best roses for Texas

Arlington, TX

Have not planted any roses since moving here but I saw a yellow climber at Calloways that got my attention. It appears to have smaller flowers and no thorns. How much trouble is it to grow them here and has anyone grown this particular variety?
Cheryl

Houston, TX(Zone 9a)

Cheryl, if it was covered in small blooms, it might be a Lady Banks. They are nearly thornless and come in white and a pale yellow. They do well here. The others that I've had luck with, meaning needing no spraying for fungus and having no pest or disease problems, are the Knockouts. They now come in red, pink, yellow and a coral color called Rainbow. I have these and they are totally trouble free. I do whack them back every Feb. but it's more a "crew cut" than the typical thinning of tea roses. Other ones I've had luck with are the David Austin English roses. Some cultivars are more trouble free than others and it's a trial and error system to find what works for your area. Last is the rugosa roses. These are sometimes called "sentry roses" because they make an impenetrable thorny barrier. They are usually single form, but are tough plants for tough places or if you need a property boundry hedge to keep everything (people and critters) out.

Hope this helps.

Crow

Arlington, TX

It does, I want a climber that does well in the heat and drought that is not too thorny. I will go back and see if the one I saw is one you listed.
C

Wells, TX(Zone 8b)

the lady banks also comes in a lavender.. but it only blooms in the early spring.. Ive had good luck with the heirloom/antique type roses.. check out the Antique Rose emporium website for some neat ones
http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/

East of Nacogdoches, TX(Zone 8a)

Look online at Chamblee Roses and the Antique Rose Emporium.

I've bought from both with most of my roses coming from Chamblees via UPS and they arrived in perfect condition and took off like rockets when planted.

The ARE has a really good three day conference on roses each fall and it well worth going to. Good time to buy roses too.

You'll find many types of roses suitable for carefree growing relative to the type that need replacing after several years and chemicals to keep alive .

Denton, TX(Zone 7a)

Sorry, there is not a lavender Lady Banks except in the mind of whoever is marketing them...it is Veilchenblau a rambler that just blooms one time.
Roses that do well in Texas, are Teas (not Hybrid Teas) Noisettes and Chinas...
Others do well too, but the three I mentioned do the best...


Wells, TX(Zone 8b)

I just know what I saw them selling.. looked like a lady banks and it was lavender.. they called it a lady banks.. didnt look like what I saw on plant files when I looked up Veilchenblau but Im no rose expect

This message was edited Mar 31, 2010 10:09 AM

East of Nacogdoches, TX(Zone 8a)

Here are some of my Knockouts that have never been trimmed. Just an option if you have the scale and space.

Thumbnail by antiquedrose
Wells, TX(Zone 8b)

get Out!!! those are fabulous!!! my yard looks like squat compared to what Ive seen of so many of yours..lol.. but it too will be beautiful one day..

Denton, TX(Zone 7a)

I am not an expert either but I do know they will often sell Veilchenblau as Lavender Lady Banks...as far as I know there is not a Lavender Lady Banks...I could be wrong, it has happened before.

East of Nacogdoches, TX(Zone 8a)

The yellow Lady Banks I bought was labeled white.
what are you going to do?

I bought a single pot of crepes that turned
out to contain two different crepes in the pot.

I bought several Nachez Crepes all lined up together and one was a purple variety.
Messed up the look I was going for, but what are you gonna do?

And any plant planted next to my house performs as if on steroids.
It's pretty amazing.





Denton, TX(Zone 7a)

Could this be what you saw as Lavender Lady Banks?
http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.41409

Denton, TX(Zone 7a)

Or this one?
http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.6440

Wells, TX(Zone 8b)

I dont think so. those blosoms arent the same. it looked just like a LB only it was a pale lavender.. it was being sold as a LB during the azalea festival in Nac last year.. havent seen it since then.. oh well it was proabably a mis marked rose.. during stuff like that they arent real concerned with being correct.. they just want to sell it

East of Nacogdoches, TX(Zone 8a)

I gotta take exception to anyone at SFA being sloppy and not concerned with being careful with what they do. My only involvement with this fine group of Horticulturist and volunteers is cashering the spring and fall public sales of plants and attending gardening talks. While no one's perfect, all of these people take their jobs seriously and care to deliver excellent plants correctly labeled.

Call Dawn Stover at SFA's hort dept and discuss what happened to you.
She'll make it right and may be able to explain what happened. She's a good lady and not only would be interested in what happened, but why.

If she's not the one to address this issue, she'll direct you to the correct place.
You live so close, consider becoming a volunteer yourself! You'd fit right in and it's lots of fun.
Elise Roadwald (probably misspelled her name) can tell you all about the many opportunities out there. I may bring you some info when we have tea, or they can drop some in the mail.




East of Nacogdoches, TX(Zone 8a)

Actually, on second thought, I don't know who does the Azalea Festival, but the two woman mentioned can help as described. Good luck!

Lewisville, TX(Zone 7b)

Cheryl... I have an excellent climber.. I've had it for over 5 yrs now..it's red & I think it's called Don Juan.. it's from Jackson & Perkins. I like their roses very much.. though I personally have never successfully grown a yellow rose.. I know, I know.. I'm in Texas & can't grow a yellow rose?!! hahahahahaha.
I have 1 David Austin rose in a container that I am very happy with..called Ebb Tide..it's a dark purple with a very fragant clove like scent.

I have pruned my roses & already the climber has numerous buds..though I don't prune that one very much, just thin it out. I have 2 other rose bushes that are also in bloom already!

Arlington, TX

Does the climber have a long bloom period and is it fairly drought resistant? I am looking for one that is easy to grow and doesnt need a lot of fuss. I was interested in the one I saw because it was nearly thornless. I grew some tough, white climbers back home but havent tried any roses here yet.
C

Wells, TX(Zone 8b)

it was being sold on the square during the azelea festival from some indiviual selling plants.... noone from SFA was involved..Ive never been to the sales at SFA for a few reasons but one of these times Ill make it..I have been to some of the talks and have enjoyed them

Buffalo, TX(Zone 8b)

Kathleen, you are right about the lav lady banks. Here is an article about it:
http://www.pswdistrict.org/text/articles/rippetoe.html

Wells, TX(Zone 8b)

Im not crazy after all!! ...well I am but not about what I saw...lol.

how in the world did you find this article???

East of Nacogdoches, TX(Zone 8a)

The SFA plant sale is totally fun. Lots of really good plants and some yard art sold by horticulture students. Please come blkraven2 and see me.

Edited to add: Beekeepers are there selling local honey. YUM!

And the Nacogdoches Rose, a beautiful yellow native, should be available.

This message was edited Apr 5, 2010 4:27 PM

Kilgore, TX

Antiquedrose, I was about to suggest the Nacogdoches Rose to Newtonsthirdlaw as an EXCELLENT rose for Texas. Besides being (in my humble opinion) the best looking yellow rose out there, it is extremely hardy, vigorous and, in my experience, disease resistant. I was told it would not be an Earthkind Rose, because it was slightly susceptible to blackspot, but that is not my experience at all. The rose that combines ease of care with beauty and size (again, IMHO) is Belinda's Dream - a big, beautiful pink rose. You can't kill that rose!

Newtonsthirdlaw, I strongly suggest you take a little road trip to Chamblee Rose Nursery in Tyler. They have more than 300 different types of roses there, blooming (in a week or two, if not already), and fairly priced. Plus, they will answer any question you might have. Just take the U.S. 69 exit off of I-20 and go south a few miles and it will be on the left. If you want easy-care roses, look for the Earthkind designated roses, which they have marked. And while you are in Tyler, might as well go to the Tyler Rose Garden - acres and acres of roses! Ask at Chamblee how to get there - it isn't hard.

Arlington, TX

Might be worth the trip. I love roses but don't grow them because they are too needy. This is why I wanted one very hardy and less needy variety and I want a climber.
C

Alba, TX(Zone 8a)

Might I suggest Teasing Georgia as a possible entry for a yellow climber? It is a peachy yellow (sometimes), but I have both the climbing and the shrub. I just moved the shrubs to an area where they can climb. Its a big honkin rose that just wants to reach out and give you a big, thorny hug! I've not seen any disease problems with this variety. Its only draw back is that it wants some room. I also like Nacogdoches Rose. I believe some of the nurseries are changing the name as allegedly no one can spell it. There are lots of roses out there with names no on can spell. I like the orriginal name......

Wells, TX(Zone 8b)

I have the teasing georgia climber and love it .. Its on a trellis outside my bedroom window
heres a pic of one of the blooms.. not the best but it will give you an idea of shape and size

Thumbnail by blkraven2
Arlington, TX

It's beautiful.

Wells, TX(Zone 8b)

smells good too!

East of Nacogdoches, TX(Zone 8a)

That Teasing Georgia is new to me and looks great, always a fab bonus if a rose smell rosey. I only buy roses that are carefree, but as Crow (I think) suggested on another thread, Bayer Rose & Flower Care is a good product. I use it once a year.

Good tips and suggestions gardenator. For me, the Nacogdoches rose looks not so robust over the winter, but always comes back and is just beautiful. I have a rose bush transplanted from up the road that's over 100 yrs old and it does the same thing.

I have had Chamblee's ship roses to me b/c there's not enough room in my cars. Really good way to get them and as I recall shipping wasn't too bad and the roses arrived in excellent condition.

Thumbnail by antiquedrose
Alba, TX(Zone 8a)

You may not need much of that Bayer Rose & Flower Care for Teasing Georgia. Its not your typical Austin rose. Its a corker, really. And I think the story of how it was named is kind of romantic. It never hurts, in my book, to have a good story to tell an admirer who just happens by and is wowed by one of your roses. Just remember, the height and width are grossly underestimated on the Austin website.

Wells, TX(Zone 8b)

I took this pic of teasing ga today...this is 3 yrs old and is getting ready to bloom.. its nice and full...I put the rose there 3 yrs ago but built the flower bed last year... thats a Blak and blue saliva next to it along with some ormanetal grasses

This message was edited Apr 9, 2010 6:11 PM

Thumbnail by blkraven2
Wells, TX(Zone 8b)

this is a pretty rose its a shrub rose by weeks called pretty lady.. its been easy to grow... I have it by my front door thats never been used...lol..its similar to teasing Ga but has a lower petal count..

Thumbnail by blkraven2
Houston, TX(Zone 9b)

I will certainly second Belinda's Dream as hardy, easy and beautiful. It is trouble-free. I don't even water as often as I should, frequently forget to fertilize and never treat for any type of disease. It blooms starting in March and will bloom almost all year long if we have a mild winter. Blooms are huge and varying shades of light pink. Mine get 6 feet in a season and would likely get larger than that if I didn't cut then back once or twice a year.

My neighbor has a knockout that is 6-8 feet tall and huge. The canes at the bottom of that plant are the biggest that I have ever seen. Once thing about knockouts is that they are definitely NOT thornless.

I do have a thornless that blooms red roses. Valentine gets 3-4 feet tall, blooms heavily and don't have thorns. I got the Belinda's Dream and Valentine from Antique Rose Emporium.

Alba, TX(Zone 8a)

blkraven2, what a pretty bed. Your TG looks like it is staying within bounds fairly well. My don't seem to want to (I have several). It works well for me and I'm glad you like yours as I think it is a really good rose.

Pretty Lady looks awfully sweet. Does it have good fragrance?

Wells, TX(Zone 8b)

thanks.. last fall I cut my TG back pretty well and it came back nice and full just as you see it in the pic.. Im going to have to get a bigger trellis for it by next year I think..lol.
the Pretty Lady has a light scent, nothing heavy like the older roses.. I have about a half a doz of the Weeks roses and like them.. I still have to fuss a bit but not much.. I planted a bi color by weeks called teeny bopper in a cast iron pot in the front yard and it will be interesting to see how it does this year

East of Nacogdoches, TX(Zone 8a)

I'll third the Blenda's Dream. The Valentine is one I saw at the annual ARE gathering in Independece. Go to: http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/ Click on calendar if you can get to it, so much good stuff meets you on their home page. Love that place and Mike Shoup is the type of guy (no, we're not friends and he wouldn't recognize me) You can tell by his talks and the way he does business he's a gentle and sweet soul. You just HAVE to buy from him.

I need large scale plants and cut them back rarely, if at all. That Teasing Georgia is now typed in my phone so I can remember it. As is the Valentine.



This message was edited Apr 12, 2010 4:17 PM

Lewisville, TX(Zone 7b)

CHERYL.... my Don Juan is fabulous for blooming.. I say this as it is in high gear as I write this!! This year is the first year I had to actually "prune it".. as you don't prune a climber, just take iout the dead parts & some of the middle canes as it needs to have air flow in teh middle. The other thing you need to do is cut off the dead blooms so you can get more!! I can't keep up! There are some branches that have more than one bloom & others that have one very large bloom.. like I said..it is GEORGOUS right now... I have yet to take a picture of it.
Very tolernat of our heat & I have placed a little mulch at the base so I don't need to water it a lot... in fact I just fertilize it twice a year & only water it if nature hasn't done it for me!!!

Wells, TX(Zone 8b)

I planted a don juan last year and its looking like its gona take off this year.. I cant wait to see the blooms on it.. I found this bloom today.. its a rose by Weeks called George Burns

Thumbnail by blkraven2
Lewisville, TX(Zone 7b)

Raven... that's pretty... it is close to what my Double Delight looks like too.. does yours have a fragrance? The DD does & it's sooo nice, every time I am working in the garden it just smells wonderful!
It's almost time for me to go deadheading of the roses!! hahahaha

Driftwood, TX(Zone 8b)

I agree with Melvatoo re: chinas, teas and noisettes for our area. For nearly thornless climbers, though, I recommend Climbing Pinkie and Madame Alfred Carriere. As others have suggested, just go to Antique Rose Emporium online or Chamblee's online for some excellent recommendations for easy care roses for Texas.

Here is Climbing Pinkie today:

Thumbnail by mocatmom

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