A Rose Glossary

Earth-Kind: Special designation created by Texas AgriLife Extension Service to recognize roses that demonstrate superior pest resistance and hardiness. These plants are own-root, highly tolerant to black spot, and can be grown without fertilizer, spraying, or supplemental watering after the first year. Landscape Rose: Grows low, like groundcover, and works well in any landscape. Flower Carpet roses, developed in Germany by breeder Noack Rosen, are one example. Single/own Rootstock: Grows from its own root, that is, not one rose grafted onto another. “Own root” of a hardy variety is particularly good for harsh climates; grows true to type. Species Roses: These nonhybridized roses are unimproved wild plants that grow on their own roots. They tend to produce fewer and smaller blooms, but are vigorous, hardy, and disease resistant; their hips attract birds and other wildlife.   Shrub Roses: The most popular roses available today, these bushes are most prized for well-rounded shape, disease resistance, and winter hardiness. Knock Out and Meidiland roses are two examples. Compact growth of modern shrub roses means little pruning. Zones: Hardiness indicator. USDA’s Zone Map shows New England ranges from Zone 2 (Maine) to Zone 6/7 (Connecticut), but it’s changing. “Where I live [in southern NH] used to be Zone 4,” Roger Swain says. “It’s now Zone 5, and it’s headed for Zone 6.”

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