Although most roses will grow in a range of climates, many are susceptible to drought, dampness, heat, cold, and other extremes. If your climate is less than ideal, you can guard many sensitive roses by planting them in protected spots or by giving them extra care. But it is far better to choose varieties that can stand up to the worst your climate can inflict. Here are some guidelines for selecting the right ones.
Hot Climates
Rose gardens in warmer climates, whether subtropical, tropical, or desert areas, can be very successful if you select the right roses. Most modern roses will not live long in these climates as they quickly exhaust themselves when denied winter dormancy. Two notable exceptions are the floribunda Iceberg and the grandiflora ‘Queen Elizabeth’, which rose growers in subtropical Bermuda have found to be quite long-lived. In general, though, the best choices for hot climates are the old garden roses, especially Chinas, teas, hybrid perpetuals, and shrub roses. Yellow roses fade in the heat, so you may want to avoid this color in such climates.
You may be able to coax a wider range of roses to grow in hot climates by taking some extra precautions. Keep the soil from drying out too quickly by working in extra organic matter and covering the surface with mulch. Keep the plants from drying out by sheltering them from the wind. Protect your roses against burning by placing them where they will be shielded from the glare of the afternoon sun.
Cold-winter Climates
Gardeners who live in cold regions have to face the fact that their climate is less than hospitable to some types of roses that can’t adapt to cold weather. Although burying or covering the canes of these varieties will help many of them to survive the rigors of winter, choosing roses with built-in hardiness can enable you to avoid this fairly boring task. This is a special benefit to people whose time for gardening is limited.
Unfortunately, no one has ever tested each rose variety for winter hardiness in all climates. If you live in a cold area, ask your local greenhouse or other rose expert for advice on the best roses for your particular area.
For a complete list of suitable roses to suit each climate you can refer to “Rose Secrets Revealed” training manual at Rose Secrets Revealed.
Write Your Own Product Review