Re: Roses for SoCal desert?

**K* M* <k*@iol.ie>**

On 9 May 2010, at 04:53, GeraldB571@aol.com wrote:

> I have lived in and near the SoCal desert for over 60 year. My take is that 
> almost any rose will do well if treated properly. The floribunda seem not 
> quite  as good as some others, the David Austen roses didn't do well, but I 
> think if  they get enough water, some fertilizer, and you keep the aphids 
> washed off  almost any may be satisfactory.
> 

It is always a good idea to look at where a rose was bred and who by. Austen breeds for conditions in England. For anyone wanting to grow in hot dry conditions I would always look to roses released by Armstrongs, and particularly those bred by Swim, whose primary focus was thriving in hot dry weather. I know they are seen as a bit dated now - preferences in form have changed since his day - but for many of his hybrid teas colour and perfume actually improve with heat and drought

kathryn
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