| | In the past five years, the home gardener has expressed a renewed interest in roses according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Allen Owings. (Photo by John Wozniak) |
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| | The LSU AgCenter’s Burden Center houses an All-America Rose Selection Display Garden. (Photo by John Wozniak) |
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| | The Burden Center has 150 varieties of roses and more than 1,500 individual plants. (Photo by John Wozniak) |
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A rose can say a lot. The beautiful blossoms speak of love, sorrow and appreciation. If a dozen roses can say so much, then the rose garden at the LSU AgCenter’s Burden Center speaks volumes. The garden has 150 varieties of roses and more than 1,500 individual plants. Research on this popular flower is conducted at this station in Baton Rouge.
Earth Kind Roses
In the past five years, the home gardener has expressed a renewed interest in roses, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Allen Owings. But not all gardeners are planting modern type roses such as the traditional hybrid teas, grandifloras and floribundas.
“Landscape shrub roses are growing in popularity right now,” Owings said.
In 2000, landscape shrub roses comprised only around 5 percent of the modern rose market. They now represent about 20 percent to 25 percent of the market. Most industry leaders project they will capture half of the market by 2010.
A big part of their appeal is their low maintenance.
Owings is evaluating low-maintenance shrub roses for the Earth Kind rose program. His evaluation plot at Burden has 31 varieties. The Earth Kind program started at Texas A&M University, and so far 17 varieties have been designated as Earth Kind roses. The program focuses on testing and recommending rose varieties for low maintenance landscapes for the southern United States and is expanding to make recommendations nationally.
Characteristics considered in these evaluations are low irrigation, minimum pruning and fertilization requirements, desirable flowering characteristics, minimum insect problems and resistance or low susceptibility to blackspot and other devastating rose diseases.
Knock Out Roses
One favorite Earth Kind rose is Knock Out. Knock Out is an All-America Rose Selection from 2000. In Louisiana, this variety can easily reach 6-8 feet if left unpruned. You can maintain Knock Out at 4-5 feet with regular pruning.
Knock Out has cherry red single flowers. Other varieties in the Knock Out family of roses are pink, blushing, rainbow, double red and double pink. The new Knock Out rose set to debut in 2009 is Sunny Knock Out – golden yellow buds open to medium yellow flowers that fade to pale yellow.
All-America Rose Selections
The All-America Rose Selections is a non-profit association dedicated to the introduction and promotion of exceptional roses. Each year the association puts its seal of approval on a few varieties that exhibit outstanding characteristics.
AARS evaluates roses on vigor, fragrance, disease resistance, foliage, flower production, growth habit, bud and flower form, opening and finishing color, stem and overall value.
The LSU AgCenter’s Burden Center houses an All-America Rose Selection Display Garden. The rose garden at Burden Center in Baton Rouge is an official All America Rose Selection display and was renovated in 2006. Peak bloom in the spring is mid April through early may while fall peak bloom is ate September through October.
“The garden must meet strict requirements, especially in the areas of upkeep and public display,” said Pat Hegwood, the resident director at the research center.
The garden is open to the public seven days a week. Individuals visiting during Monday through Friday can talk with a research associate at the center about the garden and the varieties in it. Rose enthusiasts in North Louisiana can visit an All-American Rose Selection Display Garden at the American Rose Center in Shreveport.
Roses For Home
Gardeners interested in Earth Kind roses, All-American Rose Selection winners or just any old rose should consider how they want to use them in their landscape and why they intend to grow them. Although traditionally they were grown together in their own beds (the classic rose garden), roses today are often incorporated into landscapes just like any other shrub. The LSU AgCenter’s Roses - Selection, Planting and Care publication is a great resource for gardeners.
Diseases can be a problem on roses in Louisiana because of the warm, humid weather. The LSU AgCenter offers disease management tips to help gardeners identify and treat or prevent diseases on their roses.
New low-maintenance varieties offer gardeners options and flexibility for including roses in their landscapes.
“The thought that rose growing is hard work is no longer true,” said Owings.
The LSU AgCenter is one of 11 institutions of higher education in the Louisiana State University System. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, it provides educational services in every parish and conducts research that contributes to the economic development of the state. The LSU AgCenter does not grant degrees nor benefit from tuition increases. The LSU AgCenter plays an integral role in supporting agricultural industries, enhancing the environment, and improving the quality of life through its 4-H youth, family and community programs.
(This AgCenter Lead was updated on April 25, 2008, by Linda Benedict.)