The mountains of Arizona are famous for easy-care roses. Because of the dry air and alkaline soils, we grow a better, brighter, more fragrant rose without the disease and insect issues that plague gardens in high-humidity states. Every garden deserves at least one rose bush, whether in the ground, raised bed, or a container. 4 Major Rose Types Explained.
Winners of the Best Mountain Roses for 2020 are those with fragrance, ease of care, long bloom cycles, and fadeless colors. The roses described below are by no means the only roses you’ll find at Watters Garden Center, but they are the winners. Roses are listed in alphabetical order, not in order of popularity. Enjoy reading about this year’s list of the best mountain roses.
Arctic Blue (Double ruffled lavender blossoms – floribunda) Pointed buds slowly unfurl to reveal spiraled flowers of lovely lilac pink, fading to lavender-blue with a cream reverse. The petals hold their color well, remaining attractive right until they are finished.
Falling in Love (Blushes of clear pink – hybrid tea), this rose makes your heart pitter-patter with its showy, fragrant flowers of warm pink & porcelain white. Each long-lived blossom is regally carried atop sturdy stems, just waiting to be cut & enjoyed. Destined to garner its share of awards, we’re confident you’ll swoon over Falling in Love.
Frida Kahlo (fabulous jeweled rose – floribunda) world-acclaimed painter Frida Kahlo once said: “I paint flowers so they will not die.” Frida, the rose, is a lively reminder of her enduring spirit. The colored swirl of this rose intensifies as the flowers age, adding a red blush as the final touch. If you are one of Frida’s followers or merely a rose lover, plant her rose for a striking show of vibrant flowers on her compact, vigorous bush.
Good as Gold (Sunset Gold – Hybrid Tea) Some might say “orange,” some “gold,” some “amber” or double-dipped yellow.” However you perceive it, we guarantee it is bold & beautiful, especially with the kiss of red on the finish. This beautiful bushy bouquet fills your garden with loads of long-stemmed roses. Good as Gold is not for the lovers of pastel in the gardens.
Happy Go Lucky (Pure Yellow – Granda Flora) BIG fragrant & full old-fashioned blossoms of pure yellow have all the charm of an English rose but born on this side of the pond. Yet it easily bests the disease resistance of any English variety hands down. The vigorous rose blooms with abandon well into the season without sprawling in the landscape. You’ll be happy you planted this bush for seasons to come.
Head over Heels (pink cloud-like flowers – shrub) Full, fluffy, light pink flowers repeatedly blooms through the season. A straightforward rose used along driveways right to the front door or planted in comfortably elegant containers.
Kiss Me (Double Clear Pink – Shrub Rose) Decidedly, the most fragrant rose in the Easy Elegance Collection, Kiss Me bears clusters of large, bright pink blooms, reminiscent of English roses. It repeatedly blooms through the growing season and is especially attractive in your perennial border. Highly disease-resistant foliage adds to its appeal as a cut flower.
Lady in Red (Large ruffled old-fashioned Red – Climber) The large ruffled flowers will take your breath away. You will fall in love with her study, fast-growth covered in classic red flowers. No other climbing rose shows off masked in red like this lady.
Neptune (Aquatic Lavender – Hybrid tea) You’ll idolize the big blossoms of luscious lavender tinged with just a touch of purple. This new rose is sure to garner awards. The abundant blooms arrive on a praise-worthy plant with large glossy green leaves, good vigor, and energetic vitality — best bloom size in colder temps.
Paint the Town (Everblooming red – shrub) Wonderful clusters of red flowers carpet this rose from head to foot that paint your town red. Super dark green foliage accents the red perfectly and highlights the incredible flowers all season long. Highly disease-resistant.
Radiant Perfume (Citrus Yellow – Grandiflora) The boldest yellow rose with an intoxicating citrus fragrance! The long-stem flowers are perfect for gardens and bouquets full of blooms! The combination of dazzling color on long-stemmed flowers and the irresistible lemon scent makes Radiant Perfume a favorite.
Screaming Neon Red (Single Red with Yellow Dash – Shrub) is sure to be a standout in your gardens. With vibrant flower power and repeat blooms throughout the season. Remarkably rich, disease-resistant foliage provides the perfect backdrop to neon-red blooms. Foliage turns a stunning burgundy-red in autumn.
Tropical Lightning (Fast sunset purple growth- climber) No other rose comes close to this extraordinary color blend. Her tropical warmth comes in the form of vibrant sunset oranges with dazzling streaks of light cream. The effect is accentuated by a layer of purple smoke creating a burnt orange combo, perfect for a stormy sky! New growth shows in dark burgundy for an endless tropical storm of fragrant rosy blooms!
There you have the roses you’ll find mountain gardeners talking about in 2020. With 700+ roses showing at Watters Garden Center, the variety of fragrance and colors prove the perfect rose for any garden.
View all 29 rose winners for 2020 at Pinterest.com/WattersGardenCenter.
Feeding roses with our specially formulated ‘Flower Power 48’ water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks produce HUGE blooms! Water your new rose bush deeply twice a month for bouquets of full, plump, flowers the entire year.
Watters’ roses are ready to plant for Mother’s Day and will produce waves of flowers for cutting for the important women in your life.
Until the next issue, I’ll be helping local gardeners pick just the right roses here at Watters Garden Center.
Lisa Watters-Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through her website at WattersGardenCenter.com or FB.com/WattersGardenCenter .
