"Green" Roses

Sure, roses in general are beautiful, but need gallons of water and artificial fertilizers and require regular applications of pesticides. Rose gardeners who are singularly devoted to coddling such fussy, exotic species no matter what the cost may have their priorities out of whack. Some consider roses to be the Hummers of the garden.

Fortunately, it looks as if the rose-obsessed can finally do their thing without wasting water and poisoning area honey bees and other beneficial insects. During the last several years, Texas A&M University research scientists have tested hundreds of roses to determine which varieties can be grown in existing, unamended soil without extra watering and sans fertilization or spraying. From "April Moon" and "Carefree Wonder" to "Louis Philippe" and "Mrs. Dudley Cross", there are scores of "Earth Kind" roses which demand little attention.

Many are antique varieties which may not be quite as prolific or showy as hybrid roses, but at least they can hold their own without special treatment. Best of all, the research is ongoing, and, should you be interested in field testing some of these low-impact roses in your own back yard, the university welcomes your evaluations of any Earth Kind varieties you choose to grow. Scientists must agree to evaluate the performance of their Earth Kind roses at one, two, three, and four years after planting, and the use of commercial fertilizers and pesticides -- not even neem oil allowed.