Landscaping with Shrub Roses
about twice as wide. If left to their own desires, they will sucker freely and form a dense, low thicket; hence, the name. Despite all the media hype when the pink version arrived on the North American Continent, it is not universally suitable for all climates in the rose-growing zones. While it does very well and is almost evergreen in Zones 5 and 6, it does not take the summer heat of Zones 7 - 9.
Modern Shrubs
Suitable for most any landscape need, the modern Shrubs are frequently used as specimens, splashes of landscape color, and hedges. The two most popular Shrub lines are the Meillands and the Austins. From the Meilland family, the three most commonly used are 'Pink Meidiland', 'Scarlet Meidiland' and 'Alba Meidiland', all introduced in the mid-1980's. Also from the Meilland "stable" is 'Bonica', a pink. These Shrubs have an informal look and all make excellent "relaxed" hedges, but will require deadheading to remove spent blossoms and generate good recurrency.
The Austins family has taken North America by storm. The most popular are 'Graham Thomas' (yellow), 'Heritage' (pink), and 'Constance Spry' (pink). Although the first two are recurrent, the latter is once-blooming. All make excellent specimen shrubs.
Next time, we finish the Landscape Design series with a look at the Moderns - Hybrid Teas, Grandifloras, Floribundas - and we'll include the miniatures.