A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, as the saying goes, but might not be as simple to grow.

Easy Elegance® roses, a cultivar series created by Bailey Nurseries of St. Paul, Minn., are designed to be both elegant and easy to grow. Dubbed the “fuss proof” rose, Easy Elegance roses combine the look of hybrid tea roses with the maintenance of shrub roses.

Depending on where you live, some of these roses may still be faring well in gardens, since they are cold hardy and long-lasting through a hard frost. Easy Elegance roses are also disease resistant and less susceptible to insect damage.

In addition to several other top-notch rose brands, including Drift®, Knock Out® and Oso Easy® Roses, Loma Vista Nursery is now growing Easy Elegance roses. One of the newer varieties in our roster of roses, Easy Elegance roses provide a veritable rainbow of color along with the signature tea rose fragrance and shape. We like how they look as hedges along paths, walkways and garden edges, but the compact form of these rose plants make them a possibility for many spots.

Here are some of our easy peasy favorites:

Easy Elegance® Paint the Town is red, of course, and a vibrant one at that.

Easy Elegance® Coral Cove offers dark pink petals that turn orange and then bright yellow in the middle.

Easy Elegance® Kashmir is known for its velvety red blooms, providing texture as well as color.

Easy Elegance® Yellow Brick Road brings a little bit of OZ straight to your garden, slightly lighter in the outer petals but a beautiful lemon-yellow bloom.

You can create a monochromatic rose garden or combine colors in a creative way, since the hues are complementary.

As you’re surveying your outdoor surroundings in this time of transition to the colder months, it’s a good time to re-assess your space and consider spots where roses might thrive. Suitable for Zones 4-9, Easy Elegance roses like full sun and typically grow 2 to 3 ½ feet tall and 2 to 4 ½ feet wide.

If you have roses in the ground already and live in a cold climate, be sure to protect these beauties from harsh winter elements. Stop pruning in the fall, pruning while temperatures are still warm could cause the roses to produce new foliage, and a cold snap will then damage the new growth. When frost does arrive and temperatures start to fall below freezing, protect the plants by covering the base with soil or compost and some dry shredded leaves or bark. If you’re expecting very cold weather, it’s time to protect the entire plant by covering it with burlap and securing with clips or clothespins.

As spring approaches and temperatures begin to rise, you can begin to uncover your roses, remove the soil and the coverings around the base. If you have a bush-type rose you should prune any overly-long canes (branches), this will prevent wind damage. As you observe and look over your roses, it is normal to see some winter kill and as the temperature climbs, you can remove any dead limbs from your plants in early spring.

As always, if you have any questions about planting and growing, reach out to us! Meanwhile, stop and see the roses in our online catalog.

Learn More About Plants From Us!

Our staff members are experts in the field! We love helping people learn and understand more about healthy plants that perform well in Midwest landscapes. Feel free to email us at sales@lomavistanursery.com or call us at (785) 229-7200 to get help with your plant-related questions.