Shrub Roses

'Mutabilis'

In previous posts, I've shared the climbing roses and the David Austin roses but have neglected the shrub roses.

One of my favorites is "Coral Cove". This is a rose from the "Easy Elegance" series that was introduced by Bailey Nurseries. I have found this rose to be very disease resistant and I love the glossy green leaves. Not to mention the color of the blooms!

'Coral Cove'

"Coral Cove" has gotten much larger than I anticipated but I have found this to be the norm when reading rose labels. Ours is easily 5 ft. tall but it is advertised to get only 2.5 - 3 feet. It blooms like a maniac and sometimes the flower branches flop over after rain. Still, there is much to admire about this rose.

Another rose in the "Easy Elegance" series is "Champagne Wishes" and I've been impressed with it as well. It got too large for the spot I put it in (in all fairness, the label does say 3-4 ft. tall). I wanted a low growing rose and find that this one is out of proportion. I plan to move it to another location.

'Champagne Wishes'

Sometimes plant sizes vary according to where you are located. In Alabama, the polyantha rose 'Marie Pavie' stayed at a modest 3 feet. It was a favorite of mine and I bought it again after moving to Washington. Here is quickly grew to a 5 x 6' shrub.

'Marie Pavie'

Another favorite that we grew in the previous garden - 'Marjorie Fair' aka 'Red Ballerina'. This is a hybrid musk rose that gets rather large - about 5' x 8'.

'Marjorie Fair'

And the largest of them all is 'Buff Beauty', over 5 ft. tall and 8 or more feet in width. This one can be grown as a climber, which I've never done, but now wish I had.

'Buff Beauty'

I discovered 'Chinatown' at Joy Creek Nursery. It is a beautiful yellow rose.

'Chinatown'

'Chinatown'

And the rest -

'Kardinal Kaleidoscope'

'Plum Perfect'

'Robin Hood'

'Home Run'

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy