The Low Down

Breeders and growers are taking roses to an entirely different level with new compact, groundcover and low-growing varieties. Here are some of the selections your customers will be asking for this spring.
 

Drift Roses
Drift Roses are a cross between full-size groundcover roses and miniature roses. They’re repeat-bloomers that are tough, disease-resistant, winter hardy and virtually maintenance-free. There are seven varieties in this series: Apricot Drift, Icy Drift, Sweet Drift, Coral Drift, Pink Drift, Red Drift and Peach Drift. All are winter hardy to zone 5.
>> www.conard-pyle.com
 

StoryBook Garden Roses
These new roses are being introduced by PlantHaven and join the family of Gardens of Glory products from American Daylily & Perennials. All the roses in this collection feature a dense, compact growth habit, with a mature height of 18-24 inches. The StoryBook collection includes Moby Dick (white flowers, yellow centers), Showboat (coral-orange), Little Women (soft pink) and Sundance Kid (soft yellow, faint coral-blush overlay).
>> www.gardensofglory.com
 

Flower Carpet Roses
When most gardeners think of groundcover roses, the Flower Carpet collection from Anthony Tesselaar immediately comes to mind. Flower Carpet Roses flower up to 10 months out of the year—depending upon the climate in which they’re planted. In 2007, Tesselaar began introducing the “Next Generation” of Flower Carpet roses, with improved heat and humidity tolerance and disease resistance. These include Flower Carpet Scarlet, Pink Supreme and Amber.
>> www.tesselaar.com
 

Oso Easy Fragrant Spreader
Fragrant Spreader's soft pink, single flowers are abundant and highly fragrant. The plant will spread out to almost five feet across. It’s perfect for banks and slopes.
>> www.colorchoiceplants.com