The roses I've seen growing in Phoenix are not what I would call doing well compared to how I've seen roses do in other places in the world. It is certainly possible to keep them alive for the most part but it is much more difficult here imo. There can be an expectation gap in what people here say "do well" and what people in other parts of the world consider "do well".

Oh my goodness. Of course roses grow here in Phoenix. Just in my front yard alone I have 120+ roses, which include antique, old garden and modern roses. Including Souvenir de la Malmaison. As is the case with all plants you must provide the proper environment. I have been growing roses at my current address for 15+ years.

I doubt you could drive through many Phoenix neighborhoods without spotting roses in the landscape

You might want to check the Mesa East Valley Rose Society and the rose garden at Mesa Community College or the Phoenix Rose Society.

Also, check out the Antique Rose Forum/Rose Forum in GardenWeb.

I'm afraid I am not one to ask about roses. I own a single bush, "Dolly Parton," and I planted it next to my solitary bee colony to feed their "appetite" for leaves since supposedly roses are favored as nesting material. 3 yrs old and doing well. Roses are indeed favored along with blueberry, pear, Asian pear and cherry likely dependent upon species and proximity to nest. Zero maintenance except I prune it in winter and cut the flowers off when they have started to drop pedal as this seems to stimulate more flowering. I probably should look up care and maintenance. Maybe read the articles I linked to below.

I seem to remember 70% of commercial cut roses in the USA now come from Arizona (with California and Texas making up the rest).
http://rosegarden.mesacc.edu/documents/azrosesocietiesrosecarecalendar.pdf

Here is a link that might be useful: Flowers in AZ (roses)

This post was edited by Fascist_Nation on Tue, Oct 7, 14 at 15:26