaid’ is a climbing rose.
Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Antique Rose Emporium
As anyone who’s ever been stuck in the finger (or arm or leg…) by this plant knows, roses come armed with thorns – and they’re known for being temperamental in the garden – so why do they continue to be such a favorite with homeowners far and wide?
One reason may lie in our craving for novelty. Roses are bred in a vast array of colors, and many new varieties of the plant become available every year. They’re also bred to fit almost every garden niche: They can climb like a vine; tower like a tree; clump in a nice, dense hedge; or just sit pretty in a pot. But depending on the kind of rose you choose, you may need great patience and understanding to ensure your beloved rose has a long, healthy life – and one that produces an abundance of fantastic blooms.
Taking a look at the rose’s long journey from the wilderness to the gardens of North America can help us understand something of the plant’s needs, as well as its everlasting appeal. Although wild rose species grow all over the Northern Hemisphere, they were first cultivated in China some 5,000 years ago and from there, were brought to the Middle East. During the Roman Empire, roses were cultivated not only for their beauty and fragrance, but for medicinal purposes.
Although native species were prized throughout Europe from that time, it wasn’t until the 18th century that the repeat bloomers so much loved today were imported from China. Cultivated roses were transplanted into the American landscape with the first European settlers, and they’ve been spreading ever since.
The basic rose is an evergreen shrub, and in some of the warmer regions of the country, some types may bloom all winter long. In regions farther north, where rose survival was once iffy, new cold-hardy cultivars are making a stand (although great care is needed in overwintering the plant so that it survives to bloom again in spring).
Local nurseries can usually tell you which plants do well in your area, as well as give you tips on rose care. For instance, if you’re in the hot, humid South, you’ll want to avoid roses that tend to fall under the mercy of black spot, a disease that causes the leaves to discolor and drop. If you’re in the frigid North, you should choose cultivars bred to endure hard freezes and harsh conditions.
Whatever rose you choose, plan on giving it loving care in terms of bed preparation, water, fertilizer, pruning and overwintering. And come spring, when your roses are in glorious bloom, you’ll see – despite the thorns and the need for some extra nurture – why the rose has endured as the queen of garden plants for centuries.
