Rose
Rosa (RO-zuh)
Roses are woody, deciduous, perennial shrubs or vines in the rose family (Rosaceae). They are native to the temperate and subtropical Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe and Asia, and grow 1 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 6 feet wide depending upon the cultivar, species, or hybrid, of which there are a great many. The genus name is the classical Latin name for the rose. Roses require full sun and organically rich, well-drained, acidic to neutral soils. Roses are heat and frost-tolerant. Deadhead the blooms as they fade but stop at summer’s end so the plants can start their hardening process before winter. Allowing some fruits to form is beneficial to wildlife, as many birds and small mammals feed on rose hips. Most roses require yearly pruning in late winter. Look here for a guide to pruning roses. Grafting is the best propagation strategy. Roses have flower parts in multiples of five. The sharp structures on the stems are prickles, not true thorns, and they can vary in size and abundance from species to species. Native bees nest in the dead, hollow stems, so gardeners are encouraged to cut back dead stems to 12 to 24 inches and allow them to remain standing until they disintegrate on their own. Read more about best practices for stem-nesting bees in this NC Extension publication . Roses have five fragrance groups: old rose (found in rose water), fruity (pears, cherries, apples, tutti fruti), tea (like black tea—often in yellow roses), myrrh (a medicinal fragrance like that of sweet cicely, Myrrhis odorata ), and musk (often found in single-flowered roses and ramblers) Some roses climb (ramblers or climbers); others mound or spread or stand upright. Hybrid tea roses are generally grown for their large, fragrant, solitary blooms. Floribunda roses bear clusters of small flowers; miniature roses bear small flowers on dwarf plants. Ramblers flower from old wood; climbers flower from new wood. Grow roses in cottage or cutting gardens or use them at the back of a border. Using larger, pricklier species as hedges can provide some security. Climbing roses can accentuate vertical spaces in the landscape. Miniature roses work well in containers. More fragrant selections do well to be situated near a patio or walkway where their scent can be enjoyed. Rose hips can be used to make jellies, jams, and tea. Quick ID Hints: Flower parts are in multiples of five (for example, 5 sepals, 5 petals, 15 stamens, and 5 pistils) Stems usually have prickles Leaves are alternate and pinnately compound Leaflet margins are serrate Flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, or white Flowers are often fragrant Fruits are called hips (but the true fruits are the hard achenes inside the hips) Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Fuller rose beetles, Japanese beetles, rose chafer, rose thrips, southern red mites, and two-spotted mites are pest problems for roses. Disease problems include botrytis, blights, powdery mildew, leaf spots, and anthracnose. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common rose diseases as well as a factsheet on insects and other related pests. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 64 attributes.
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