Chicago Botanic Garden

YOUR GARDEN — Plant Information

Gardening Tips: Go ‘Nearly Wild’ with roses in containers

While it takes a bit more time and attention, growing roses in containers can help to turn a hot, sun-drenched balcony or patio into a summer oasis.  A good rose for containers is Rosa ‘Nearly Wild’, a disease-resistant shrublike rose that grows 2 to 3 feet wide and tall, with mildly fragrant, pink single blossoms that bloom from June until frost.

Grow ‘Nearly Wild’ in a frost-resistant container at least 20 inches wide and deep with drainage holes. Use a lightweight pot with commercial soilless mix to make it easier to move and care for plants.

PHOTO: floribunda rose 'Nearly Wild'In the summer, container-grown roses need everything all roses need: full sun, plenty of water (added to the soil, not sprinkled over leaves), and regular fertilizing. For container-grown roses, apply a dilute, complete, water-soluble fertilizer every week to replace nutrients that are flushed from the soil by frequent watering. It’s best to stop fertilizing in mid-August, allowing plant growth to slow before cold weather arrives.

While hardy to Zone 4 when planted in garden beds, containers make roots more susceptible to freezing. The best way to overwinter container-grown roses is to allow a hard frost or two to push the plant into dormancy. Then move the pot into an unheated garage or shed, and mark the calendar for monthly watering.

With proper care, ‘Nearly Wild’ will bloom all summer long, adding a traditional touch to your flowering container garden.

Photography @2008-2009 Robin Carlson, Bill Biderbost, Chicago Botanic Garden