Best Roses for Texas

Landscaping with Roses: Home Run

Landscaping with Roses: KnockOut.  Vinca minor ground cover with violet / blue blooms is a perfect compliment.  The rosey shade of KnockOut blends with the royal blue blooms of the ground cover Vinca Major.

Earthkind Roses

Miniature Roses  Top Japanese Maples Top Blooming Trees
Dallas Landscaping Lee Ann Torrans The Fairy Dallas Landscaping Japanese Maples Lee Ann Torrans Dallas Landscaping Lee Ann Torrans Garden Gates and Doors

Knockout Roses

Knockout Roses are the most popular rose in Dallas and nationally.  No rose has been hit harder by the Rose Rosette disease than the Knockout Rose.

Landscaping with shrub roses in Dallas.

Landscaping with shrub roses in Dallas.  I do not recommend blooming Lambs Ear, rather Helen Von Stein.  The Knockout rose is a bit crimson for most perennial groups.  A red with more orange is better suited to the colors of perennials.  Homerun is a simpler rose and a more orange shade of red than the crimson Knockout color.




Red and pink Knockout Shrub roses with perennials and evergreen shrubs. Iris and day lilies.

Red and pink Knockout shrub roses with perennials and evergreen shrubs. Iris and day lilies.  Iris are so beautiful with roses  I believe they are overlooked too often.

Welcoming group of red Knockout shrub roses at garage.

Welcoming group of red Knockout shrub roses at garage.

Welcoming group of red Knockout shrub roses at entrance.

Knockout shrub roses at entrance say hello.

Landscaping can change a home's appearance. Lovely example of traditional and native Texas plants.

Landscaping can change a home’s appearance. Lovely example of traditional and native Texas plants.

Feed Your Roses

You have to feed your roses.  Period.  We skate on black spot in Texas if you do not use a sprinkler on your roses though we suffer fully with Rose Rosette disease.  Still, you have to feed your roses if you want blooms.


Texas Top Roses

My top ten rose selection incorporates those roses that are natural fits for the Texas garden. While black spot in Texas can be a nuisance, it is never a serious problem here.

Rose Rosette Disease in Texas Roses

Knock Out Rose Disease

Knock Out Rose Disease or Rose Rosette Disease

Unfortunately, Rose Rosette disease is becoming more and more of a problem.  Read more here.  Commercially, plantings of Knock Out Roses are now turning to plantings of dwarf crepe myrtles in the Dallas area.  While Knock Out roses have been most impacted because of their group plantings, all Texas roses are impacted.  Mites move in and your rose will be gone in two to five years.  You can cut the canes back but the mites will simply move lower.  This represents a genuine problem now.

Mrs. Dudley Cross – My Favorite Rose

Mrs. Dudley Cross World Trade Center Memorial 2012 NYC
If I could have only one rose, it would be Mrs. Dudley Cross.  For many years the Memorial Garden at the World Trade Center had roses in an informal and impromptu garden.  I was not surprised to see Mrs. Dudley Cross there.

The rose was developed by a husband for his wife, and was planted at the World Trade Center by a husband in memory of his wife, and his childrens’ mother.  I wept to see that.

This would be the rose I would have if I could have but one:  Mrs. Dudley Cross
Mrs. Dudley Cross, Hands Down the MOST Romantic Rose in the Garden! Developed in San Antonio, Texas, in 1907 by a gardener for his wife and a hybrid tea.
Mrs. Dudley Cross has multiple colors on on rose bush

Mrs. Dudley Cross has multiple colors on on rose bush

Mrs. Dudley Cross opens a tender yellow before becoming pink

Mrs. Dudley Cross opens a tender yellow before becoming pink

Mrs. Dudley Cross opens a tender yellow, turns a pale peach before becoming pink

Mrs. Dudley Cross opens a tender yellow, turns a pale peach before becoming pink

 I know, you are thinking she misplaced her images. No, this rose has multiple colors. It opens yellow to become two-tone with a final flourish of pink. It even has thornless stems. If I could have but one rose in the garden, this would be it. It grows eight feet tall naturally and I love it. The tea scent is wonderful.

Cinco de Mayo: The Workhorse of the Texas Garden

 Cinco de Mayo – The Work Horse of the Texas Garden
Cinco de Mayo will bloom in the hottest of summer. This is the most prolific bloomer I know for the hot, hot Texas summer. It's a pretty little rose as well.

Cinco de Mayo will bloom in the hottest of summer. This is the most prolific bloomer I know for the hot, hot Texas summer. It’s a pretty little rose as well.

Cinco de Mayo is a floribunda that will bloom in the hottest of summer.

Cinco de Mayo is a floribunda that will bloom in the hottest of summer.

Cinco De Mayo Blooming Its Heart Out May 5, 2014

Cinco de Mayo is a floribunda that will bloom in the hottest of summer. Can you believe how full of roses this little shrub is? This is a winner.  It is an upright little shrub.

 CincodeMayo-Texas-Rose
Cinco de Mayo is a floribunda that will reward you in the heat of July.  This little workhorse just keeps on blooming no matter the temperature.  For this reason, Cinco de Mayo is a top ten Texas rose.  It blooms out almost in a noisette.

Hot Chocolate Compliment Hybrid Tea to Cinco de Mayo

 Hot Chocolate is a good companion rose for Cinco de Mayo in that they have the same smokey orange colors, though Hot Chocolate is a hybrid tea.  I would liken them to Tropicana and Marmelade Skies, one a floribunda and one a hybrid tea with similar coloring.
The smokey orange of the hybrid tea rose, Hot Chocolate. Good companion to Cinco de Mayo which is a floribunda.

The smokey orange of the hybrid tea rose, Hot Chocolate. Good companion to Cinco de Mayo which is a floribunda.

The smokey orange of the hybrid tea rose, Hot Chocolate. An upright heavy bloomer.

The smokey orange of the hybrid tea rose, Hot Chocolate.

This Hot Chocolate hybrid tea is filled with blooms.

This Hot Chocolate hybrid tea is filled with blooms.

Soak Roses to Avoid Black Spot

It is best not to use your sprinkler system for roses and use soaker hoses instead to avoid black spot.  I use soaker hoses and timers.  This works great for me and has for almost 25 years.


Tropicana and Marmelade Skies Good Companions

Tropicana and Marmelade Skies.  Tropicana below.  I like mixing complimentary hybrid teas and multi-flora roses for many reason, they blend nicely, the combination makes lovely arrangements and when one is not blooming the other might be, hopefully.
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Tropicana is an old favorite. Nothing new here but oh, so, tried and true for Texas. This is a proven great rose for Texas and I love it. This is a hybrid tea and I suggest always planting a complimentary floribunda with any hybrid tea you select. And Marmelade Skies is a great complimentary rose to Tropicana.

Orange Marmelade FloribundaTropicana Hyrbid Tea is a beautiful cut rose for your home.

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Tropicana Orange rose is a standout in your garden and a beauty in your home. Not to mention this rose stands up to Texas heat. Tried and true, an old, old rose.

Marmelade Skies

Marmelade Skies is a bright tangerine floribunda that stands up well to Texas heat. A good companion to Tropicana.

Marmelade Skies is a bright tangerine floribunda that stands up well to Texas heat. A good companion to Tropicana.

Marmelade Skies

Marmelade Skies. This is a very popular rose. You can see that it can get very leggy but this rose works in a colorful rose garden or in a group.

Marmelade Skies

Marmelade Skies

Marmelade Skies Hybrid Tea Rose for Texas

Marmelade Skies Hybrid Tea Rose for Texas

 Texas Rose Challenges

Heat hardiness is the crucial component for the Texas Rose Garden.  Two factors cannot be overcome, even in lush east Texas:

  • Technically, Texas remains in drought conditions from July 1 through about October 15
  • Roses rarely bloom once the temperatures routinely begin reaching 100 degrees
I have chosen a mixture of miniature roses, grandifloras, multi-floras, bush roses and climbers.Most people think of grandifloras when they think of roses.  My choices here are not original – they are probably everyone’s choices – but the news is – these roses do well in Texas, too!

Veterans Honor Deep Red Grandiflora

Veterans Honor is a grandiflora that blooms prolifically with large five inch blooms and a 25-30 petal count. Stem is 18"-22" and the foliage is dark-green, semi-glossy.

Veterans Honor is a grandiflora that blooms prolifically with large five inch blooms and a 25-30 petal count. Stem is 18″-22″ and the foliage is dark-green, semi-glossy.

LVeterans Honor is a grandiflora that blooms prolifically with large five inch blooms and a 25-30 petal count. Stem is 18"-22" and the foliage is dark-green, semi-glossy.

Veterans Honor is a grandiflora that blooms prolifically with large five inch blooms and a 25-30 petal count. Stem is 18″-22″ and the foliage is dark-green, semi-glossy.

Veterans Honor is a grandiflora that blooms prolifically with large five inch blooms and a 25-30 petal count. Stem is 18"-22" and the foliage is dark-green, semi-glossy.

Veterans Honor is a grandiflora that blooms prolifically with large five inch blooms and a 25-30 petal count. Stem is 18″-22″ and the foliage is dark-green, semi-glossy.

Mr. Lincoln Hybrid Tea Rose

 Mr. Lincoln Hybrid Tea Rose

Mr. Lincoln Hybrid Tea Rose

Mr. Lincoln Hybrid Tea RoseMr. Lincoln Hybrid Tea Rose

Olympiad Rose a True Red Hybrid Tea

Olympiad-Texas-Hybrid Tea Rose

Olympiad a Texas Hybrid Tea Rose. All-America Rose Selection in 1984.

All-America Rose Selection in 1984, Olympiad Hybrid Tea Rose.

All-America Rose Selection in 1984, Olympiad Hybrid Tea Rose.

Queen Elizabeth Grandiflora

Queen Elizabeth – this grandiflora is the most exquisite pink color imaginable. It was registered in 1954, so it is tried and true with petals and leaves which are thick and hardy. Its bloom is deep and stems are strong. Queen Elizabeth also comes in a floribunda and a climber. I believe there are better floribundas and climbers for the Texas garden. That is why this recommendation is for the grandiflora.
Queen Elizabeth a Grandiflora rose proven in Texas.

Queen Elizabeth a Grandiflora rose proven in Texas.

Queen Elizabeth a Grandiflora rose proven in Texas.

Queen Elizabeth a Grandiflora rose proven in Texas.

Lady Banks Lutea

Lady Banks Lutea blooms one in early spring in Texas and then remains covered in glossy green leaves.

Lady Banks Lutea blooms one in early spring in Texas and then remains covered in glossy green leaves.

Lady Banks Lutea blooms one in early spring in Texas and then remains covered in glossy green leaves.

Lady Banks Lutea blooms one in early spring in Texas and then remains covered in glossy green leaves.

Lady Banks Lutea blooms one in early spring in Texas and then remains covered in glossy green leaves.

Lady Banks Lutea blooms one in early spring in Texas and then remains covered in glossy green leaves.

Lady Banks Lutea blooms once in early spring. This climber can be invasive if not pruned.

Lady Banks Lutea blooms once in early spring. This climber can be invasive if not pruned.

Lady Banks Lutea blooms once in early spring. This climber can be invasive if not pruned.

Lady Banks Lutea blooms once in early spring. This climber can be invasive if not pruned.

Lady Banks Lutea blooms once in early spring. This climber can be invasive if not pruned.

Lady Banks Lutea blooms once in early spring. Is a great rose to grow over a wall.

 Lady Banks Lutea, a climber, blooms only in the spring, but this is the most beautiful climber, bar none.  She is easy, so easy to root, in the spring with the soft shoots after blooms fade.  The green vines are lovely after the yellow fades.  I love Lady Banks Lutea!

Climbing Rose:  Belinda’s Dream

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Climbing Rose:  Belinda’s Dream above

Climbing Rose Love and Peace

Love and Peace Climbing Rose

Climbing Rose Love and Peace

Love and Peace Climbing Rose

Dallas Landscaping Red Cascade Miniature Rose Texas

Red Cascade Miniature Rose can be trained as a climber.

KnockOut Landscape Roses

 Knock Out Landscape Roses!  Any of them. Any color any size.  Blushing Knockout has a white aura and a blush pink rose.  As you can see this shrub rose is thick with foliage.  This blooming period does not do it justice.  Pink Knockout is a deep pink color, while the red is a perfect red.  These roses grow eight feet tall and four feet wide.
Double Knockout

Multi-petal crimson Knockout Rose shrub.

Knockout Rose - Red - Pink - Blushing Texas Shrub Rose

Pink Knockout Shrub Rose

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Rainbow Knockout Shrub Rose
Sunny-Knockout_Rose_Dallas_Texas_Lee_Ann_Torrans

Sunny Knockout Rose.  A rose that opens yellow and turns more white.

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I do not believe in heavy yard work.  Consequently, I plant so that all plants can reach their normal growth shape, with the exception of grandifloras.

Home Run Single Petal Shrub Rose

Home Run Below (Read more here.)

Homerun Red Shrub Rose

Homerun Red Shrub Rose.  Good anchor plant for perennials.

Homerun Red Shrub Rose

Homerun Red Shrub Rose

Easy Does It – Texas Floribunda!

AARS 2010 rose of the year.  This rose blooms in the terrible Texas Heat when others are taking a break.  The petals are probably the thickest of any rose petal, almost plastic like but very hardy which you need to bloom in the Texas heat.  The leaves are a deep green and also very thick.  This is the absolute opposite of a delicate rose.
Easy Does It a tangerine color with thick petals and leaves

Easy Does It a tangerine color with thick petals and leaves

Easy Does It a tangerine color with thick petals and leaves

Easy Does It a tangerine color with thick petals and leaves

Easy-Does-It-Shrub-Rose-22

Easy Does It a tangerine color with thick petals and leaves

Easy Does It a tangerine color with thick petals and leaves

Easy Does It a tangerine color with thick petals and leaves

Easy Does It a tangerine color with thick petals and leaves

Crepuscule, a Noisette Climber

This climber can become completely out of control and literally cover a house!  Know what you are doing with Crepuscule = but I love it.  Such a sweet rose.
Crepuscule is a climbing noisette. It can get huge and over take its area.

Crepuscule is a climbing noisette. It can get huge and over take its area. This is an antique rose from the early 1900’s.

Crepuscule is a climbing noisette. This has a light apricot color.

Crepuscule is a pale apricot climber. It can become very aggressive as it ages so keep it trimmed!

The Generous Gardner a Climber

The_Generous_Gardner_Climbing_Rose_Garden_Dallas_Texas_Lee_Ann_Torrans
The Generous Gardner is a pale pink / apricto climbing rose that does well in Texas and a prolific bloomer for a climber.

The Generous Gardner is a pale pink / apricto climbing rose that does well in Texas and a prolific bloomer for a climber.

The Generous Gardner is a pale pink / apricto climbing rose that does well in Texas and a prolific bloomer for a climber.

The Generous Gardner is a pale pink / apricot climbing rose that does well in Texas and a prolific bloomer for a climber.

HoneyPerfume – Yellow Floribunda for Texas

Every garden must have a yellow rose.This is a hard choice, because I also love Julia Child which is a much more vivid yellow.  However, my taste lean toward antique roses, and while this is a 2004 AARS winner is not an antique, it has ‘the look’.  But take a good look a Julia Child, below, as well.

Julia Child Yellow Rose for Texas

Julia Child is an extremely popular anchor plant for perennial gardens in Texas as well as a rose that can stand on its own. It has been hard hit by Rose Rosette disease.

Julia Child is an extremely popular anchor plant for perennial gardens in Texas as well as a rose that can stand on its own. It has been hard hit by Rose Rosette disease.

Julia Child is an extremely popular anchor plant for perennial gardens in Texas as well as a rose that can stand on its own. It has been hard hit by Rose Rosette disease.

Julia Child is an extremely popular anchor plant for perennial gardens in Texas as well as a rose that can stand on its own. It has been hard hit by Rose Rosette disease. It has dark glossy green leaves that contrast with the bright yellow petals.

Julia Child is an extremely popular anchor plant for perennial gardens in Texas as well as a rose that can stand on its own. It has been hard hit by Rose Rosette disease.

Julia Child is an extremely popular anchor plant for perennial gardens in Texas as well as a rose that can stand on its own. It has been hard hit by Rose Rosette disease.

The Centennial is a wonderful grandiflora yellow rose

Centennial Grandiflora Yellow Rose for Texas
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Centennial Grandiflora Yellow Texas Rose Dallas Landscaping Lee Ann Torrans

Prairie Breeze Shrub Rose

Beautiful, prolific and withstands Texas heat.
Prairie Breeze and large shrub rose that is a prolific bloomer and does well in Texas. Reaches four to five feet in height and width.

Prairie Breeze and large shrub rose that is a prolific bloomer and does well in Texas. Reaches four to five feet in height and width.

Prairie Breeze and large shrub rose that is a prolific bloomer and does well in Texas. Reaches four to five feet in height and width.

Prairie Breeze and large shrub rose that is a prolific bloomer and does well in Texas. Reaches four to five feet in height and width.

Prairie Breeze and large shrub rose that is a prolific bloomer and does well in Texas. Reaches four to five feet in height and width.

Prairie Breeze and large shrub rose that is a prolific bloomer and does well in Texas. Reaches four to five feet in height and width.

Prairie Breeze and Seminole Wind are good companion shrub roses.
Prairie_Breeze_And_Seminole_Wind_Shrub_Roses_Texas

Belinda’s Dream

Lee-Ann-Torrans-Texas-Roses-Belindas-DreamBelinda's Dream Texas Shrub Rose
Belinda’s Dream is an Earthkind rose and a strong favorite.  Developed for Texas.

Mutabilis – 2009 Earthkind Rose – Antique Rose

 I was excited to see these planted commercially at a building on the Dallas North Tollway and will be watching those closely!  I am sad to report the roses did not do well in front of old Beal Bank on Dallas North Tollway and have been replaced.
Mutabilis Antique Shrub Rose 2009 Eathkind Rose

Mutabilis Antique Shrub Rose 2009 Eathkind Rose. This rose did not last long in front of the bank on the Dallas North Tollway. Watched it dwindle down to nothing over three years.

Iceberg Shrub Rose

 — Takes my heart away every time.  It’s simple, not overly prolific but so reliable, consistent and a pure, pure white against beautiful dark green leaves.  Iceberg also comes in a climber.  More on Iceberg here.
Iceberg Rose. Clear white rose that is a prolific bloomer set against deep, glossy glean leaves.

Iceberg Rose. Clear white rose that is a prolific bloomer set against deep, glossy glean leaves.

Iceberg Rose. Clear white rose that is a prolific bloomer set against deep, glossy glean leaves.

Iceberg Rose. Clear white rose that is a prolific bloomer set against deep, glossy glean leaves.

Clear white rose that is a prolific bloomer set against deep, glossy glean leaves.

Clear white rose that is a prolific bloomer set against deep, glossy glean leaves.

Europeana – Deep Red Floribunda

Europeana Red Floribunda a deep true red that is a prolific bloomer and holds up to Texas heat.

Europeana red floribunda a deep true red that is a prolific bloomer and holds up to Texas heat.

Europeana red floribunda a deep true red that is a prolific bloomer and holds up to Texas heat.

Europeana red floribunda a deep true red that is a prolific bloomer and holds up to Texas heat.

Miniature Rose:  Red Cascade and The Fairy

It is just so sweet, trouble free and thrives in Texas.  I love its mounding shape!  The color is not my favorite, but if you want an easy and reliable miniature, when so many, many of them do NOT do well in Texas, count on The Fairy.  Many roses classified as miniatures end up being more like small shrub roses.  The Fairy remains on the small side but Red Cascade mounds up to four feet and works as a climber as well.
The Fairy miniature rose reaches over three feet. This is reliable and dependable, a great anchor for any perennial garden. Seen here with Stella d'Oro, a small yellow day lily.

The Fairy miniature rose reaches over three feet. This is reliable and dependable, a great anchor for any perennial garden. Seen here with Stella d’Oro, a small yellow day lily.

Nandinas_The_Fairy_Rose_Landscaping_Dallas_Texas_Lee_Ann_Torrans

The Fairy miniature rose with Nandina.

Red Cascade Miniature Rose for Texas
Red Cascade. This can be a climber or a shrub and even though the blooms are tiny (therefore a miniature rose) the shrub rose itself reaches at least four feet and more if trained as a climber.
Link here for a collection of all the great Texas Miniature Roses including Red Cascade as a climber!
The Fairy with Nandinas – See More on Nandina’s Here.
 McCartney Hybrid Tea Rose  Best Portland Rose Winner
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Chuckles Floribunda for Texas
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Candy Oh! Vivid Red is actually burgundy.

This rose complements any shade in your garden.  It is Texas hardy and beautiful.  The image does not do the color justice.  Simply put, this rose enhances all the other roses in your garden with its deep burgundy color.  I love, love, love it.

Portland Rose Winners for Texas

PAST  PORTLAND BEST ROSES

‘Royal Amethyst,’ hybrid tea, 1996

‘New Zealand,’ hybrid tea, 1997

‘Secret,’ hybrid tea, 1998

The McCartney Rose,’ hybrid tea, 1999

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‘Easy Going,’ floribunda, 2000

‘Gift of Life,’ hybrid tea, 2001

‘Melody Parfumee,’ grandiflora, 2002

‘Gemini,’ hybrid tea, 2003

Texas- Rose- Gemini-Lee-Ann-Torrans

Dick Clark Rose.

‘Crimson Bouquet,’ grandiflora, 2004

‘Day Breaker,’ floribunda, 2005

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Love & Peace,’ hybrid tea, 2006

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‘Preference,’ floribunda, 2007

‘Rainbow Sorbet,’ floribunda, 2008

‘About Face,’ grandiflora, 2009

Dick Clark, grandiflora 2011