One of the most sought-after flowers, roses are popular in landscapes across the country. In fact, June is National Rose Month! Despite their popularity, many homeowners in coastal regions of North Carolina may think roses aren’t suitable for landscapes where they live. Your friends at Turf Medic are here to let you in on a little secret though…with a bit of work and planning, rose lovers along the coast can enjoy beautiful blooms all season long!
Once you know what qualities to look for and have a few care tips in your gardening arsenal, you’ll find that there are many varieties that fare very well on coastal soil. So, grab your garden trowel, a thick set of gloves (watch out for thorns!) and let’s get started!
Tips & Tricks: Care For Coastal Roses
Every rose genus has specific needs, just like other plants. As a general rule, however, rose bushes need plenty of light – at least six hours a day – and soil that is well-draining and fertile. If you live along the NC coast, Turf Medic suggests you keep the following in mind as well:
- Check the hardiness zone on your roses before you commit – most areas of coastal NC will be in hardiness zone 8a
- Consider the plant’s humidity tolerance
- Think about the amount of salt spray and winds your flower beds incur – too much of either can be tough on more sensitive rose varieties
- If your rose bushes don’t receive at least a weekly soaking of rainfall, you’ll likely need extra irrigation (almost always a requirement during NC summers)
- For soil that is heavily composed of sand, add compost, manure, or peat moss to get your roses the nutrients they require
When planting your roses, the best time to do so is early spring or fall. Fertilize early in the growing season as well and then again when buds start to form. Additionally, pruning is important in keeping your rose bushes shapely and healthy and should be done when the buds begin to swell.
Now that you’ve got the basics down, let’s explore some of the best roses to incorporate into your home’s landscaping.
Coming Up Roses: Best Bushes For Eastern NC
Some of the more sensitive rose species may need a little extra TLC to thrive along the coast. Plenty, however, are suited just fine for the coastal region and will prosper without too much time and attention, including the following Turf Medic suggestions:
Hybrid Tea Roses
This group of roses is very hardy throughout North Carolina, making it a great choice for homeowners along the coast. Its blooms are typically large, producing just one per stem, but last from spring through the first frost, providing a long blooming season to enjoy its vibrant displays.
Our team recommends these varieties for a beautiful seasonal landscape:
- Elle: This rose species, which emits a strong, spicy fragrance, produces cherry pink to apricot-colored flowers in the spring and light pink blooms during the summer season.
- Tahitian Sunset: You’ll enjoy the fruity scent of this variety, as well as its large apricot- and blush-pink-colored buds.
- Perfect Moment: This medium-sized rose bush produces plentiful blooms that are red during the spring and dark ruby pink with a gold center throughout summer.
Floribunda
Floribunda roses generate smaller flowers than hybrid tea roses but grow multiple blooms on each stem. In general, this type of rose is low growing with dense branches and petals ranging from white to crimson in color.
The Turf Medic team recommends these floribunda species for your coastal landscaping:
- Easy Does It: These roses bloom in colors like apricot, mango, and peach and have ruffled petal edges for an extra dose of decoration. As an added bonus, this variety is also quite pest resistant.
- Hot Cocoa: This species’ blooms will add touches of jewel tones to your landscaping, coming in colors like dark coral and fiery orange with hints of deep purple throughout.
- Mardi Gras: You’ll enjoy plenty of yellow, orange, and pink blooms on this floriferous bush. What’s better, it’s quick to rebloom so you can expect nearly continuous flowers throughout its growing season.
Miniature Roses
As its name suggests, miniature roses are smaller in stature than most of their counterparts, making them great to use as accent pieces around your yard. They’ve become especially popular in the last 10 to 15 years, likely because of their low-maintenance care requirements.
Knock-out roses are by far the most popular variety of miniature rose and have become prevalent throughout North Carolina landscapes. These mini rose bushes come in a variety of eye-catching colors and will bloom until the first frost if they receive proper care. They’re also a great choice for coastal regions because of their high tolerance to sea spray and strong winds.
It’s true, rose bushes can be prickly to deal with at times, especially for those residing along the coast, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying these timeless and breathtaking beauties. Follow the Turf Medic tips above, and you’ll enjoy these classics year after year!