I like to put up rose pictures on holidays … of namesake roses for the special day. Well, no surprise here … but maybe you rose growers ought to take notice. There's no such thing, as far as I know, as a 'Labor Day' rose. But there are a lot of what I'd call "workhorse" roses.
'Knockout,' a 2000 All-America Rose Selections Winner, has been around for some time now, but it truly is a workhorse in the garden, blooming from May until frost. And it now comes in a variety of colors, from pale to deep pink, yellow, white, and probably more. If deadheaded regularly, this rose just keeps on coming.
Since Knockout's appearance, there are some other "workhouse" roses that certainly merit consideration.
The HomeRun rose, introduced by Weeks Roses, now comes in pink (watercolors) and red, and it's another disease-resistant, non-stop bloomer. I had this rose in my own garden, and I love it because it provide color all season long. BUT — do not deadhead this rose if you want it to keep blooming … it does best if you leave it alone.
Finally, consider the Drift Rose — introduced by Conard-Pyle, and it, too, is another workhorse. It's a great groundcover that keeps on coming … this one is Apricot Drift, but it comes in a wide array of colors, from pale pink to red, as well as peach, coral, and even white.
None of these roses are known for fragrance, but who needs scent when you're looking for disease resistance along with steady color.
(photo: AARS)
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