Now is the time to place your order for barefoot roses to plant in April. Mail order sources have the best selection of fragrant, heirloom and unusual varieties and colors right now. These plants aren’t available in garden centers until later on. Let Priscilla know now that you want to find your own special rose.
Why would you want to plant something that looks so dead and dormant? Well, this is the absolute best time of the year to handle a rose. You’ll still need leather gloves to protect against thorns, and you’ll find the plant is just awakening to the new season after it’s winter in cold storage and the shipping period. It will gradually acclimate to the conditions in your garden as it begins to put down strong roots. Frequent spring rains will help the rose take hold, too. You’ll find it will leaf out and begin top growth in just a few weeks after planting!
What varieties do I recommend? The list is long; here are some favorites:
Rosa damascena: ‘Madame Hardy’ or ‘Jacques Cartier’ Rosa gallica (has striped petals): ‘Rosa Mundi’ or ‘Cardinal de Richlieu’ Rosa alba: ‘Felicite Parmentier’ Rosa rugosa: ‘Henry Hudson’ or ‘Therese Bugnet’ David Austin roses: ‘Abraham Darby’, ‘Olivia Austin’, ‘Heritage’ and many more! Climbing roses: ‘Henry Kelsey’ or ‘John Cabot’ Shrub roses: ‘Morden Blush’ or ‘Ballerina’
