One thing that keeps coming up over and over in my conversations with gardeners interested in growing roses is:
feeling overwhelmed by everything. There seems to be a lot riding on it, doesn’t it?
There are many varieties and cultivars of roses. These range from wild roses to floribunda or tea roses. It is also a known fact that rose cultivation can sometimes be challenging. It doesn’t have to be stressful or difficult.
Start with one plant to get a feel for how it feels to share your garden with these wonderful plants. If you are anything like me, it’s likely that you will fall in love.
A vertical close-up of light-creamy yellow roses grown in the garden. The roses are displayed in bright sunlight against an out-of-focus background. The bottom and middle of the frame contain a section of printed text in green-white.
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I hated the idea of growing roses. This was partly because I didn’t like the thought of having to care for anything in my garden.
However, I purchased my house from a woman who was known for her roses and couldn’t bear to take them down.
At that point, I realized that these floral classics were not what I thought they were. It is a good idea, and they are often remarkably resilient. These flowers are a must-have in gardens all over the globe.
A horizontal, up-close photograph of flowers in the garden, taken in the soft sunset light against a background that has a blurred effect.
It was also easier than I thought to take care of them. It seemed that the more I gave them back, the less I was able to ignore the show-stoppers.
While making my first batch of rose hip jam, I was next to a mason container that contained fragrant blossoms I had brought in from the garden. When I was done, I was convinced.
I have come to the conclusion that rose care is not as difficult as caring for peonies and hydrangeas. It is only necessary to know a little more about the roses at the beginning.
However, if you get infected by the rose bug, it is very possible that you will fall into the rabbit hole.
There seems to be an endless number of colors, dimensions, and shapes from which to choose.
There are many rose varieties available, and some are more resistant than others. This makes them ideal for growing in any climate. The USDA Hardiness Zones 3, 4, and 11 tell us about the types of roses that can be grown.
You can train them to climb or keep them small. Or you can cultivate them for their edible qualities and enjoy the beautiful ornamental aspects of the flowers as an added bonus.
A horizontal, up-close photograph of a variety of colored roses in a garden. The background is out of focus.
Kristine Lofgren took this photograph.
Let me assure you that, despite it appearing that you will need a 200-page user guide to keep your plants alive, there are many useful publications that can be found in book format and that are very helpful.
Let’s not forget the books. This comprehensive guide will help you get started on the well-known flower.
This lesson will not cover the more complex material. Instead, you can expect to learn the basics, which will make it easy for you to get started without feeling overwhelmed.
Ready? It is possible, I’m sure!
A Short Introduction to Roses
It would be helpful to know the names of each part of a rose plant before we start. Let’s look at what materials we need to work with.
A horizontal, up-close photograph of vibrant red flowers in the garden. The background is out of focus.
Your roots will always be at the bottom of everything. You will often see a bump or knot-like area on top of these, but below the canes. This is the graftunion, where the rootstock is joined to the scion to create the new plant.
The scion refers to the part of the plant that has the desired characteristics (e.g., the particular cultivar or species that you purchased, while the rootstock is selected for its adaptability and resilience.
Numerous rose plants have been grafted. This indicates that the rose grower used both the roots or species of one rose and the tops of other rose varieties.
A horizontal, up-close photograph of the stem and tips of a shrub covered in pointed thorns. It was taken in bright sunlight against an out-of-focus background.
The stalk supporting the leaves is called the cane. It will often have thorns (also known as “prickles”).
Roses can have leaves made up of 3–5 or 7–individual leaflets. They also grow in bunches.
Close-up horizontal photo of the Rosa shrub’s foliage. The background is out of focus.
Photograph of Kristine Lofgren
The peduncle is the part of the stem that holds the flower up.
The blossom’s support structure is the hip. It appears green initially, but it changes color as the blossom ages. This is the fruit produced by the plant.
A horizontal and up-close view of rose hips during their maturation into rose hips in fall. This was captured in bright sunlight against a background that is not in focus.
The sepal is located above the blossom. It is the green outer covering of the flower buds that is visible before they open. It completely surrounds the flowerbud.
A photograph of a horizontal close-up of a flowerbud that has not opened yet, taken against a background that is blurred.
Kristine Lofgren took this photograph.
Roses can contain anywhere from five to forty petals depending on their type.
Horizontal close-up of bright pink flowers with double petals that are in the garden. presented against a background of unfocused green.
Kristine Lofgren took this photograph.
Some plants have more than 100 petals, like the yellow shrub ‘Molineaux’, which has one hundred twenty.
A basal break, which is scientifically called a shoot, is more commonly known by the common name of a shoot. The term “shoot” refers to the new growth that emerges from the buds at the base of the plant.
These plants produce flowers all year. They can also be of the one-blooming variety, which means that they only produce one batch of flowers during any given growing season.
This third category is called “repeat flowering” and refers to a method of flowering that produces only one set of flowers at the beginning of the season. Then, there are one or two additional blooming periods throughout the season.
Roses can also have one, semi-double, or double flower. Double-flowered roses have multiple rows of petals that make up the individual blossoms.
These roses are larger and more traditional than what most people imagine when they think about the standard.
