The American Rose Trials for Sustainability
Esther McGinnis, NDSU Extension Horticulturist
esther.mcginnis@ndsu.edu
Roses have long had a reputation for being delicate, high maintenance, and unsustainable. Stories abound of gardeners dousing their plants in insecticides, fungicides, and fertilizers to maintain an acceptable appearance. The American Rose Trials for Sustainability (A.R.T.S.) is an organization whose mission is to evaluate and identify regionally hardy roses that thrive in low-input conditions and demonstrate excellent resistance to diseases and pests. In other words, these beautiful roses are not prima donnas.
The A.R.T.S. team has two founding members that may be familiar names in this region. Dr. David Zlesak, Professor of Horticulture at University of Wisconsin-River Falls, is the Director of the Hybridizer Committee. He is also known for breeding Little DevilTM ninebark, ‘Tuscan Sun’ heliopsis, and Above and BeyondTM climbing rose. Randy Nelson, Clay County Extension Educator in Moorhead, MN, is the Director of the A.R.T.S. Evaluations Committee.
The two-year rose trials are conducted in a scientific and replicated manner across the United States. Locally, Randy Nelson oversees a trial site at Oak Tree Park in Dilworth, MN. The trial site in Absaraka, ND was recently discontinued due to lack of space.
Regardless of location, the plants are maintained in a similar manner. Roses are not fertilized and only watered during drought. No pesticides are applied. The only pruning that is allowed is to remove canes that died over the winter. No winter protection measures are implemented other than planting the crown three to four inches below the soil line.
NDSU Extension Master Gardeners have been involved in the monthly rose evaluations in Absaraka and Dilworth. Ratings are given on the foliage, the blossoms, growth habit, diseases, and insect damage.
Awards are given by climate region. Western and eastern North Dakota are in two separate regions. The region that represents western North and South Dakota has named two local award winners, White Knock Out® and First Editions® Campfire. Local winners for the eastern Dakotas are noted below.
- At LastTM
- Brindabella Purple PrinceTM
- Coral Knockout®
- Easy On the EyesTM
- Flower Carpet Pink Supreme
- Golden DragonTM
- Head Over HeelsTM
- Highwire FlyerTM
- IcecapTM
- Look-A-Likes® Apple Dapple
- Look-A-Likes® BougainFeelYa
- Miracle on the Hudson
- Music BoxTM
- Oso Easy® Double Pink
- Peachy Knock Out®
- Petaluma Cover® Towne & Country®
- Peppermint PopTM
- Phloxy BabyTM
- Pink FreedomTM
- PinkerbelleTM
- Raspberry KissTM
- Screaming Neon RedTM
- The ChampionTM Sunblush Rose
- The Grand ChampionTM Red Rose
- True BloomTM True GraceTM
- True BloomTM True IntegrityTM
- True BloomTM True LoveTM
- True BloomTM True PassionTM
- True BloomTM True RomanceTM
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