Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Friday - December 02, 2011
From: Garland, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Climbing native roses for Garland TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I live in Garland, Dallas County, TX and would like climbing roses on the trellis situated against my brick home. What kind would you recommend for the area and any that would be easy to care for. Thank you.ANSWER:
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Mr. Smarty Plants recommend only plants native not only to North America but to the area in which those plants are being grown. With the exception of very few native "wild" roses, all members of the Rosaceae genus are native to China. This doesn't mean they won't grow here, of course they will. It just means that we are not qualified to make recommendations. We will tell you what we do know.
There are 9 members of the Rosaceae genus native to Texas. Native or non-native, there are few roses you could characterize as true "climbing" roses. There are roses with long canes, but the canes tend to be rather stiff and roses have no stick-tights or curling tendrils like true climbing plants do. To go up a brick wall, they would definitely need a stout trellis and you would need to have the patience to tie up the canes as they go. It is not a natural process.
Another thing you need to know is that, generally speaking, roses need full sun, which we consider to be 6 or more hours of sun a day. They are very susceptible to fungal diseases, which means that watering via a sprinkler system, having them in too much shade, or bushes too crowded for good air circulation all are going to cause problems with the health of the roses.
Here is a list of roses native to Texas. You can follow each plant link to the page on that rose in our Native Plant Database to find out color, bloom time and projected height.
Rosa arkansana var. suffulta (Prairie rose)
Rosa carolina var. carolina (Carolina rose)
Rosa foliolosa (White prairie rose)
Rosa setigera (Climbing prairie rose)
From the Image Gallery
More Shrubs Questions
Evergreen native plants for slope in South Carolina
July 14, 2008 - We would like to plant an evergreen garden in our backyard, which is on a slope. It receives the sun from approx 9-4. We have an above ground pool, and patio area. Would also like a recommendation of ...
view the full question and answer
Coexistence of rubus trivialis and American beautyberry
May 28, 2007 - I'm growing some rubus trivialis in a 1-gal. pot and plan to plant it this fall. Will this dewberry coexist with American beautyberry, or must it have its own space entirely? If it needs its own sp...
view the full question and answer
Pruning and deadheading rosa rugosa while blooming
August 01, 2008 - Can you prune the dead flowers and branches of rosa rogosa while it is still blooming?
view the full question and answer
Identification of small shrub
May 27, 2007 - Need an identity of a small bush, probably native . There is only a single limb sticking out of a large dense evergreen holly. It is deciduous, has opposite ovate entire simple leaves, and clusters o...
view the full question and answer
Rust spots on non-native red tip photinia
July 10, 2008 - I live in Oklahoma and my red tips have rust spots on leaves and some plants are losing leaves. This is a clay soil; can you give me any info. on how to solve this problem?
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
