Bush Rose (Rosa sp.)
Bush roses are the most familiar of the various types of rose, valued primarily for their stunning blooms. Roses called hybrid teas, floribundas, and grandifloras are all bush roses.
Winter hardiness refers to how well a rose plant can survive low temperatures or recuperate from damage inflicted by low temperatures alternating with thaws. Some types of roses are inherently more cold hardy than others. Bush roses are surprisingly hardy. For plants that produce such delicate flowers, they tolerate considerable cold weather. If they are vigorous and healthy at the end of the growing season, they can withstand winter temperatures of 15&temp;F or less with protection. This means bush roses can be grown at least as far north as the Ohio Valley and into southern Pennsylvania and New England (zone 7). Homeowners willing to take the trouble to heavily protect rose bushes over the winter can grow them even farther north.
Size: Bush roses vary somewhat in height, depending on the type. Floribundas grow to 3 feet, while Hybrid Teas can reach 4 to 5 feet. As befits their name, Grandifloras are the largest, growing up to 6 feet.
The width of all these types of bush roses is usually 2/3rds their height. Generally, rose bushes will grow larger and wider the warmer the climate. A certain hybrid tea might have a spread of 2 feet in Boston, but 4 feet in Seattle where growing conditions are better.
Foliage: Rose foliage is deciduous. The leaves drop from the bushes at the end of the growing season. Elliptical in shape with finely toothed edges, and pointed tips, bush rose leaves may be from 2 to 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. They are often reddish-green when they emerge, turning to medium green at maturity. Some bush rose varieties have shiny leaves, while others have leaves with more of a matte surface. They are smooth textured, their veins sometimes traced in red. They are borne opposite each other on short leaf stalks, usually three or five to a stalk.
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Flowers & Fruit: Hybrid tea roses have large, classic, beautiful blooms in almost every color of the rainbow. They appear individually or in small clusters on a single sturdy, thorny stem. They bloom from early summer to first frost.
Floribunda roses are characterized by large clusters of blooms on compact plants.
Grandiflora rose blossoms are similar to those of the hybrid tea, large and single on the stem. Some are different colors on either side of their petals.
While some bush roses still have the classic rose scent, many of these modern hybrids have lost the familiar rose fragrance, however the newer varieties are bringing that pleasure back to us.
