Drift Groundcover Roses!
Drift Rose is an outstanding, easy care rose selection for Austin and the surrounding area which is zone 8, and for those of you from hardiness zones 4 to 11. I am a huge fan of this full sun, low water, low maintenance rose and I cannot say enough great things about the prolific bloom and disease resistant foliage. If you love roses and don’t want the bother of a traditional tea rose, this is an obvious choice.
The Drift Rose is considered a carpet rose or ground cover rose because of its short, compact stature. At mature growth, it spans from about 18 inches tall to about 2.5’ to 3‘ wide and stays evergreen, even in the worst freezes I’ve seen here so far.
The colors are varied and I have found that the Coral, Red and Peach Drift (shown below) are the hardiest for drought tolerant beds in full sun. The others such as white and yellow (Popcorn) seem to “peter out” a bit on blooms comparatively, but you should certainly give them a try if you’re looking for a certain color.
I am in love with the peach because it is 3 colors in one. It has the coral, pink and yellow hues and vary from stem to stem in color. It also has a little more sizable bloom than its brighter red and orange counterparts.
The red starts out bright red and can lean into a pinker hue once the blooms are spent. This plant is perfect as a specimen or planted in mass for impact with a stunning pop of color.
Coral (below) is a stunning pop of color in the landscape and the flowers last all season long.
You shouldn’t have to trim your Drift Roses if you place them properly, but if you do, cut them during growing season as needed. These make an excellent border plant in mass and really put on a show.
Coral Drift Rose
This rose is so carefree I’m really not sure why it isn’t on the Earthkind list yet. For other great low maintenance and low water, disease roses check out this page for easy care roses you may enjoy as well.
Winter and early spring are great times to plant your new roses, and here is how you properly plant them.
If you’re not excited enough already. Check out my video on why you should be!
If you are in the Austin Texas or surrounding area and would like some help with the perfect plant choices for your space, based on light requirements and education on all things gardening, or a hand drawn Landscape Design, contact me at 512-733-7777, or email me for more information or to make an appointment at lisalapaso@gmail.com. You will also find a lot of great information of my Facebook page or YouTube channel.
Lisa LaPaso
Lisa’s Landscape and Design
”Saving the Planet One Yard at a Time”
- Posted in: Central Texas Gardens ♦ Earth Kind Roses ♦ Gardening in Central Texas ♦ organic pest control ♦ Water Wise
- Tagged: compact, Drift, Low, maintenance, Rose.
I’m a little surprised at this post. I loved my Coral Drift Roses so much, and recommended them to everyone. Then they all got Rose Rosette disease, and I had to dig up them all and dispose if them. It broke my heart.
Cyndia, thank you for your comment because that is an important point. RRD has been an issue for roses in Texas for many decades but most recently in mass in Knock out Roses most likely because of over poplulation of them. I found one article that stated the Drift are also vulnerable but not necessarily a vector, so any Rose would be of concern. Do you have information that directly links Drifts to the disease as a spreader?