Loma Vista Nursery News

Plant Species Highlight

With about 150 species of wild roses and another 30,000 cultivated varieties, the first rose described for science – Rosa hilliae – was discovered in 1883 by Charles Leo Lesquereux, a paleobotanist. Lesquereux’s rose was initially found by geologists in samples collected in 1877 from the Colorado Florissant Fossil Beds. 

While that’s pretty impressive, roses have been around for much longer than those discovered in the American Mountain West. Scientists say the earliest fossil records of the plant date back 35 million years.

New in 2024! Orange Glow Knock Out® (‘Radslam’) – Star Roses and Plants

Even still – with varieties of roses planted in millions of public and private gardens, parks, preserves and commercial landscapes – roses can hardly be described as “ubiquitous.” The symbol of love, royalty, secrecy, passion and mysticism, the appeal of roses simply comes from their appearance.

Loma Vista Nursery grows roses in a plethora of colors, shapes, sizes and habits, roses possess understated elegance. They are at once graceful, sophisticated, playful and stylish. Wearing distinctive fragrances, the species speaks to all of our human senses and emotions. 

Oso Easy Double Red® Rose (Rosa x) – Proven Winners

Pollinator Beauties

While a favorite flower of many people, roses are also beloved by beneficial pollinators, including honeybees, monarch butterflies and hummingbird moths. 

From groundcover roses to climbing varieties, and from old roses, shrubs and hybrid teas, there is a class of rose for any architectural aesthetic or landscape application. 

Easy Bee-zy Knock Out® (‘SRPylwko’) – Star Roses and Plants

Depending on the variety, petals have cup shapes that are deep and circular or shallow and open. Whether climber or shrub, foliage is always the backdrop – never the star. 

Rose breeding has come a long way since Rosa hilliae. Modern roses – hybrid teas, grandiflora, floribunda and polyantha – require frequent watering, fertilizing, spraying and deadheading. “Old garden roses” and the newer shrub varieties – like the popular Knock Out Family of Roses, along with those we grow for Proven Winners, Drift and Star Roses and Plants – require minimal care. 

Plant in Sun

Select your planting location with forethought and provide good air circulation. Roses prefer at least six to eight hours of full sun daily, followed by the cooling of partial shade. 

Read the plant tag that accompanies your rose selection. It will tell you all you need to know for proper planting, including sun/shade combinations, mature size, bloom time and other important details.

Coral Drift® (‘Meidrifora’) – Drift Roses

Until established, rose plants need either rain or hand watering every couple of days and at least twice a week to keep soil moist. To prevent moisture from resting on the plant’s leaves, which can cause disease, water at the root level of the plant. Never from the top.

Roses are susceptible to a number of diseases such as blackspot, rust and powdery mildew. If you notice problems on your plants, consult local experts at area public gardens or independent garden centers. They will be able to counsel you about proper treatment options in your area.

Disease Resistance

However, roses have come a long way in their ability to resist disease and critter damage, as well as tolerate poor soils and environmental conditions like drought, cold and wind. Newer rose cultivars, including rugosa, heirloom and wild roses, are bred for disease resistance.

Ringo® Rose (Rosa hybrid) – Proven Winners

Rich soil nutrients are vital to help establish the plant and keep it healthy as roses mature. Add a 1- to 2-inch layer of organic leaf or shredded hardwood bark mulch to the soil’s surface. Be careful not to mound it around the stems. This will help soil retain moisture and support root growth. 

Begin a seasonal fertilizer program in early- to mid-spring when foliage begins to emerge. Use water soluble or slow-release granular fertilizer that includes nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Amendments like bone meal, fish fertilizer and alfalfa are optional, but do help promote bloom production and vigorous growth. 

Petite Knock Out® (‘Meibenbino’) – The Knock Out Family of Roses

Give Them Space

To avoid crowding plants, which fosters competition for nutrients and water, space roses 2 to 3 feet away from other plants. And avoid placing them under tree canopies, where competition is stiff, and roses likely won’t win. 

Roses are perfect specimens or focal plants in the landscape, whether urban, suburban or rural. Plant them as anchors in perennial beds and border and potager gardens. Use them in cottage and sensory gardens, and in patio or sidewalk containers. As they continuously rebloom, clip roses, place them in a vase and bring them into your home or office. 

Learn More About Loma Vista Nursery and Our Landscape Plants

Loma Vista Nursery expertly grows a variety of roses, perennials, trees and shrubs for Midwest independent garden centers, landscape contractors and wholesale distributors. Visit our plant catalog.

Review our website to learn about our values and best-practices as a Midwest plant grower.

Our staff members are experts in the field who love helping people learn and understand more about plants. To get help with your orders and answers to plant-related questions, send an email to sales@lomavistanursery.com or call (785) 229-7200.

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