EarthKind Landscape Roses
There are two very prestigious horticultural plant designations bestowed by the Texas A&M Agriculture Program. These designations, entitled EarthKind and Texas Superstar™, are based on extensive statewide field tests conducted by A&M horticultural experts.
Only a few special plants possess the extremely high level of landscape performance coupled with the outstanding resistance to disease and insect required of these designations. Simply stated, EarthKind and Texas Superstar plants are the finest, most thoroughly tested, and most environmentally responsible plants for use in Texas landscapes and gardens.
EarthKind plants do well in almost any type of soil, from the well-drained acid sands of east Texas to the poorly aerated, highly alkaline clays of Central and Southwest Texas.
EarthKind roses are not immune to pest problems. However, their tolerance to pests is so great that as long as you do not mind a few leaflets dropping from time to time, you will rarely need to apply any harsh pesticides.
Growing Tips for EarthKind Roses
For EarthKind roses to be as trouble-free as promised, you must give them the following basic care:
Planting Site- Plant roses in locations where they receive direct sunlight for eight hours or more each day
- Make sure they have good air movement over their leaves (i.e., do not plant roses in enclosed areas like courtyards or small backyards which are ringed by high fences)
- Do NOT expose EarthKind roses to sprinkler irrigation during the evening hours or at night
- Remember, fungi will walk fifty miles to infect wet leaves at night
Roses love well-drained soils. Here are the bed preparation recommendations for the three major soil types:
- Sandy and loam soils: Incorporate 3 to 6 inches of organic matter, such as compost
- Clay soils: Incorporate 3 inches of organic matter (like compost) and 3 inches of expanded shale. Plant on raised beds that are at least 4 to 6 inches above the surrounding soil
Roses also like high levels of fertility, especially nitrogen.
- EarthKind roses need to be fertilized in March, June, and lightly in late August
- Base your selection of fertilizer analysis on the results of a soil test
- For the March and June feedings, use fertilizers in which at least half of the nitrogen is in the slow release or slowly available form. In late August, apply fertilizers in which the nitrogen is readily available
- Regardless of soil type, roses need to be protected year round with a layer of organic mulch (e.g., cypress bark or tree leaves) 3 to 4 inches thick
- In areas of Texas plagued by salty irrigation water, you should drip irrigate roses. Salty water applied to the leaves can burn foliage badly
|
GROUND COVERS |
|||||
| Cultivar Name | Blossom Color | Blossom Type & Fragrance | Blooming Period | Mature Ht x Wd (ft) | Rose Category |
| Sea Foam | Creamy White | Double | April-Nov | 3 x 6 | Shrub |
|
DWARF SHRUBS |
|||||
| Cultivar Name | Blossom Color | Blossom Type & Fragrance | Blooming Period | Mature Ht x Wd (ft) | Rose Category |
| Marie Daly* | Pink | Semi-Double (fragrant) | April-Nov | 3 x 3 | Polyantha |
| The Fairy** | Light Pink | Double | April-Nov | 3 x 4 | Polyantha |
|
SMALL SHRUBS |
|||||
| Cultivar Name | Blossom Color | Blossom Type & Fragrance | Blooming Period | Mature Ht x Wd (ft) | Rose Category |
| Caldwell Pink | Lilac Pink | Double | May-Nov | 4 x 4 | Found |
| Knock Out* | Cherry Red | Semi-Double | April-Nov | 4 x 4 | Shrub |
| Perle dOr | Peach | April-Nov | 4 x 4 | Polyantha | |
|
MEDIUM SHRUBS |
|||||
| Cultivar Name | Blossom Color | Blossom Type & Fragrance | Blooming Period | Mature Ht x Wd (ft) | Rose Category |
| Belindas Dream | Pink | Double (fragrant) | April-Nov | 5 x 5 | Shrub |
| Else Poulsen | Pink | Semi-Double | April-Nov | 5 x 5 | Floribunda |
| Katy Road Pink | Pink | Semi-Double (fragrant) | April-Nov | 5 x 4 | Found |
| Mutabilis Butterfly Rose | Yellow, Pink & Crimson | Single | April-Nov | 6 x 6 | China |
| VINES (CLIMBERS) | |||||
| Cultivar Name | Blossom Color | Blossom Type & Fragrance | Blooming Period | Mature Ht x Wd (ft) | Rose Category |
| Climbing Pinkie | Pink | Semi-Double (fragrant) | April-Nov | 10' Climber, 5 x 7 shrub | Polyantha |
* Roses that have been already been designated as
both EarthKind and Texas Superstar. Other roses listed in this
publication are promising candidates for EarthKind status.
** Not recommended for east Texas due to the severity of Cercospora
leaf spot in that area of the state.
