Carefree Roses anyone have them?

10 years ago

I am getting Carefree Beauty and Carefree Wonder. Thinking about getting Carefree Celebration. It seems that I've seen Celebration somewhere and it was not that nice. Does anyone grow these? Would you recommend them? Can any of these deal with a little less than ideal sun. Full sun in summer any maybe 5 hours in May and late Sept.

Bonica 82 is another I'm getting. Does anyone grow them in the north.

I've researched them the best I can but there is nothing that compares to a thumbs up here.

Featured Answer

nippstress - zone 5 Nebraska

10 years ago

Hi Patty

I have both Carefree Celebration and Bonica, and they're reliably clean and consistent bloomers for me in zone 5, with tendencies to survive even in zone 4 conditions. You can see from the whole bush shot below that CC has absolutely clean foliage - even in July blackspot pressure. The bloom isn't all that profuse in this shot, but it's consistent blooming even if pruned to the ground. I really like this rose. Jim is right that the blooms fade to an interesting parchment color, but I really like that variation too. If you don't, then just keep it deadheaded.

Bonica is one of my top 20 roses that I would take with me to a limited space environment. It blooms under harsh conditions without complaint, blooms consistently throughout the year, and retains a majority of its canes in an average winter. Mine stays pretty blackspot free, and it's planted in part sun conditions. Here's a full bush shot from June 2014 after a particularly harsh winter when I had to prune off most of the canes. The blooms get a little scruffy looking if not deadheaded, as is true of virtually all light pink roses, but it only looks bad if you get behind in deadheading, as it's such a prolific bloomer.

As MG reminds us, your blackspot pressures may differ particularly on the East Coast, but Chicago is pretty similar conditions to us here in NE (with somewhat more humidity). Bottom line for me is I recommend both of these.

Cynthia

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Comments (7)

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
10 years ago
Carefree Beauty is one of the better Buck roses. Carefree Wonder is from Meilland, and blackspotted horribly for me. Bonica is a nice rose that isn't indestructible, but is probably healthy and hardy enough for you.
Patty W. zone 5a Illinois thanked mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
Patty W. zone 5a Illinois
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Thanks Mad, I've already ordered Carefree Beauty. I'll hold off on CW since I'm no spray. If black spot is a problem for it it will be covered here. Really appreciate your sharing this.
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jim1961 Central Pennsylvania Zone 6b
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
My friend grows Carefree Celebration here locally... (4 years old)... Flower size averages 2"-3" as I measured them ... His has been very disease resistant.. Flowers were different colors on bush..It has bloomed well for him... approx 4X4 bush size...(Full sun 7+ hours)

I've got a CC ordered for next year...

Researching CC I noticed it has bloomed well for some but not others. And some like the faded colors some do not...
Patty W. zone 5a Illinois thanked jim1961 Central Pennsylvania Zone 6b
Patty W. zone 5a Illinois
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Oh my gosh thank you both so much. Had my fingers crossed for CC. It can be challenging to find a good healthy rose in that color range. I love Easy Does IT but for me they shatter at the speed of sound in summer.

Cynthia it looks as thou Bonica can get to a good size. May I ask if that is one plant. Was going to get three of them for an area in back. Perhaps one will do fine. Your photos and information is much appreciated as always.

Jim thanks for the size, health and light conditions on CC. Very helpful!

Both roses will be ordered. I'm so happy except with the weather. Has to come sooner or later. Freeze warning for tomorrow night and lake effect snow showers west of the lakes. yuck Bye-bye hosta see you next season.
jim1961 Central Pennsylvania Zone 6b
10 years ago
PattyW.

Our Easy Does it is young yet (1st season)... In late Sept I had two EDI blooms that lasted more that 14 days on the bush. They were white by then though...lol

I did not noticed how long they lasted in summer though... hummmmm ... EDI is at the side of house most other roses are in backyard where I am mostly...

Best of luck with CC PattyW... I'll let you know how our new CC does next year...
nippstress - zone 5 Nebraska
10 years ago
HI Patty

Sorry to miss your question - this is just one mature Bonica bush, in part shade no less, and it probably stretches at its widest as far as my arms can stretch each way. The fence is 6' tall, so I'd guess it tops out between 5-6' by the end of the season, but it tend to be a wide grower when happy. I suspect one bush will do you (leaving you more money and space for other roses!) I think you'll do well with both these roses.

Cynthia