Unlikely as it may sound, roses love the Sonoran Desert.
"The desert is actually not a bad place to grow roses," says Terry Swartz, whose 180 bushes and climbers surround his Dunbar Spring neighborhood home west of the University of Arizona.
The Tucson climate gives the rosa genus of the rosaceae family the six hours of sunshine it needs and the dryness that eliminates most rust, mildew and other high-humidity problems.
Heat does not stress the perennial flower, says Rose Society of Tucson President Swartz, although they go dormant when the temperature hits 90 degrees. And "they do like a drink," adds the grocery store manager.
Roses reward their tenders with two blooming seasons in April and November.
Swartz, whose blossoms have won shows, including the coveted Queen of Show, has grown them since 1995 when he brought some home from the Woolco where he worked. He offers advice on how to successfully grow them in Southern Arizona.
People are also reading…
Purchasing and planting
Swartz suggests buying roses from local nurseries for the best quality. The best times to plant are November through April.
Locate plants away from trees that block sun and take up water meant for the roses. Dig a hole 1 1/2 to 2 feet deep and wide. Toss a handful of sulphur at the bottom; position the plant so the roots will be covered, and fill with fresh potting soil mixed with perlite for drainage. Sandy loam soil also is a good medium.
Cover the soil with mulch or compost, not heat-generating rock, gravel or bark. Use a plastic collar to hold in the mulch.
If planting into a container, use a 20-inch pot or larger. Adding polymer crystals helps retain water.
Regular care
Surround plants with at least 4 inches of mulch once the temperature rises above 90 degrees.
Deeply water every two or three days in the summer, tapering to once a week in the winter as temperatures cool. "They like a good deep watering, but not standing in (water)," Swartz says.
Keep roses on a regular feeding schedule of all-purpose fertilizer.
Deadhead flowers to encourage leaf growth. Lightly prune in mid-September and more heavily prune in mid-January to encourage flowers.
Addressing problems
The most common enemies of locally grown roses are grasshoppers, aphids and thrips. Most can be handled by a fine spray of water in the morning that knocks the critters off and keeps the leaves clean. Watering in the morning also helps avoid another common scourge, powdery mildew.
Stores sell rose chemicals that can handle a pesky problem, Swartz says.
If you go
Rose Roundup at the Old Pueblo
• What: Public rose show during annual regional convention.
• When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday.
• Where: Doubletree Hotel Tucson at Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way.
• Admission: Free. Other convention activities require a $55 registration fee.
• Information: www.pswdrose convention2010.org
Ready to put them in a vase?
Florist Georgeanne Fimbres much prefers the glory of an open rose in a vase over a bud.
"The inside of most roses is the most beautiful side," the amateur rose grower says. It's where people can see the velvet texture and varying colors.
Fimbres, owner of Villa Feliz Flower Shop at 6358 E. Broadway, waits until there is a hint of blossoming before she snips flowers to bring into the house.
Here's what else she suggests for displaying roses:
• After removing the stem from the plant with a diagonal cut, put the cut end into a pail of water.
• Fill a sink with tepid water and submerge the stems, including flowers, for five minutes to hydrate them.
• Fill a very clean vase with water. Add anything that boosts acidity such as flower food that you find at florists or the home remedies of lemon-lime soda or aspirin.
• Make another cut on the stem. Remove leaves that may be underwater in the vase and cut thorn tips if desired, but do not damage the stem covering.
• Arrange flowers in the vase.
Roses last longer if the water is changed and the stem is cut back every day, Fimbres says. Revive soft-feeling flowers by submerging in water.
Best of the season on display at show
Some of the season's most beautiful roses from the Southwest will go on public display Saturday at a regional convention hosted by the Rose Society of Tucson.
Hundreds of specimens submitted to the 2010 Pacific Southwest District Convention & Rose Show will try to catch the eyes of judges as the best examples in dozens of categories, says show spokeswoman Judith Singer. Entries will come from Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas.
"The entire ballroom of the Doubletree Hotel will be filled with just roses," Singer says.
The public show also will have rose plants, garden art and photographs of roses for sale, and free information on rose care, especially in Southern Arizona.
The Rose Society of Tucson meets once a month to share growing tips. It offers a $12 book on growing roses.
Its Web site, www.tucson rose.org, lists 239 varieties that do well in the area and includes a monthly care list.
Contact local freelance writer Elena Acoba at acoba@dakotacom.net