Best Roses for Texas
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.
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Earthkind Roses |
Miniature Roses | Top Japanese Maples | Top Blooming Trees |
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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. |
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 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. |
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 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. |
 Knockout shrub roses at entrance say hello. |
 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. |
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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 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 |
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| 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 opens a tender yellow 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 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. Can you believe how full of roses this little shrub is? This is a winner. It is an upright little shrub. |
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| 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. |
 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. |
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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. |
 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. |
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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. 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 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:
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| 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! |
Tropicana Hyrbid Tea is a beautiful cut rose for your home.
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.  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 |
Olympiad Rose a True Red Hybrid Tea |
 Olympiad a Texas Hybrid Tea Rose. All-America Rose Selection in 1984.  All-America Rose Selection in 1984, Olympiad Hybrid Tea Rose. |
Queen Elizabeth Grandiflora |
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| 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. |
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 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 |
 Climbing Rose: Belinda’s Dream above  Love and Peace Climbing Rose  Love and Peace Climbing Rose |
 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. |
 Multi-petal crimson Knockout Rose shrub.  Pink Knockout Shrub Rose |
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| Rainbow Knockout Shrub Rose |
 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. Good anchor plant for perennials.  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
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 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. This is an antique rose from the early 1900’s.  Crepuscule is a pale apricot climber. It can become very aggressive as it ages so keep it trimmed! |
The Generous Gardner a Climber |
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 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 |
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| 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. 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. |
The Centennial is a wonderful grandiflora yellow rose |
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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 Seminole Wind are good companion shrub roses. |
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Belinda’s Dream |
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| 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. 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. |
 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. |
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 with Nandina. |
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| 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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| 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
‘Easy Going,’ floribunda, 2000 ‘Gift of Life,’ hybrid tea, 2001 ‘Melody Parfumee,’ grandiflora, 2002  Dick Clark Rose. ‘Crimson Bouquet,’ grandiflora, 2004 ‘Day Breaker,’ floribunda, 2005
‘Love & Peace,’ hybrid tea, 2006
‘Preference,’ floribunda, 2007 ‘Rainbow Sorbet,’ floribunda, 2008 ‘About Face,’ grandiflora, 2009 Dick Clark, grandiflora 2011 |
