Earth-Kind® Roses

An Earth-Kind® rose is a designation awarded by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to select rose cultivars that demonstrate exceptional performance in challenging growing conditions. These roses are chosen for their ability to thrive with minimal care, requiring little to no fertilizers, pesticides, or supplemental irrigation once established. They are particularly suited for regions with harsh climates, such as Texas, due to their heat and drought tolerance.

To earn the Earth-Kind® label, roses undergo rigorous multi-year trials assessing their resilience to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. Only those that maintain outstanding landscape performance under these conditions are selected.

Examples of Earth-Kind® roses include ‘Belinda’s Dream’, ‘Caldwell Pink’, ‘Carefree Beauty™’, ‘Knock Out®’, ‘Mutabilis’, and ‘New Dawn’. These varieties are ideal for gardeners seeking beautiful, low-maintenance roses that contribute to sustainable landscaping practices.

Examples of Earth-Kind roses include:

Belinda’s Dream
Caldwell Pink
Carefree Beauty™
Knock Out® (early varieties)
Mutabilis

Some of these are also sold outside the Earth-Kind program, but their inclusion in Earth-Kind offers assurance of tested, sustainable performance

Double Knockout Landscaping Rose

Fairy Miniature Rose

Earth Kind Roses™:

Are not sprayed with or for anything
Do not require pruning or deadheading
No fertilizer of any kind is needed
And, minimum irrigation is utilized

In clay soils of any color to create an Earth Kind™ growing condition in the native soils blend 3” of expanded shale and 3” of plant derived finished compost with the soil 1” per pass with a tiller. After the amendments are blended with the soil crown the bed 6 – 9” in the center and taper to the bed edges.

In sandy soils don’t use expanded shale, do increase the compost from 3” to 6” and complete bed development as described for clay soils. Install selected plants with the root ball top level or slightly above the bed grade and water thoroughly. Drip irrigation is highly recommended as the water delivery system and if utilized now is the time to install. After the drip irrigation system is installed mulch the entire bed (covering the irrigation system) 3 – 4” deep with organic mulch. Shredded tree trimmings, hardwood or pine will all work for this application.

Water Wise and Earth Kind™ Landscape Demonstration garden, 2311 Joe Field Rd., Dallas, 75229
The State Fair of Texas grounds directly across from the Exposition building
The City of Addison’s public park in the 8900 block of Beltway.

You might want to check these posts out as well!