Landscaping with Shrub Roses
pink blooms with white centers are small, they are produced in large clusters which are sometimes confused by the casual visitor with a hydrangea. Of all the Hybrid Musks, 'Buff Beauty' produces the best floral form. A vigorous shrub with a spreading habit, the apricot blossoms are fully double and are produced in large clusters. Other popular Hybrid Musks include 'Danaë', a yellow that produces bright red-orange hips for the fall; 'Felicia', a fully double pink and medium-sized shrub; 'Lavender Lassie', a lilac-pink fully vigorous shrub; and 'Penelope', a medium-sized shrub which produces huge clusters of pale-pink, semi-double blossoms in spring and massive clusters of bright-orange hips in the fall.
The choices of Hybrid Laevigatas is more limited. Unlike the Species parent, the hybrids are recurrent but somewhat hard to find except from specialty nurseries which produce custom rootings. Among the more common hybrids are 'Anemone Rose', a pink single; 'Cooper's Burmese', a white single; 'Red Cherokee', a deep pink single; and 'Silver Moon', a white single. Although all prefer full sun, they will tolerate less-than-full conditions. All grow quite tall, ranging in size from 10 - 20 ft. (3 - 6 m).
Shrubs with winter hardiness
Because the Shrubs come primarily from Species of the Carolinae, Cinnamomeae and Synstylae sub-orders, most all but the Musks and Laevigatas will survive Zone 6 winter temperatures. With a modicum of protection, they can survive Zones 4 and 5.
The best winter survivors are the Kordesii, however. Introduced by the Kordes family of Germany in the 1950's, this group of roses is known for its hardiness, profusion of dark green, toothed foliage, vibrant blooms, and disease resistance. Frequently, the roses come as tall shrubs and are commonly used as pillared roses or massive sprawling background shrubs. In the late 1980's, however, the hybridizers began producing the smaller, more prostrate varieties. The most popular of the taller shrubs is 'Dortmund', introduced in 1955 and a vigorous, thorny plant. 'Dortmund' produces massive sprays of single, deep-red blooms which, if left to their own desires, make large, bright orange hips suitable for using in jams and jellies. Another tall variety is 'Leverkusen' introduced one year earlier. This rose produces massive sprays of light-yellow, semi-double blooms.
The smaller varieties commonly found on the market are the "Flower Carpet" series - pink, white and red. These grow 2 - 3 ft. (60 - 90 cm) and about
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