Rose Garden

The Rose Garden at Hudson Gardens features over 200 spectacular plantings, all of which are modern rose varieties that display vibrant color and fragrance. The selection consists primarily of hybrid tea rose, as well as floribundas, grandifloras, and climbing roses that adorn the pergolas throughout the garden.

Because fragrance is the characteristic most commonly associated with roses, the Rose Garden was planted with the intention of inviting guests to “smell the roses.”  While the classic “damask” scent is often associated with red and pink roses, rose fragrances can also mimic spice, citrus, herbs, fruit, and other floral notes.  As a general rule, the deeper the shade of color, the more fragrant the rose. Roses are most aromatic on warm, sunny days in the early to mid-morning, when the soil is moist and the blooms are just beginning to open.

A few fragrant roses found at Hudson Gardens include:

• Julia Child– licorice and spice
• Memorial Day– damask
• Strike it Rich– spice and citrus
• Tahitian Sunset– anise
• Wild Blue Yonder– citrus and damask

Among the planting are also a wide selection of “celebrity” roes named in honor of former Presidents, First Ladies, actors, musicians, television personalities, and cultural icons. See if you can find roses named after John F. Kennedy, Barbara Bush, Julia Child, Henry Fonda, Dolly Parton, Betty Boop, Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe and more throughout the garden.

Roses at Hudson Gardens

Hybrid Tea Roses are known for their appeal as cut flowers, featuring tall stems with a single bloom atop each stem. They have an upright growth habit and produce repeated blooms throughout the season.

Floribunda Roses grow as shrubs with clusters of blooms on each stem. They are especially attractive when planted in masses and are valued for their color and season-long flowering.

Climbing Roses are ideal for pergolas, arbors, and trellises due to their climbing and spreading habit, and they typically produce multiple blooms per stem.

Caring for Roses

Sun and Water

Roses should be planted in full sun and need at least 5 -6 hours of direct sun per day. They also require consistent moisture, especially during Colorado’s hot, dry summer months.  As a general guideline, established roses need about 1 inch of water per week during the growing season, although Colorado’s heat, dry air and wind may require more frequent deep watering at times.

Deep watering is preferred to frequent, light watering because it encourages a deeper root system. Deep roots help roses better tolerate drought, summer heat, and winter freezes. Watering at the base of the plant in the morning is best, as it allows the foliage to dry and helps reduce the risk of disease.

Soil and Fertilization

Roses that thrive in Colorado tend to be resistant to insect damage and disease, hardy, and tolerant of wind, drought, heat and extreme cold. Accordingly, they perform best in well-drained, well-amended soil with consistent moisture.

Roses can be fertilized after their leaves appear in spring, again after their first bloom, and finally several weeks before the anticipated first frost. Late-season fertilizing should be avoided because it can encourage tender new growth that may not harden off before winter.

Pruning

Roses require regular pruning to keep them healthy, guide their shape, and encourage blooming. Proper pruning opens the bush to increase air circulation, which helps reduce disease pressure and allows light and nutrients to reach the strongest canes.

Modern hybrid roses are typically pruned in spring when buds begin to swell. Pruning should remove dead, weak, damaged, or crossing canes and help create an open center. Cuts should be made above an outward-facing budeye to direct growth away from the center of the plant.

Deadheading

Pruning should be maintained throughout the bloom season using a technique called deadheading. Deadheading consists of removing spent blooms before the plant begins forming seed pods, or hips. This helps direct the rose bush’s energy toward producing new flowers. As the season gets closer to fall, deadheading should be reduced or stopped so hips can form. This helps slow new growth and allows the plant to begin preparing for dormancy.

Over-wintering

In Colorado, roses benefit from winter protection and occasional winter watering during dry periods. An overwintering schedule may include removing plant debris from the rose bed, protecting the base of each plant with mulch, soil, or straw, and deep watering about once per month on mild days when the ground is not frozen and there has been little precipitation. Overwintering should not include heavy pruning, as pruning can stimulate new growth at the wrong time of the year. Major pruning is best reserved for spring.

Denver Rose Society

The Rose Garden at Hudson Gardens is supported by dedicated volunteers and Rosarians from the Denver Rose Society, who help care for the collection and share their expertise with visitors through educational programs and community outreach. They can be reached at denverrosesociety.org with any questions about growing roses in Colorado.