Roses continue to be among the most popular flowering plants in Louisiana landscapes, and the LSU AgCenter is expanding its rose research and demonstration trials at the AgCenter Hammond Research Station and the AgCenter Botanical Gardens at Burden.
Leading the rose trials are two new national rose evaluation programs sponsored by the American Garden Rose Selections and the American Rose Trials for Sustainability, said AgCenter horticulturist Allen Owings. “The last winner in this program was named in 2014, and the first winners in the new AGRS program will be official in 2016,” Owings said.
The model employs a long-used rose trialing method from Germany. It includes disease resistance, hardiness, attractiveness and habit, and roses are not treated with any chemical pesticides in the evaluations. The motto of this new program is “bringing you great roses you can grow where you live,” Owings said.
