Carefree & Low Maintenance Roses
Carefree roses have been greatly overlooked in landscaping in recent years. In recent times hybridizers have seen the advantage and demand for carefree roses. In the past most carefree roses had a rather dull or bland looking bloom. Now we have varieties with attractive foliage that are not only colorful but some are fragrant. There are also roses which are low maintenance. Carefree roses are defined as roses which require no spray, just an adequate supply of water and fertilizer that you would use on any low maintenance landscape plant such as azalea, pittisporum, podocarpus, etc. Low maintenance roses will require a bit more care but still far less than what most people would think. They have an important place in the landscape and will add nine months of color to your yard.
Some roses are more resistant to disease than others. Carefree roses have been greatly overlooked in landscaping. Now there are varieties with color and fragrance which do well in Florida gardens and require minimal care. In order to have healthy rose bushes follow these four simple steps:
- Start with a Nelsons' Florida Rose on Fortuniana Rootstock, specifically grown in Florida for Florida soil and climate.
- Plant where there is a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight and well drained soil.
- To establish the bush, water thoroughly every day for the first two months.
- Excellent results can be obtained by using a six month slow release fertilizer, e.g, Osmacote or Stay-Green Rose Fertilizer
Carefree Roses (minimal spraying)
| Shrubs (old garden roses) |
Shrubs (modern) |
|---|---|
| Louis Phillippe (or "Cracker Rose") |
Abraham Darby (David Austin) |
| Mrs. B. R. Cant | Belinda's Dream* |
| Old Blush | Carefree Wonder |
| Carefree Beauty | China Doll |
| Carefree Wonder | Josephine Land |
| Anna Olivier | Knock Outs |
| Souv de la Malmaison | Margo Koster |
| Mothersday | |
| Pink Summer Snow | |
| Summer Snow | |
| Sunflare | |
| *Note: This rose is classified as a shrub but has hybrid tea characteristics: classic high center bloom and long stem. It also is fragrant and has many petals. This rose is a winner! Belinda's Dream was selected at the Epcot Flower Festival as the perfect Florida rose. | |
Low-Maintenance Roses (occasionally spray, or even forgetting to spray, will seldom get blackspot)
| Hybrid Tea | Floribunda |
|---|---|
| Elina | Charisma |
| Granada | Ebb Tide |
| Kentucky Derby | Europeana |
| Montezuma | First Edition |
| St. Patrick | George Burns |
| Scentimental | |
| September Mourn | |
| Sunflare | |
| Climber | Grandiflora |
|---|---|
| Blossomtime | Gold Medal |
| Catherine Nelson | Queen Elizabeth |
| Don Juan | Lagerfeld |
| Spectra | |
| Piñata |
Fragrant Roses
In the past people thought all roses were fragrant. This is not true, but there are a number of roses that are very fragrant. At Nelsons' Roses we try to grow roses that are pretty as well as fragrant. The combination of beauty and fragrance is enjoyable. There is no greater pleasure than to walk in your rose garden, pick a Nelsons' Rose and smell the aroma. A bouquet of fragrant roses in a room creates a pleasant atmosphere. Recently the scientific community has been promoting aromatherapy for reduction of stress and tension, giving the body and mind a relaxing state of calmness.
Each rose has its own particular scent. Some are fruity; others are spicy, sweet, or a delicate tea fragrant. On the individual rose variety pages, we have a legend that designates the winners of the James Alexander Gable Fragrance Award.