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While there are many people who claim the Rose as their favorite flower not all of them, even experienced gardeners, are able or willing to put in the effort for growing these particularly fussy and time consuming yet breathtakingly beautiful plants. For those folks the Carpet Rose seemed to have been developed especially.
The Carpet Rose, as a disease resistant low growing shrub which requires none of the usual care other Roses do, is a gardener’s dream plant. Not only does it produce thousands of blossoms over the growing season but it is virtually carefree, a miracle in the Rose world to be sure. Deadheading , pruning, spraying and constant feeding are all unnecessary to keep these looking their best. Regular watering is still suggested.
For the landscaper no Rose is easier to work with. These Roses can be used in a variety of ways in the home garden, at public parks or in city courtyards. The Carpet Rose is wonderful for foundation planting, for covering sloping banks, to line a walkway or driveway, in large containers or simply mixed in among other flowers in perennials borders. The Carpet Rose can go anywhere and still look great.
Rosa “Flower Carpet Appleblossom” is a particularly bountiful blooming cultivar, in graduating shades of pink. Buds start out clear pink, they open to a soft pink then fade in bright sun to an almost buff white. Growing on clusters 6-8 inches wide the semi-double, 15-20 petaled flowers, themselves 1.5 inches wide, can have up to 18 flowers in a bunch for a grand effect. “Appleblossom” grows 24-32 inches high and has a 40 inch spread once established. Up close or from a distance it’s a beauty.
Rosa “Flower Carpet Pink” is a rose pink version of “Appleblossom”. The only difference is the spread being slightly smaller at 32 inches wide. The buds start out as cherry red and burst open into a magenta pink flower with a white center and yellow stamens. Not unusual for it to produce 3000 blossoms in a season. For this reason and its disease resistence this one has won over ten Gold Metal Growers’ Awards.
Rosa “Flower Carpet Pink Supreme” is a compact grower, 24-32 inches tall and 40 inches wide, extra heat tolerant and virtually carefree. With its glossy green foliage and shocking pink semi-double blooms with yellow stamens this one will get noticed.
Rosa “Flower Carpet Red” boosts wine red single blossoms with golden stamens growing on 25-30 count clusters. Great at handling very warm regions.
Rosa “Flower Carpet Scarlet” produces up to 2000 blooms in a season and is great in large containers or cascading over stone walls. The scarlet, semi-double velvety flowers with contrasting yellow stamens grow in clusters of 6-8 on bushes 24-32 inches tall and 40 inches wide.
Rosa “Flower Carpet White” is more compact, spreading only to 36 inches and rounder in shape than the others with semi-double blossoms 2-2.5 inches across and slightly fragrant. Foliage is dark glossy green and flowers are bright white and stay that way until they drop from the bush cleanly requiring no deadheading on your part.
Rosa “Flower Carpet Yellow” form bushes 24-32 inches high and wide. Blossoms are bright as sunshine yellow, 2-2.5 inch across, semi-double flowers with golden stamens. As they age the flowers turn a soft pale yellow which contrast nicely with the bright green and glossy leaves.
All the Carpet Roses mentioned here are hardy in zones 5-10 but require winter protection in the coldest zones 5 and 6. A thick mulch of dried leaves 6-8 inches deep should suffice. After the danger of frost is gone in spring cut the canes back to 10-12 inches, remove the mulch and give the plant a light feeding with any organic fertilizer or spread rich compost around the base.
While the Carpet Rose ordinarily likes full sun, in warmer climates semi-shade, filtered sun or planted with morning sun in mind will help the flowers retain their color. Plant in a rich, loam soil that drains very well. Add extra organic matter to provide the best start for these Roses. Wet soil will not be tolerated but regular watering is a good idea for best blooming. Bloom time is late spring to autumn when the cold weather stops the flower production.
For a good look at these lovely flowering Carpet Roses and to see how to place them in your landscape visit Easy to grow bulbs.com located in San Joaquin Valley California.
For the busy gardener in love with the Rose but not with the fussy care required of the Floribundas and Grandafloras, the Carpet Rose is the good alternative and not at all a sacrifice.
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 Visit http://www.helium.com/users/32782 for more fascinating gardening lessons, amusing short stories and intriguing novel excerpts.
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