One of the most prestigious horticultural plant designations bestowed by the Texas A&M Agriculture Program is that of EarthKind™. This designation is based on years of extensive field trials conducted by A&M horticultural experts. During all of this testing, no pesticides of any kind are ever applied to the experimental plants.

Knockout Shrub Rose

Based on this extensive research, field trials at OSU, and the advice of leading Oklahoma rosarians, we believe the following roses to be the finest, most thoroughly tested, and most environmentally responsible rose cultivars for use in Oklahoma.

Once established, these easy-care roses are very heat, drought and wind tolerant. They are winter hardy throughout the entire state, and do very well in almost any soil type, from well-drained acid sands to poorly aerated, highly alkaline clays.

These roses are certainly not immune to pest problems. However, given the proper site and spacing, their tolerance to pests is so great that, as long as you do not mind a few leaflets dropping occasionally, almost never will you need to apply any harsh pesticides to these roses!

Explanation of Notations

Listed in order: year of origin, rose classification, approximate mature height x width, blossom color, blossom type, frequency of blooming, fragrance, other important characteristics, and USDA cold hardiness zones (for reference: Oklahoma City is zone 7a, Tulsa is zone 6b).

Dwarf Shrubs

- MARIE PAVIE (1888, polyantha) 3' x 3', creamy white, semi-double, repeat blooming,very fragrant, tolerates some light shade, few thorns, zones 5-9

- THE FAIRY (1932, polyantha) 3' x 4', light pink, very double, repeat blooming, zones 4-9

Medium Shrubs

- BELINDA'S DREAM (1992, shrub) 5' x 5', medium pink, very double, repeat blooming, fragrant, zones 5-9

- CAREFREE BEAUTY [a.k.a. `Katy Road Pink'] (1977, shrub) 5' x 5', medium pink, semi-double, repeat blooming, fragrant, large orange hips, zones 4-9

- KNOCK OUT (2000, shrub) 6' x 5', cherry red, semi-double, repeat blooming, tolerates some light shade, zones 4b-9

- LA MARNE (1915, polyantha) 5' x 4', pink and white blend, semi-double, repeat blooming, few thorns, petal margins are ruffled, zones 5-9

Mannerly Climbers

- SEA FOAM (1964, shrub) 10' x 4', creamy white, double, repeat blooming, zones 4-9

Vigorous Climbers

- NEW DAWN (1930, climber) 18' x 8', white blushed with pink, double, blooms spring and fall, fragrant, zones 4-9

Growing Tips for EarthKind™ Roses

Planting Site

Ensure that plants:

1. receive full, direct sunlight for 8 hours or more each day;
2. have good air movement around their leaves; and
3. are not being sprinkler irrigated during the evening hours or at night. Remember, fungi will walk fifty miles to infect wet leaves at night!

Bed Preparation

Roses really respond to well-aerated (i.e. well-drained) soils. To prepare bed properly in:

• Sandy and loam soils: Incorporate 3 - 6 inches of organic matter such as compost.
• Clay soils: Incorporate 3 inches of expanded shale, then 3 inches of organic matter (e.g. compost) to create a raised bed that is 6 inches higher than the surrounding soil.

Plant Spacing

For air circulation, add 1' to mature width of dwarf shrubs, 2' to medium shrubs & climbers

Maintenance

Keep beds mulched year-round with 3 inches of organic material, e.g. shredded hardwood bark. When soil in the root ball is dry to a depth of 1 inch, water thoroughly. Don't water too often!

Earthkind™ Roses are available at the following local nurseries:

Southwood
9025 S. Lewis
Ph. 299-9409

Roses Inc.
12323 E. 132nd St. So. Broken Arrow
Ph. 455-7673