It is true in recent years that roses have not had a good reputation when it comes to disease resistance and it is probably fair to say that this is why the Queen of Flowers is not as popular as it once was. With the move to easy care gardens, less people have the time and energy to put into growing great roses. There are also increasing concerns over the use of chemicals to control diseases and its effect on the environment and people.
It is possibly to grow good roses without spraying, but it requires careful selection of varieties with very good disease resistance and practising good rose culture i.e. pruning, watering and feeding your roses. However, be prepared to see a little disease on your roses as no rose is 100% free of diseases.
Site selection is also very important, they like plenty of light and air movement. Be aware of regional variations in disease resistance, what may do well in one area may be prone to disease in another. Check out gardens around you for varieties that look good all the time.
Rose breeders are also actively selecting new varieties with excellent disease resistance and in future years, many new releases will have very good disease resistance. At the same time however, many older varieties may cease to be grown as they were bred in an era where health was a secondary consideration against having the perfect bloom.
Top five disease resistant roses as selected by NZ Rose Society members 2007.
2. Iceberg (Floribunda)
3. Sally Holmes (Shrub/Climber)
4. Serendipity (Floribunda)
5. Racy Lady (Hybrid Tea)
Other good disease resistant roses are:
Red
Crimson Bouquet (Hybrid Tea) Best HT 2007 at Rose of the Year
Lasting Love (Hybrid Tea) Most fragrant 2006 at Rose of the Year
L.D. Braithwaite (David Austin)
Trumpeter (Floribunda)
Orange/apricot
Beach Baby (Floribunda)
Fellowship (Floribunda)
Kiwi (Floribunda)
Paddy Stephens (Hybrid Tea)
Yellow
Easy Going (Floribunda) NZ Rose of the Year 2004
Golden Future (Climber)
Kaiteri Gold (Climber) Best climber 2003 at Rose of the Year
Serendipity (Floribunda) Best Floribunda 2003 at Rose of the Year, Gold Star of the South Pacific 1999
White
Anniversary (Floribunda) Gold Star of the South Pacific 1997
Iceberg (Floribunda)
Racy Lady (Hybrid Tea) Gold Star of the South Pacific 2000
Sally Holmes (Shrub/Climber)
Sparkler (Shrub)
Pink
Aotearoa (Hybrid Tea)
Brilliant Pink Iceberg (Floribunda)
The Fairy (Shrub)
Uetersen (Climber)
Wise Woman (Hybrid Tea)
Bicolour
Raspberry Ice (Floribunda)
Any of the Flower Carpet series (pink, white, apple blossom, scarlet, red, gold) also have very good disease resistance.