While it seems strange to be talking about new roses on the heels of the Polar Vortex, there is nothing like the thought of un-met spring blooms to warm up any gardener. This post we continue our series of new introductions for 2014 and we do so by featuring a terrific own-root, mail-order rose nursery by the name of Chamblee’s Rose Nursery. They are great at sourcing new roses that might not be available via traditional retail outlets like Garden Centers. Since they do mail order, their roses are available to anyone in the United States. Prices (including shipping) are very reasonable. They send out very nice one-gallon, own-root roses that are easy to plant and grow quickly. I’ve dealt with them for years so order from them with full confidence.

Here are just some of their new introductions for 2014. They, and more, can be found on their website. You can also order directly through their website.

Blue For You

This rose has been on the radar screen of rose lovers in America for a while, but up till now not available. Plants of it existed mainly in collector’s gardens who either imported it, or were given one. That is no longer the case, and Chamblee’s is one of the first retail nurseries in the United States to offer this rose. The color is slate blue to a lavender pink and that will depend on weather. Figure the latter in warm climates. Fragrance ranges from “intense” to “I can’t smell anything”, which shows just how personal fragrance in roses is. That being said, the consensus is it is fragrant.

This rose caused quite a stir in Europe when it was introduced. Part of that was the appearance and the other part is the disease resistance. Roses of this color generally have not been so. In Blue For You gardeners have a rose with a truly lovely color and good health. A nice combination in any garden.

Blue For You grows to about 4’x3′ and blooms from spring to fall. Think of it for borders, pots, mass planting or even a low hedge when planted in double rows.

Brilliant Veranda

This rose is part of a series of “Veranda” roses bred by the German Nursery firm of W. Kordes & Sons. They have been breeding great garden roses for decades and lately they have taken their work to another level in terms of health, repeat flowering and variety of growth habits.

Many gardeners these days are looking for smaller roses that can be tucked into a perennial border or featured in a pot on a patio. This is one of those roses, as it only grows to about 2’x3′. Very healthy, blooms from spring to fall and is about as “easy-care” as you can get in a rose. The color is a shade of orange with a lighter reverse.

Chamblee’s offers two other Veranda roses on their website. You can find them by searching using the term “veranda” via the rose search box in the left column on their website. Look for the new addition to the series ‘Lavender Veranda’

Plum Perfect

This seems to be the year of interesting colors and here is another one. Also from Kordes, the blooms are a medium to deep, rich lavender plum color. The blooms are borne on a shrub about 3-4′ high by 3′ wide. This makes it a nice rose for borders, pots and mass planting. The fragrance is slight and disease resistance is high – as it is with all Kordes roses.

I’ve always liked roses in this color and the fact they are getting more disease resistant just makes them better!

Flamenco Rosita

Bred by Peter Beales roses in the UK, this rose is sometimes also known as ‘Ivor’s Rose’ overseas. I confess to having grown this rose for close to seven years and to say it’s outstanding is an understatement. There is simply no rose in my garden healthier than Flamenco Rosita. I never see disease in my organic garden. It’s also never without flowers be it 35 degrees in late fall or 95 degrees in July. It just blooms along. 

There is a mild fragrance and the bush grows quickly. In my garden if left unchecked it will get to 6′ across and 5′ high. You can keep it groomed to a slightly smaller size as it takes well to pruning.

This rose was part of the now gone Biltmore® Garden Rose Collection, but I’m glad to see Chamblee’s is keeping it in commerce. It’s perfect for the back of a border, a hedge, mall planting and I think it has great commercial landscape potential for office grounds, parking areas, roadsides , etc.

Coretta Scott King

Just released and bred by Christian Bedard at Weeks Roses, this rose was personally chosen by Bernice King to honor her late Mother. It has classic shaped Hybrid Tea style blooms on a nice upright growing rose. I have two of these in my garden and they grow well, showing good resistance to disease. The blooms are lovely. Shades of creamy white edged with coral pink. It has moderate fragrance and cuts well for the house.

Depending on where you live it will grow from 4-5′ high and about 3′ wide. The upright habit makes it easy to include in formal rose plantings, borders and even as a hedge. For the latter, I’d plant them in double rows to make a full hedge.

I heard the search for a rose to honor Ms. King took over five years. Looks like it was worth the wait!

As I mentioned at the start of this post, Chamblee’s continually introduces new roses ever year – many of which cannot be found anywhere else. Besides their website, they have a nice print catalogue so be sure to sign up for it and their emails.

And let’s hope the next Polar Vortex we see is because someone decided to name a rose after it!

Happy Rose
Paul

For more new roses and tips on caring for them be sure to check out my book Everyday Roses published by Taunton Press.

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