Because of their diminutive size, miniature roses are often thought to be too delicate or not hardy enough to be grown outdoors.
This is not true, as thousands of these little roses are grown outdoors all over the country.
In recent years, miniature roses have become one of the most popular garden plants.
They are the Lilliputians of the rose world with most of the characteristics of their larger relatives.
Miniatures, however, fit into places where the larger roses are too crowded or would be unwelcome.
Where To Plant Miniature Roses
Miniature roses may be planted in beds, either solid beds of one variety or miniature mixed gardens.
Miniatures may be used as edgings or borders in front of the larger hybrid tea and floribunda varieties, or they may be used to edge the path or drive.
Miniature roses may be used almost anywhere you would use ordinary bedding plants such as petunias, salvias, and marigolds.
They do have a great deal in their favor. While the first cost is greater than bedding plants, they will, in the long run, often cost even less when figured on a per-year basis, as miniature roses do not require constant replanting.
We have seen miniatures that are still in good shape and in constant bloom throughout the growing season, yet the plants are as much as 20 years old!
Use Of Miniature Roses
Miniatures can be used as hedges and even trimmed like boxwood if desired.
When some of the new larger growing varieties are chosen, they may also be used as shrubs either singly or in clumps to give accent or color to the garden.
Miniatures may be used as potted or tubbed plants for display on the patio or around the garden. As a bonus, miniatures may be useful as a source of dainty cut flowers for the table corsages, or any place where small flowers are welcome.
Surviving Outdoors
Miniatures like a sunny location with good, well-drained soil. If your soil is not as good as it might be, it can be improved and made suitable for miniatures by adding sand, perlite, or peat moss.
The addition of natural humus or compost helps improve the general soil condition.
As to hardiness, one needs to have little fear as miniature roses have been known to survive out of doors in areas such as Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, and other places.
Hybrid tea and floribunda varieties have sometimes been severely damaged or completely killed by harsh winters. As with other types of roses, some of the miniature varieties are harder than others.
Shipping Of Miniature Roses
Plants may be secured from your local nursery or ordered by mail. These bushes usually arrive with soil still around the roots.
Exceptions are the states of Arizona and Hawaii, where the plants must be shipped with all the soil removed from the roots.
However, this is not a serious disadvantage. Plants have been shipped into areas like Tucson and Phoenix, Ariz., even in the middle of summer (July and August).
When To Plant Miniature Roses
Planted both in pots and in the open with complete success, spring is the best time to plant.
Sometimes it is advisable or more satisfactory to obtain the small plants early in the season and start them indoors as window sill potted plants or in the small greenhouse to be moved outdoors later into their permanent position.
In this way, it is often possible to gain a head start on the season and thus enjoy a larger plant and more flowers.
Planting and Growing Miniature Roses
Here are my suggestions for planting and growing miniature roses. It is suggested that plants be spaced about 12” inches apart, setting each slightly deeper than originally grown in the pot.
As all miniature roses are grown on their roots, there will be no wild suckers to remove. However, miniature tree roses are an exception to this rule—they are usually budded 8” to 12” inches above the soil level.
Watering Little Bushes
If sprouts or suckers appear below the crown or head on a miniature tree rose, they should be removed.
After the little bushes are set into the soil (or the pot), they should be thoroughly watered to settle all the soil around the roots, thus excluding unwanted air pockets that might cause the roots to dry.
In severe climates, a glass fruit jar turned over each plant will give considerable protection in cold weather.
If the air is dry or windy after planting, it is a good idea to mound the soil up around the plant until growth starts.
This protection may be gradually removed as the plant becomes better rooted and grows.
Good Rose Fertilizer
The plant should be watered well and often enough to keep the soil moist. Miniatures should be fertilized about once a month with a good rose fertilizer.
Miniatures are remarkably free of rose troubles, but if needed, the same sprays used for the larger roses are useful on miniatures.
Pruning
During the winter or early spring, miniatures should be given their annual dormant pruning in which case bush-type miniatures are trimmed back from 4” to 6” inches above the ground.
Sometimes they are allowed to remain larger depending upon the habit of the plant and the personal desire of the gardener.
Additional trimming or pruning to retain the plant shape may be done at any time during the growing season.
Heads of miniature tree roses should be trimmed to shape and remove any dead twigs. Climber roses are pruned to shape, removing dead canes.
Miniature Roses Varieties
Some suggested varieties of miniature roses to be planted are:
- ‘Dian,’ a double light red variety, which has proven hardy even under most difficult situations;
- ‘Little Buckaroo,’ of similar parentage but a little more robust in growth, is also very hardy;
- ‘Westmont,’ another red variety similar to ‘Little Buckaroo,’ and
- ‘Lollipop,’ an offspring of ‘Little Buckaroo.’
- ‘Red Imp’ is a fine variety especially for growing in pots for very tiny full, double red flowers,
- ‘Dwarf King,’ the excellent, should be included among the reds.
Other Varieties in Color
Among the yellow varieties, ‘Baby Gold Star’ and ‘Bit O’ Sunshine’ are the best. The new ‘Yellow Bantam’ has tiny yellow buds on compact, low-bushy plants. Another newcomer among the yellows is ‘Pixie Gold.’
Among the pinks suggested are ‘Pink Heather,’ which may have tiny flowers of pink, white, or soft lavender at different times or all three colors simultaneously on the same plant! The old Rosa rouletti is still a desirable variety with its colorful pink buds.
Another newcomer is the ivory-white ‘Easter Morning,’ slightly larger in flower than some of the other varieties with wonderful substance and heavy bloom on a compact 12-inch plant (this is a Brownell Sub-zero x miniature cross!).
- ‘Cinderella’ is white, very durable, and an excellent plant for edging or pots.
- ‘Pink Joy’ and ‘Bo Peep’ have been favorites for several years and the new variety.
- ‘Eleanor’ gives us an entirely new shade in miniatures, being a beautiful coral pink with pointed hybrid tea-type buds.
Miniature Climbers:
- ‘Pink Cameo’ has been very satisfactory wherever grown
- ‘Magic Wand,’ soft red, and ‘Climbing Jackie,’ soft yellow, have been noted for their profusion of flowers
- ‘Little Show-off’ is the newest miniature climbing rose
Winter Protection
In warm weather, the color is bright unfading yellow and in cooler weather or along coastal regions flowers will be splashed with red and orange (or Talisman tones).
For winter protection for roses in most places, one needs only to mound soil up around the plant. In some cases, a covering of evergreen boughs or marsh hay has been successful. All in all, miniatures are hardy and usually resistant to troubles that afflict other roses.
44659 by Ralph S. Moore