When I was a child, we always went to visit my Grandma and Papa in their mobile home park. My cousins, brother, and I would walk the quiet streets with my Grandma, and we always ended up stopping by the neighbor’s house. We called him, “The Rose Man.” To this day my brother and I still have no idea what his name was, but he didn’t earn his nickname for no reason. The Rose Man had an elaborate collection of roses surrounding his home. From tall to short, red to yellow, scented to non-scented, he had them all! It was always exciting when he would clip one for us to take home or give us a short lesson on the names of roses. It’s a memory I will always have with me, but why don’t we see more yards like ‘The Rose Man’? Roses seem to be so taboo in Florida, but do they have to be?
Heat, humidity, excess rain, droughts, insects, are the many factors that come with Florida living. These could all be things that scare you away from roses, but think about it, these are factors that ALL plants in your garden face. So why are we so scared for the roses, but not any of our other plants? Like any plant in your garden, you have to have the right plant for the right place. Same goes for roses. There are going to be varieties of roses that work well in Michigan, but that would never survive a month in our summer heat and humidity. It’s about finding what works and being okay with a few casualties in the mix. Always remember, you’re never truly failing in gardening, you’re just learning and growing. Selecting roses that are disease resistant and low maintenance will certainly help you begin your rose journey.
When it comes to roses, there are so many to choose from. Do you want a climber that can get as tall as 10+ feet or are you looking for a ground cover rose that will stay only 1-2 feet tall and spread? There are knockout roses, drift roses, groundcover roses, climbing roses, dwarf, teacup, and so many more! Trial and error are certainly one way to find out, remember, there’s no failing in the garden, only learning! We have found a few varieties that have worked for us and have trialed around 30 different ones! Our favorite climber is the Lavender Crush Climbing Rose. The scent of this rose is truly intoxicating and can fill a room if you have a vase full! With some annual pruning, this rose truly is eye appealing with a scent that you’ll want as perfume. We also love the ‘Dancing in the Dark’ shrub rose. The flowers last 1-2 weeks and to be honest, they almost look fake! The deep red color is a showstopper even if there’s no scent. These are two roses that we have found that can withstand the heat, humidity, rains, and insects of Florida. Not saying there aren’t more, because trust me, we are testing them all the time, these are just two of our favorites!
So are you ready to take the leap into growing roses? Still hesitant? There are many great resources out there for you build your knowledge and confidence in growing roses. One of my favorites is Felicia Alvarez’s Growing Wonder. Felicia owns and operates Menagerie Farm & Flower. If you haven’t followed her on instagram (@menagerieflower) you need to! Her roses are extremely beautiful, and her book is an excellent reference for any rose grower. You can find her book here! She goes over the basics on where, when, & how to plant, year-round care for roses, harvest and post-harvest care and so much more! Read a few pages a day as you drink your coffee, you’ll thank me later! UF offers a short overview of growing roses in Florida through their blogsite here and another great article here. Either way, I hope that we’ve inspired you to take a small or big leap into the wonderful world of roses. They are truly an adventure worth taking!
The Veranda View 