HOME & GARDEN

INFORMATION
HGIC 1172
1-888-656-9988
http://hgic.clemson.edu
CENTER
Growing Roses
Few flowering plants can match the beauty, versatil- Roses need loose, well-drained, well-aerated soil
ity and popularity of the rose. that contains plenty of organic matter. A raised bed
can provide roses with ideal soil conditions.
HEIGHT/SPREAD
Roses range in size from tiny miniatures of 8 inches You can plant bare root roses in late fall, late winter
tall to tree climbing giants that will reach 50 feet or or early spring in South Carolina. Container-grown
more. Hybrid tea roses typically grow to 4 to 6 feet plants can be planted later in the spring.
tall and floribundas generally range from 3 to 4 feet
tall. Most popular pillar and climbing roses reach 8 Dig a hole large enough for the roots to spread out
to 15 feet tall. in their natural position. Prune any damaged roots
and spread the roots down around a mound of soil
GROWTH RATE
in the hole. Set the plant so that the graft union is
Most roses grow fairly rapidly. Tea roses may
just above the soil level. Once you set the plant at
reach their full height after only three to four years
the correct depth, fill in the soil. The soil mixture
and grow to that height each year despite being cut
should be about one fourth peat moss or well-rotted
back each year. Many of the modern roses will
manure and three-quarters native soil. As you fill
only live six to 10 years unless given exceptional
soil in around the roots be sure to eliminate any air
care. Some species and climbing roses will live 50
pockets. Water thoroughly.
years or more.

ORNAMENTAL FEATURES Prune the top portion of the newly planted rose back
Roses are grown for their beautiful blooms, either to 6 to 8 inches above the graft union.
as landscape color or for cutting. Many are highly When fertilizing newly planted bare root plants,
valued for their fragrance. Landscape uses are quite care must be taken not to burn the new roots. Apply
varied because of the many different types of roses. organic amendments to the soil at planting time, but
wait until after the plant has produced its first
PROBLEMS blooms to apply chemical fertilizers.
Unfortunately most roses are susceptible to many
pests and diseases. Pest and disease controls are For best performance, fertilize when the plant first
covered in HGIC fact sheets 2106, Rose Diseases, leafs out and repeat after each flush of bloom until
and 2107, Rose Insects. six weeks before the earliest frost date for your area.
Use a rose fertilizer or slow release tree and shrub
LANDSCAPE USE fertilizer applied according to label instructions.
Roses prefer a full day of sun. Give roses at least Composted manure can be used as a top dressing
six to eight hours of direct sun a day. Morning sun and provides organic matter in addition to nutrients.
is especially important because it dries the leaves,
which helps prevent disease. Scratch dry fertilizers into damp soil beneath the
The area should have good air circulation. The site leaves — but not touching the canes or graft union
should be located away from fruit trees to reduce — and water well. Reduce the amount of fertilizer
shared insect and disease problems. Avoid compe- applied during June, July and August by half but
tition from roots of other plants. continue to feed after each bloom cycle. Roses
require lots of fertilizer, but excessive fertilizer can miniature roses, hybrid musks and modern shrub
burn the plant. Always make sure that the soil is roses.
moist before applying fertilizer and water well after
application. Hybrid Teas: These are the most popular roses,
with long pointed buds, elegantly shaped flowers
A 3-inch mulch of pine straw, leaves, pine bark, or and usually one large bloom on a long cutting stem.
wood chips will conserve moisture and reduce The blooms are produced all season long and last
weeds. Leave some space clear of mulch against well when cut. The flowers are most beautiful
the stem. Replace the mulch early each spring to when half to three-quarters open. Hybrid teas are
decrease disease. available in every color imaginable except for blue
and black. Hybrid tea plants often have sparse
Roses need lots of water. If roses do not get enough foliage and tall, leggy stems that can reach 6 to 8
water they will wilt, drop leaves, grow smaller feet in height. These roses are grown for the glory
leaves or stop blooming. Too much water is of their flowers. They are not attractive as land-
indicated by bottom leaves turning limp and yellow scape plants.
and falling off.
Floribundas: These roses rebloom well in a wide
Deep watering promotes a deep root system. Deep range of bright colors. Floribundas are usually
root systems help the rose to survive droughts. shorter and bushier than hybrid teas. The flowers
Frequent, light watering causes roots to form too are smaller and held in clusters but produced in
near the soil surface, making the plant more suscep- great quantity. They are rarely fragrant but are very
tible to summer baking. Soaker hoses provide good as landscape shrubs.
moisture to the root system while keeping foliage
dry. Avoid getting the leaves wet when watering, Grandifloras: These roses are vigorous, and
especially late in the day. produce large beautiful blooms and pointed buds
like Hybrid Teas with the hardiness and flower
As cold weather sets in, reduce the amount of water, clusters of the shrubbier floribundas. Grandifloras
but do not allow roses to completely dry out. Plants generally are tall, slender plants.
need water during dry spells, even during the winter
months. Polyantha Roses: Polyanthas are small, compact
bushes ranging from one to three feet in height,
Stop fertilizing your roses six weeks before your bearing large dense clusters of small blossoms.
expected first frost date. Add additional mulch to Polyantha roses rebloom prolifically. They make
protect roots and conserve moisture. Roses grown excellent subjects for containers, mixed borders and
in containers need to be put in the ground, container patio plantings.
and all, in a protected area of the yard. To prevent
wind damage on large bushes, cut the canes back to Miniature Roses: Miniatures range in height from 8
3 feet. to 24 inches and have small buds, stems, foliage and
flowers. They are ideal for landscape borders,
TYPES OF ROSES ground covers and potted indoor plants or hanging
Roses are divided into several groups based on their baskets. Miniature roses are a way to have a variety
parentage and when they were developed. of blooms in a small space. They are grown on
their own roots, so the suckers that come up are the
Modern Roses: Modern roses are defined as all same named variety.
rose groups that were developed after 1867. This
was the year that the first hybrid tea was introduced. Hybrid Musk Roses: Hybrid musks are large (5 to 6
The most popular groups of modern roses are the feet or taller) shrubs of graceful, arching habit.
hybrid teas, floribundas, and grandifloras. These They have attractive, leathery foliage and bloom in
roses are known for strong repeat blooming ability clusters of many small to medium-sized flowers.
and for spectacular flower color and form. Other Most are highly fragrant, with fruity scents that
rose groups that are included in modern roses carry a good distance. They have disease resistance
include the polyanthas, modern climbing roses, and will grow in filtered shade.
Modern Shrub Roses: These roses are vigorous and Gallica Roses: Gallicas are stocky, upright shrubs
hardy. They are attractive not only for their bloom, with fine prickles and deep green foliage. Some
but also as landscape shrubs, with beautiful foliage, gallicas have simple single or semi-double blooms;
form and often bright stems and hips. Shrub roses others are very double, with swirled or intricately
are generally easier to maintain than other modern quartered petals. Many are highly fragrant. Flower
roses, requiring much less pruning. Many have colors are mainly deep pinks, crimsons and purples.
good disease and pest resistance. Striped and mottled varieties are common.

English Roses: English roses are a group of roses Damask Roses: This is a very old group. They are
introduced in 1969 by the English rose hybridizer taller plants than the gallica roses, with grayish-
David Austin. They have the full flower form and green foliage. Their habit is usually graceful and
fragrance of old roses but bloom repeatedly and arching, spreading under the weight of many
come in more colors. English roses are often flowers. Damasks have large blossoms with a
classed as shrub roses and many are good landscape strong, distinctive fragrance. They range in color
plants. They are often billed as disease resistant but from white to deep pink. Damask roses are not
this is generally not the case in the South. adapted to the heat of the coast and lower Piedmont.

Climbing Roses: Climbers are vigorous growers Damask Perpetual Roses: These are also called
that send out long shoots or canes which can be Portland roses. They were the only repeat-
trained over fences, arbors or trellises. They are blooming roses until the introduction of the China
grouped into several types, with much overlapping roses. They are stocky, healthy bushes, with
among types. double, fragrant blossoms set in a ruff of leaves.
The colors range from white through all the pinks to
Ramblers: This type of climbing rose blooms only deepest red.
once in late spring or early summer, with many
clusters of small roses. Ramblers are very hardy Alba Roses: form tall shrubs with smooth stems
and rapid-growing, as much as 20 feet in a season. arching up to 8 feet. They have few thorns. The
albas have dense, bluish green foliage. They are
Large-Flowered Climbers: These climbers are very attractive garden plants, even when not in
slower-growing, are often trained on posts or some bloom. Their fragrant blossoms are generally white
other type of support and may require heavy annual to blush pink. Albas are resistant to disease and
pruning. Many are sports (mutations) of shorter grow into large, healthy shrubs. Albas are unusual
modern roses. Climbing hybrid teas do not bloom shade-tolerant roses. They will grow in the open
as continuously as do their bush parents, but flowers shade of a north-facing wall or under tall trees.
and foliage usually are identical.
Centifolias: Centifolias are the ‘Cabbage Roses’.
Old Roses: Old roses include all rose groups They are thorny, open bushes to 4 to 5 feet high.
developed before the introduction of the first hybrid The very large, double and fragrant blossoms are
tea rose. These plants are grown for their historic borne so freely that they cause the plant’s branches
interest, color, fragrance and ability to survive to nod under their weight. Colors range from white
adverse conditions. Old roses are divided into to deep rose-red, sometimes striped and spotted.
groups descended from European roses and those
descended at least in part from Chinese roses. Moss Roses: Mosses are sports of centifolia and
damask roses. Their flower stalks and buds are
European Roses: European roses are almost all covered with a mossy growth that exudes a balsam
spring bloomers that have one flush of bloom a scent. Moss roses are susceptible to powdery
year. Their colors are primarily whites, pinks, reds mildew.
and purples. Many are extremely fragrant. They
are quite cold hardy, but may not adapt well to hot Chinese Roses: Chinese roses introduced rebloom-
areas. European roses include gallicas, damasks, ing ability to roses and quickly became very popu-
albas, centifolias, and moss roses. lar. In addition to reblooming ability, the roses
included warm colors of yellow and scarlet.
Although most were not cold hardy, they are Tea Roses: Tea roses have exquisite, soft-colored
beautiful plants, and well-adapted to heat. The rose blooms and excellent repeat bloom. Growth is
groups descended from Chinese parentage include slender and wiry like the Chinas. Their foliage is
Chinas, Bourbons, Perpetuals, Noisettes and Teas. typically shiny and delicate. They have a unique tea
Many of these do well in the South. scent. Teas are often tender, and not all will grow
well in the colder parts of the state.
China Roses: Chinas bear loose, semi-double
flowers on graceful, wiry stems with red-tinted Hybrid Perpetuals: These roses will grow to be
foliage. China roses are healthy plants, with com- large, vigorous bushes if given good care. The
pact growth. They rebloom throughout the growing large, fragrant flowers range in color from blush
season. Chinas range in color from deepest red and white to deepest red and purple. Many cultivars can
maroon through pink to white. Some hybrids also be grown as pillar roses or short climbers. Hybrid
have warm tones of yellow, saffron, salmon and perpetuals especially the dark red varieties, are
orange. They are rarely fragrant and are sensitive to susceptible to blackspot and powdery mildew.
cold, but most grow well in all of South Carolina
except the mountains. Chinas are especially well- Species Roses: Wild roses range from prostrate
suited to growing near the coast. shrubs to enormous climbers. Their flowers range
in color from white through all shades of pink to
Bourbon Roses: Bourbons are intensely fragrant. deep crimson. A few species are bright yellow.
They grow into large shrubs exceeding six feet in Species roses often have single blossoms and bloom
all directions. They are susceptible to disease, but once during the growing season. They are often
are grown for the beauty and fragrance of their very graceful landscape shrubs. Most are very
prolific flowers and for their vigor. They range in hardy and disease-resistant. A few of the species
color from deep reds through pinks to blush and roses that grow well in South Carolina include the
white. Bourbons are well-suited to all areas of Lady Banks roses, Cherokee rose and the sweet
South Carolina, but will need extra care to control briar rose. Rugosa roses are a tough, disease-free
disease. group of roses that have repeat bloom and a won-
derful spicy scent. They will grow best in the
Noisette Roses: Noisettes originated in Charleston, cooler part of the state.
South Carolina, during the first decade of the 19th
century. They are tall shrubs or vigorous climbing There are innumerable cultivars of roses within all
roses with elegant, slender foliage. The flowers are these groups. Consult a local rose grower or local
in pastel colors including lovely soft yellows that chapters of the American Rose Society for recom-
are very rare in old roses. Noisettes are strong, mendations on the best for your area.
healthy growers but not hardy in cold winters.
Prepared by Karen Russ, HGIC Information Specialist, and Bob Polomski
Several cultivars will grow throughout South Extension Consumer Horticulturist, Clemson University
Carolina, while more tender sorts will do best on the
This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is
coast. Noisettes are exceptional for repeat bloom, intended and no endorsement by the Clemson University Cooperative
beauty of flowers and fragrance. Extension Service is implied. All recommendations are for South Carolina
conditions and may not apply to other areas. All recommendations for
pesticide use are for South Carolina only and were legal at the time of
publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to
change by action of state and federal regulatory agencies. Follow all
directions, precautions and restrictions that are listed. (New 4/99)

The Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service

offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.
Clemson University Cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture, South Carolina Counties, Extension Service, Clemson, South Carolina. Issued in Furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in
Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914
Public Service Activities