I bought the "Heirloom" hybrid tea rose from Home Depot today. It was one of the many choices of bare root roses they offered, and also one of the pricier ones at about $10. Of course, this is still a good deal considering it would've been either more costly or more difficult to find had I purchased it growing in a container. Last winter was the first time I attempted to plant bare root roses. I also bought them from Home Depot, although I did purchase the cheapest ones at about $5 each. I didn't want to spend too much since I had no idea if I would successfully grow them. I bought three, and managed to keep two alive. I transplanted one in the middle of the summer in a bad spot in my yard, and it slowly died. Before that, it was actually thriving. I knew I should've waited until winter when it would be dormant. I'm such an impatient gardener!
Last year, I decided to ignore the directions on the package to soak the bare root roses before planting. Again, this shows how impatient I am! I do remember buying the three bare root roses, leaving them in my garage for a week or two, then finally planting them. Once I decided to plant the bare root roses, I didn't care to space them out like experts say to space them out. I dug three holes and planted the bare root roses in row about one-and-a-half feet from each other. I made sure to bury the roots under the soil well. I kept the bare root roses watered because I knew they couldn't dry out as they sat there, especially because I didn't soak them prior to planting. I was pretty careless in planting them in the ground, but I had to make sure to take good care of them once they were in place!
I do wish I remember the names of the bare root roses, since roses have the best names! I have to lighter pink roses left, and the one I lost was a yellow rose with reddish-orange tips. One of my pink ones grows with a taller and more upright habit than the other. It also looks more formal and more "hybrid tea-ish." The other is more like a floribunda type. I'm sure by now it is easy to tell I don't know a lot about roses! My descriptions of these once-bare-root roses aren't so good, and I bet they probably aren't even accurate. Since it is January, I also have no pictures to share because I cut them back heavily for the dormant season.
Now back to the bare root rose that I just bought! "Heirloom" is a purple rose that is supposed to be quite fragrant. I planted it behind shorter annuals and perennials (I love that flowers grow year-round here in SoCal). I can't wait to see how tall it grows. I'm also hoping that it flowers abundantly. I have a similar rose that I purchased in a container this past summer called "Angel Face." I believe "Heirloom" will look similar, with ruffled edges and a purple color. I love the look of ruffled rose petals because it looks more casual. I love purple roses because they are supposed to be more fragrant than other colors.
I highly recommend planting bare root roses. They are inexpensive, easy to grow, and their transformation is fun to watch! I know this post is kind of all over the place, but I'm just so excited for my new purchase. I'm already thinking of buying maybe two more bare root roses! I saw called "JC's Rose" that was also among the bare root roses at Home Depot that was a purplish-magenta that I almost bought instead of "Heirloom." Spring cannot come fast enough!
