Growing roses has never been easier. Since the Knock Out Rose® burst on the scene in the year 2000 and disrupted the entire nursery/landscape market, rose breeders and nurseries have focused on producing and selling easy to grow disease resistant plants with excellent curb appeal. This was needed, as the hybrid tea roses that previously dominated the market were poor performers in the Panhandle’s heat and humidity, requiring significant maintenance to look
their best. In the ensuing years following the original Knock Out introduction that rendered hybrid tea roses obsolete in most landscapes, we’ve seen Star Roses’ Knockout family grow to include 12 varieties, hardy antique roses like ‘Peggy Martin’ and ‘Belinda’s Dream’ reappeared to become viral hits, and nearly every major plant brand develop their own line of disease resistant, floriferous landscape roses. However, my favorite of these modern “easy” landscape roses is the Drift® Series.
Drift® Roses are a bit of genius plant breeding. Originated by crossing vigorous, disease resistant groundcover roses with reblooming miniature roses, this process produced a near perfect little landscape rose. Drifts first hit the scene in 2007 with an initial flush of four cultivars: Coral Drift® (my personal favorite and features heavily in my home landscape) Peach Drift®, Pink Drift®, and Red Drift®. This group formed the core of the series that has now grown to include 12 selections including the outstanding Apricot Drift® (fully double subdued orange flowers, softly scented), Popcorn Drift® (very classic yellowy fading to cream semi-double flowers), and Sweet Drift® (double pink, nicely scented blooms). While each of these roses have slightly different characteristics, all of them share a similar easygoing nature. They bloom more or less continuously from spring to frost, they are exceptionally disease-tolerant, usually don’t require pruning, and are compact (2-3’ high and 3-5’ wide) – rarely outgrowing their spot in the landscape.
For best results with whatever Drift® variety you choose, there are a few non-negotiables. First, they require full sun. Give them at least 6 hours a day; more is better. Roses, Drifts included, get sparse, leggy, flower poorly, and are less disease resistant when grown in even partial shade. If you give Drifts full sun, may other potential problems never materialize. Second, like any plant, they must be watered consistently until they are established on their own. This likely means ensuring they get several inches of water in the absence of equal rainfall for the first several months of their lives. Mulching under and around plants helps reduce water stress by allowing the soil to remain cooler and retain water that is applied – whether by you or the heavens. Though they’re extremely drought tolerant once established, Drift® Roses can seriously suffer from drought until then. Finally, to support their flower-happy habit, Drifts appreciate regular fertilizer. I have been successful by applying a balanced fertilizer in the spring and again in mid-summer (late June-early July). This keeps plants looking lush and helps maintain overall plant health.
With all the color options to choose from, there is certainly a Drift® rose for every yard with a sunny spot! Plant one today – I think you’ll enjoy the years of low-maintenance color the entire Drift series provides. For more information about Drift® Roses or other landscaping topics, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension County office.
6
