Discover 5 Earth-Kind Roses to Grow in Georgia

Whether you’re just starting out in rose cultivation or are a seasoned rose gardener, you may find that it can be quite difficult to grow roses in Georgia. The summer heat can cause roses to wilt in a hurry, and the high humidity encourages a whole host of pests and diseases.

Although the weather isn’t generally on our side, there are some rose cultivars that are actually well-suited for growing in our climate. A number of them are known as Earth-Kind roses due to their ease of care, tolerance to heat and drought, and resistance to pests and disease. Choosing one of these cultivars will set you and your garden up for success in our challenging southern climate.

What Are Earth-Kind Roses?

Over a period of eight years, a multidisciplinary group of researchers at Texas A&M conducted trials on over 30 different rose cultivars. Throughout the trials, the subject rose cultivars received minimal input from the team. The plants were tested in various growing zones and soil types and received no pesticides, organic or inorganic, throughout the trials.

Cultivars that have received the Earth-Kind designation were proven to display continuous, excellent resistance to disease, pests, and drought. Overall, they are versatile and low maintenance and, if cared for well, should require very minimal fertilization and disease control in your garden.

5 Earth-Kind Roses to Grow in Georgia

Below, we’ll talk about 5 exceptionally beautiful and hardy Earth-Kind roses that are perfect for Georgia’s hot summers. No matter where you live in the state, there is surely an Earth-Kind rose to fit your garden space.

Rosa ‘Sea Foam’

The Sea Foam rose is an eye-catching addition to any rose garden. The soft, creamy white, double blooms appear in multiple flushes throughout the growing season. You’ll be able to enjoy these impactful blossoms in your garden from spring through fall.

Shrubs of this cultivar are low-growing sprawlers. In an open space, they will usually remain rather short, between 2 and 3 feet in height. However, they are also willing climbers. With a little bit of training, the Sea Foam rose can stretch upwards along fences, trellises, and columns and reach heights of nearly 8 feet!

These roses will produce their healthiest growth and most abundant flowers when grown in well-draining soil with exposure to full sun. Their water needs throughout the growing season are considered average, however they will need regular watering for the first month or so while they establish.

The Sea Foam rose really shines in terms of disease resistance. With adequate sunlight and space to allow good air movement, foliar diseases like powdery mildew, botrytis, and black spot can be reduced to a minimum without any application of fungicide — a win for gardeners during Georgia’s exceptionally humid summers.

Rosa ’The Fairy’

This dainty cultivar, aptly named ‘The Fairy’, is perfect for compact garden spaces that receive good sunlight. In ideal conditions, shrubs of this variety top out at around 3 feet in height and 4 feet in width.

It accepts a range of temperatures and can handle even Georgia’s warmest summers with grace. Flowers are small and plentiful, measuring an inch across on average. In the heat of the summer, the light pink blossoms have a tendency to become a delicate blush-white color. The Fairy also fares well in the state’s winters. Hardy in USDA zones 4–9, Georgia’s average zone 7 is right in its comfort zone.

When planting these roses, gardeners should give them plenty of space to spread out. Planting on six-foot centers is ideal. This spacing allows all sides of the shrub to receive plenty of sunlight and airflow, helping to ward off potential fungal infections. Because this cultivar is low-growing and spreads well, it makes for a great hedge or border plant. This trait makes it incredibly well-suited for container planting as well. All things considered, The Fairy is one of the best roses to grow in Georgia.

Rosa ‘Knock Out’

Knock Out entered the landscape rose scene in 2000. This mid-sized shrub rose cultivar is perfect for any average sized garden in the state.

This shrubby cultivar grows, on average, to 6 feet and height and equally as wide. Its punchy, cherry-red blossoms appear in continuous flushes from spring through fall. Place individual plants 8 feet apart along walkways, in front of homes and along fences, or singly as accent pieces in the landscape.

Although Knock Out prefers a sunny locale, it can also tolerate partial shade throughout the day. Add to this its drought tolerance, disease resistance, and cold hardiness, and you have one Earth-Kind-qualified rose. Those that live in the coastal regions of the state will be happy to know that this cultivar is also tolerant of salt in both water and soil.

This cultivar is excellent for those who are beginning their journey in rose cultivation. It requires virtually no maintenance. Additionally, resistance to common fungal diseases makes it forgiving in terms of placement and its self-cleaning nature makes it ideal for gardeners with busy schedules.

Rosa ‘Mutabilis’

Mutabilis is an old variety of rose, whose origin dates back to the late 1800s. Since then, it has gained popularity in the rose world for its incredible color-changing blooms.

Individual flowers of the Mutabilis cultivar change from yellow to pink to crimson before they finally wither. Each plant will produce a multitude of these intriguing blossoms in successive flushes throughout most of the year. Mutabilis is a medium-sized shrub rose, growing to 6 feet tall and equally as wide. With proper pruning, some gardeners have been able to create a rose “tree” out of this cultivar.

Give it plenty of space when planting. Allow at least a foot of space in between plants to ensure adequate airflow to all parts of the foliage. Maintaining a couple of inches of mulch throughout the year will help keep your plant’s roots cool and aid in moisture retention.

Mutabilis is an ideal rose to grow in Georgia’s climate. It is very heat tolerant, has moderate watering needs, and is a vigorous grower. The cultivar is hardy in USDA zones 6–9, which perfectly encompasses the state’s average range of temperatures.

Rosa ‘Caldwell Pink’

Somewhat enigmatic, this rose cultivar was found in Caldwell Texas. Its lineage is uncertain, though some rosarians suspect that it may actually be the Pink Pet cultivar. Although its history and genetics are up for debate, its beauty sure isn’t.

A bit larger than The Fairy, this floribunda rose measures about 4 feet in height and width. Beginning in mid-spring, Caldwell Pink puts forth a multitude of neat, lilac pink double blooms that resemble carnations and continues to bloom through the fall. Petal counts are quite high, giving each flower a graceful and full appearance. These mid-sized blooms, measuring 2 to 3 inches in diameter, are also wonderful attractors of pollinating insects like bees and butterflies.

This cultivar is one of the best roses to grow in Georgia. Whereas many rose cultivars struggle in heat and humidity, Caldwell Pink thrives in them. Though it definitely prefers better drainage and texture, it can even tolerate heavier clay soils.

Like other roses, be sure to give Caldwell Pink plenty of space to breathe. Though it is naturally resistant to many diseases, proper spacing is vital to ensure that your plant remains healthy enough to stay that way.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/volgariver