The Best Roses for Georgia

Rating the Roses

• Before you begin your quest for the perfect rose for your Georgia garden, study the results of testing by scientists at the Georgia Experiment Station at Griffin, Georgia, which evaluated rose varieties. Using the American Rose Society's rating system, which only promotes highest-ranking roses in test trials, Georgia scientists offer recommendations for Georgia gardeners.

Long-Stemmed or Hybrid Tea

• The classic long stemmed rose, or hybrid tea, with the pointed bud that blossoms into a single flower, makes Georgia's list in a multitude of colors and varieties, including the top pink blend known as Alabama, as well as Cayenne (an orange blend), Chrysler Imperial (dark red in color), and Garden Party, which is a white-colored rose. New Day, a yellow hybrid tea rose and Oregold, a dark yellow rose, will also grow successfully in Georgia.

Lower-Growing or Floribunda

• More compact, lower-growing and bushier than hybrid tea roses, the top floribunda rose varieties recommended by the scientists at the Georgia Experiment Station include Angel Face, a mauve rose, Apricot Nectar, an apricot-colored jewel, Bahia (an orange blend), and a red blend rose named Charisma, as well as the pink blend known as China Doll. For the dark red rose lover, a rose named European is a good choice.

Other Recommended Roses

• Grandifloras typically are pruned and grow like hybrid tea roses, according to the University of Georgia. Recommendations for Georgia grandiflora roses by the Georgia Experiment Station include an orange blend named Arizona, a red blend called Love, and the Queen Elizabeth (a pink grandiflora rose), as well as a red rose, Scarlet King. Climbing roses recommended for this southern state are America (a pink blend), Crimson Glory and Don Juan (dark reds), Dr. Van Fleet (light pink) and Peace, a yellow blend.