A master rosarian answers our thorniest questions.
Ancient proverbs, Elizabethan sonnets, ’80s rock bands: artists and philosophers have spent centuries contemplating the singular beauty of the rose. To this day, roses remain powerful symbols of love, but just like any good relationship, they often require a lot of attention and care to thrive.
To find out more about growing and caring for roses, we went straight to Sheree Wright, who recently retired after 15 years as the horticulturist at the jaw-dropping Janie Earle Furman Rose Garden at Furman University. An American Rose Society Master Rosarian, she has written for American Rose magazine, is a member of the Garden Writers Association, and is a SC Master Gardener.
Q&A with Sheree Wright
Roses have a reputation for being difficult to grow. Is that true, and if so, what makes them difficult?
That depends on the rose. Many popular hybrid teas and floribunda roses need additional care because they are prone to black spot, a leaf spot disease. These roses need their leaves to be sprayed with fungicides every other week to prevent the leaves from being infected with the feathery black spots that ultimately make the leaves turn yellow and drop off your rose canes.
What types of roses work best in our climate? Are there specific choices you recommend?
Rose seekers need to shop for black spot-resistant roses. Over the last 30 years, rose breeders recognized that homeowners didn’t want to spray their roses. Fortunately, in 2000, Will Radler introduced the original Knock Out rose. Initially, many rose buyers didn’t recognize it as a rose because it didn’t have a lot of petals and wasn’t anything like a traditional hybrid tea. Over time, the Knock Out series of roses became popular because they were very easy care and good for the landscape, like an azalea. However, now we have so many more wonderful rose choices. For example, The Drift roses, the Kordes Eleganza series of hybrid tea roses, the Spring Meadow OSO Easy roses, the Bridabella series of roses, and the newer True Bloom roses.
What do you love about roses that inspired you to become a master rosarian?
There is no other flower that blooms all season long, that comes in so many colors, fragrances, and sizes like a rose! You can share them with others, which brings a bit of joy into someone’s day. Ever since I became a homeowner, I’ve wanted to grow roses. Ultimately, their ephemeral beauty captivated my gardening soul.
What are the key basics to remember when caring for roses?
Roses need to be planted where they get morning sun. Good air circulation encourages rose leaves to dry, which helps prevent black spot. Wet leaves create the environment that causes black spot to spread. Roses also need well prepared soils that drain well—no standing water please. It is best to plant roses far away from large shrubs or trees. These plants have far reaching roots that will encroach on the water and fertilizer you give your roses, causing them to decline.
What are the biggest mistakes you see people making with their roses?
Picking out the wrong rose for the care they are willing to give it. Planting a rose bush in poorly prepared soil. Not fertilizing their roses. Roses bloom on new growth; therefore, they need consistent nutrition. For optimal fertilizer availability to rose roots, soil pH needs to be between 6 and 7 (get your soil tested by the Clemson Extension Service, it’s only $6.00). Not watering their roses in the heat of the summer. Water is the most important ingredient roses need. Not deadheading (removing) old blooms. Cutting off the old blooms encourages your rose bushes to grow new canes and therefore new blooms.
Does the color of roses change year-to-year when they bloom? What about the smell?
Colors do change depending on the time of year. Spring blooms are brighter. To me, the autumn rose bloom colors are more brilliant. Bloom sizes also vary depending on the time of year. You will notice bigger blooms in spring, the smallest blooms in the summer and larger blooms in the fall.
Fragrance is quite subjective. What is fragrant to you may not be so for me. Moreover, fragrance varies depending on the season and time of day. Please be sure to smell a rose earlier in the day when purchasing a rose if fragrance is important to you.
Do roses bring in pollinators?
Pollinators are attracted to the pollen within rose stamens. Roses that contain less petals attract more pollinators. Once rose blooms are completely open, bees will come to these blooms.
For more information
Sometimes, rose growing information off the internet is not very accurate for our climate. If you want to learn more about growing healthy, glorious roses, contact an American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian and members of the Greater Greenville Rose Society. For more information, go to greenvillerosesociety.org.
