Which State, Lynn? I know there are many roses would be thrilled with z6b.

Hi Sheila,

We are bi-region now, Las Vegas, and Pennsylvania.

I hate to comment on another state although we are in the same Zone, so perhaps Jim in Pennsylvania will pipe in if he sees this. Are you planning on bringing roses with you or will you be buying new?

Eastern or Western Pennsylvania might matter too, Lynn. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden former director Stephen Scanniello grows great roses out East. Maybe only the most tender would be out, but BS would be an issue. The soil would be more acidic likely, and multiflora roots would love that. Palatine grafts on multiflora. I bet own root from Northlands Rosarium or High Country Roses would be great too. DA roses would be plenty hardy, although the BS could be an issue. Mad gallica is out there too, I think. All the European OGRs would love that area. You will get so much more rain you may not even need to water. How exciting for you. I bet you'll do a great job out there too.

Thank you, Sheilah!! I'd bet that Palatine, Northland Rosarium and High Country may have input as to which roses could perform well in the area! Oh, we are in Western Pennsylvania...

I visited the Pittsburgh rose society website and have looked up botanical gardens etc., but I have not found a list of roses that have a good chance of being decent performers in the conditions as of yet.

My Las Vegas roses will remain at our Las Vegas home, Vaporvac. I also had small plants grown from cuttings that needed special care that were donated. Everything else is in the ground and tended to by gardening professionals.

The author of the blog, Hedgerow Rose (which I just love reading) writes about roses in Pennsylvania in most of beginning of the blog. Probably lots of good ideas there. She had moved to N. Carolina tgen going back to PA again but if you go to the beginning and read you will see her roses there. https://hedgerowrose.com

Hi Lynn, Sheila is correct in that there is a lot of climate difference between eastern Pennsylvania and where you will be living. Jim is about two hours away from Pittsburgh in Tyrone. It is black spot paradise (he is no spray), and they get tremendous amounts of rain and snow. He can give details, so I hope he posts here. Good luck on your move, and how fortunate you are to have your LV home in good hands while you're gone. Do you plan to visit there often? Diane

That actually sounds like a great split of residences! I think Jim is growing just a couple of roses now. LOL! He extols the virtues of Miracle on the Hudson and Thomas Affleck and Plum Perfect is hanging in there. He has many posts on his good ones! ) Probably those from this year give the best picture.

Jim also grows Knockouts and a few others--can't think of their names (Carefree Coral Celebration?). He removed Julia Child for black spotting this year. I hated to see that. Diane

I notice that Jim is in Central PA (possibly 200+ miles away), and Moses is in Western PA., possibly closer to where I will garden.. I think.... I definitely would welcome information or advice from either of them or anyone dealing with the same geographical rose growing issues. I have only lived or grown roses in zone 9b (coastal Southern CA) and zone 9a (Las Vegas). The coldest temperatures I as a human have ever experienced was 15 degrees F one night in Colorado. I have the Winter wardrobe figured out ( boy have I been shopping!!)... but the roses.... that is where I will very likely need on-going help.....

Desertgarden,

Here's what you are up against anywhere in Pennsylvania:

1. Intense black spot and cercospora pressure, not so much powdery or downy mildew

2. Winter hardiness, especially hybrid teas, winter survival issues without protection, expect cane die back over winter even with protection, the degree of which depends on the rose's class and variety

3. Rose midge fly devastation, Japanese Beetles during summer=some folks live with them while others fight them by every means possible, mites when it's hot and dry, aphids=minor issue, easily controlled, and thrips mostly causing cosmetic damage to blooms

4. Clay, moisture retentive type soils almost statewide, not sandy soil, amend with: peat moss, mushroom/animal manure, compost, small, sharp gravel and builder's sand. Clay soils can be poor draining, but on the flip side, they are usually mineral rich, and if well amended grow great roses.

5. Own root or grafted? Hybrid teas= grafted on multiflora, Dr. Huey, second choice. Plant all grafted roses with bud unions 4" below soil level. Shrub types, especially ADR winners= own root usually works great, grafted=marginally better, but even may grow TOO aggressively.

Moses

OMG... I do not know what rose midge or cercospora is, however, Moses, you got me with Japanese Beetles. That is enough to make me re-think growing roses in PA. :( Those things creep me out!!!

How pervasive is J.B. invasions? Are there any organic solutions?

I do not think we will visit Las Vegas much, Dianne. Most of our family is in CA, so chances are when we venture west, that will be our destination. When our home is built in P.A., we will need to have items in LV storage moved. Our partial relocation to PA is done. We sent one kid off to college, and the other is USMC intelligence. My ex-husband is a University of Pennsylvania alumni and our daughter is thinking of pursuing a Ph'D there...when she graduates... so living here will be perfect. There is not much that we participated in while living in LV that cannot be found, and likely more abundantly, in other places. I am also looking forward to experiencing four seasons (Fall is my favorite) and exploring the other part of the country now that I am more mature, and have a much greater appreciation for historic sites etc.

I think Moses has given you a pretty clear picture of rose growing on the east side of the country. There will be variations from place to place but not that much difference. I know from reading posts here that there are many variations from place to place out west too. I know it sounds like we have some challenges but really, every region and state has it's own set. If you've been dealing with yours in Vegas you won't have a problem dealing with the ones in PA. They won't be the same but you'll be able to handle them. I don't know what types of roses you prefer but if you like OGRs the nice thing is you'll be able to grow all those ones that need a good chill to bloom!

Are there any specific varieties that any of you gardening in similar conditions find to be hardy and/or disease resistant?

A roses grafted on multiflora a better option?

Growing roses in Las Vegas was actually pretty easy (easier than Co. Southern CA in that I did not have to deal with fungal diseases or major pests... but not easier in that the roses must be watered, sometimes daily, and sun exposure had to be considered during the Summer ( in 17 years, I lost less than 10 roses to the heat/sun... or anything else for that matter...). I worry that ease will not be the case in PA., however, I think... hope.... I am up for the challenge, Seil.

We are back in Las Vegas right now, but will be driving to our place in PA next week. It will be a great time to research and look at all of the pretty roses in catalogs and online. I am a talker, but cannot talk that much!! lol!!

Check out the book Roses Without Chemicals. There are some great recommendations for north-eastern disease resistant roses.

I like to look to the experience of those in a colder zone. I can zone-push and get away with a z6 rose IF it's healthy and vigorous, but throw in some blackspot defoliation and a few bad winters, that's a recipe for failure. So general advice, look for z5 hardiness AND BS resistance.

If hardiness is borderline, a grafted rose is a nice option IF growth is vigorous. You'd be amazed at how much growth and bloom a rose can produce in one season. A couple that come to mind are Easy Does It and Distant Drums. Often dead to the soil line come spring, but they can bounce back! On the other hand, it's very satisfying to grow rose on its own roots that is suitable for your zone, knowing that you're in it for the long term. With that in mind - if you have the room, grow Darlow's Enigma!

Thank you so much, Ratdogheads, for suggesting new reading material and offering sage advice!! I will be in zone 6a/b. I remember gardeners a couple of years ago, losing roses during the Polar Vortex, so dropping down a zone at least in hardiness could prove to be prudent. I think the advice offered by Moses, you and others will get me started. Thankfully, I have a little time. I am also adding the roses you recommended to my list :), and ordering the book you suggested as soon as I finish typing this message!

I will also be searching for and reading the hedgerose blog SJN suggested.

Another book I would suggest is Peter Schneider right rose right place. it is for zone 5 roses.

Not roses I know but my first thought was “Yay! She can grow peonies!”

Oh, my! Can I? While my love of roses will likely endure, of all flowers, peonies was the first I coveted, but could not grow. I also like hydrangeas and English lavender. I think I am going to be busy....

Hi Lynn, welcome to PA! I just started a rose garden in Western PA zone 5b this spring. We bought a weekend country property there last year. The soil is sooo rich over there, much better than my NY garden.

Like Moses has mentioned, I got midge, JB and BS over there. I also have a small orchard. I am a part time farmer now. Lol Most of the roses in PA were from Hortico, Palatine and JP.. There is a lot of rain in my area, I have 74 potted rose trees and about 6 potted roses, plus about 250 roses in the ground over there. We get about 1-2 rain days in a week. I only water the potted ones on the weekends. Yes, you can grow all the ones on your list. One of my country neighbors has a lot of peonies. I will take some photos for you next spring. Do you have room for fruit trees? :-)

......and you could visit Peter Schneider’s open garden in June every year! :-)

We could all meet up and have a party! We'd sound like a bunch of magpies, I'm sure! ; 0

We sure could all meet there! I preordered some roses, will go back there to pick them up in June.

I did too! We're so bad. What did you order going OT?

I can’t remember right now, will let you know tonight. :-)

We are in temporary housing right now, Summers. I had dreams of finding an old home with great bones that we could add the modernity we desired to. Remodeling would likely be too problematic as we would want to add the modern creature comforts we both desire but what lurks behind the walls of some older homes, versus modern building codes etc...YIKES! So, we decided upon building. We should have everything finalized by mid-January ... if all goes well. The older I become, the less stock I put in meticulous planning. Lately, things rarely work out just the way I plan, heck, we were supposed to be moving to Seattle, WA .... Geesh!!

Btw ,... Pictures.... I LOVE seeing rose garden pic.... please do!!

Yes, Seattle housing is ridiculous! Yoi will get way more bang for your buck in PA.

The only benefit to Seattle is that I think I have way less winter prep.

Desertgarden-Las Vegas, Z9a/S.Z.11 use the Consultants link on the Pittsburgh RS page. They can tell you what does well, and also the roses that are at the Renziehausen Park Rose Garden.

Thank you, Diane_nj! :)