Feb 14, 2020
Texas A&M Designates ‘Earth-Kind’ Roses

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has an alternative for romantics looking for roses that won’t wilt right after Valentine’s Day.

AgriLife Extension has designated 21 types of roses as Earth-Kind, meaning these roses have demonstrated superior pest tolerance and outstanding landscape performance in extensive research and field trials in Texas.

The Marie Daly is one of 21 types of Earth-Kind roses. (AgriLife Extension photo by Jim Crocker)
The Marie Daly is one of 21 types of Earth-Kind roses. (AgriLife Extension photo by Jim Crocker)

If planted in a container now, the Earth-Kind will bloom throughout the spring, summer and fall. Many Earth-Kind roses have successive blooms over multiple seasons.

People often think of February as a time to prune the roses they already have, said Allison Watkins, AgriLife Extension horticulture agent for Tom Green County, but now is also a time when you can plant container-grown roses.

Selecting an Earth-Kind rose not only helps ensure growing success across the varied conditions present in Texas, but Earth-Kind roses also limit the amount of fertilizers, pesticides and water needed to succeed. Like all plants with the AgriLife Extension Earth-Kind designation, an Earth-Kind rose is designed to help preserve and protect natural resources and the environment.

“‘Beauty that’s Tough to Beat’ is the slogan for Earth-Kind roses and with colors from golden pearl to cherry red, and sizes from dwarf shrubs to climbing varieties, there is something well-suited for your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day,” Watkins said.

For more information, visit the Aggie Horticulture website.