How to Choose the Right Roses

Choose the Right Rose for Your Garden Every Time

In our first house in Sacramento we had a tiny yard dominated by a 200 year old oak tree. And in the middle of that tiny yard, a tiny rose bush emerged. I suspect it was a grocery store rose thrown out by the previous owners — maybe even a cutting. I don’t know. But it grew. And it grew. It was planted in a terrible spot, so I moved it. In fact, over the years, I moved it to three different locations. But that rose loved our yard. It grew from a tiny little sprig into a giant bush that clambered over the fence — and might even still be there. The thing is: roses have a reputation for being fussy, but they really aren’t.

It’s truly a matter of choosing the right rose plant for the right place! If you get it right, you will be rewarded for years and years to come.

When we bought our current house here in Colorado, it came with four rose bushes in the backyard. But I didn’t even see them at first. The rose bed was FULL of thistles and bindweed — but they were in there. And despite years of neglect, those roses kept going. Were they thriving? No. But after a few years of care, they are now!

My Rose Bed: Before and After

Our next door neighbor says that three or four rose bushes were planted in each yard in this neighborhood when the homes were built in 1958. From looking at the roses, I would say there is a good possiblity that at least one and possibly two of our plants are more than 60 years old. And the oldest rose in the world is believed to be about 1,000 years old! It’s in Hildesheim, Germany and is quite astonishing!

All of that is to say: roses don’t have to be fussy! Put the right rose in the right place, and you could have a very long-lived beauty.

How to Choose a Rose Plant for your Zone

So how do you find the right rose for your garden? There are a few key questions you need to answer:

What is your USDA Zone?

Knowing your growing zone makes growing roses so much easier! Head to the USDA website and put in your zipcode. The map will zoom in to your location. I live in Colorado, and I grow in Zone 5. The zones are based on the average LOWEST winter temperature. I can expect it to get down to -15 most winters – and sometimes lower.

What is your last frost date?

Another important piece of information is your last frost date. The Old Farmer’s Almanac can tell you the last date to expect frost by zip code. You don’t want to plant roses until after this date. That makes sure your tender little plant won’t get zapped by frost before it is established.

You can order any time during the year, though. Most mail-order rose companies will hold your roses and ship when YOU want them. So handy!

What type of soil do you have?

Knowing what type of soil you’ll be planting into makes a world of difference. Roses don’t like to have wet roots, but they like plenty of water. So if you have clay soil, for example, mixing in a little sand will help drain away any excess moisture and keep your roses happy and healthy.

Once you know the answers to those questions, you can start to scroll through the roses from reputable rose sellers — filtering out the roses that won’t thrive in your zone.

Where to Find Lists of Roses By Zone or Zip COde

But what if you want more specific recommendations? Here are a few other places to look:

Other Rose Facts to Know