Here are resources to help you grow roses in our moist, cool climate.
People love roses. But they are notoriously difficult to grow in our western Washington climate. The moist, cool weather in western Washington is ideal for rose diseases such as black spot, rust and powdery mildew.
Some of our most popular blog posts over the years have been about how to grow roses. This reflects both people’s affection for these beautiful plants and the challenges they face. We are bringing those and other resources together here for your convenience.
Best roses for the Pacific Northwest
Our post “Best roses for the Pacific Northwest” was based on an excellent book, Growing Roses in the Pacific Northwest: 90 Best Varieties for Successful Rose Gardening by Nita-Jo Rountree. Along with plant recommendations, it includes a chapter on the anatomy of a rose, plant care recommendations, detailed information on diseases and pests, and even rose history.
Since we published that blog post, we have seen a few other lists of recommendations for rose varieties.
- What are the best roses for my NW garden? Tacoma Rose Society
- Best Roses for Our Area, Seattle Rose Society
- Best David Austin roses for Pacific Northwest, Gardenia.net
- Best Disease-Resistant Roses, Almanac.com
Caring for roses
Our blog post “Tips for growing roses in western Washington” offers tips on how to grow roses. Here is a quick summary. See links below for more details.
- Plant roses where they get plenty of sun.
- Roses need good air circulation and good drainage.
- Provide a thick layer of mulch.
- Use plenty of fertilizer for abundant blooms.
- Provide regular water.
- Prune roses in spring.
- You can manage diseases and aphids if you are diligent. You may need to accept some black spot, but your roses will still be gorgeous.
You can find more information on how to grow roses in Rountree’s book and at the sites listed below.
General rose growing tips
- How to Grow Roses in the Pacific Northwest, Swansons Nursery
- Three tips for growing great roses from Ciscoe Morris, KING5
- Growing Roses in Washington State: Planting Roses, Washington State University Extension
- NW Seasonal Rose Care, Tacoma Rose Society
- Guide to Fertilizing Roses, Garden Design
Pruning
- Rose Pruning (five videos), Plant Amnesty. Along with pruning, these entertaining videos include information on how to choose and locate roses, rose varieties and more.
- It’s time to prune your roses, In Harmony
- Ciscoe says all rose lovers must do this spring chore, KING5
Diseases and aphidsÂ
- How to Treat & Prevent Black Spot on Roses, Garden Design
- Rose: powdery mildew, Hortense, Washington State University
- Tips for managing powdery mildew, In Harmony
- How to Get Rid of Rose Aphids, Oregon State University
