Roses and Flooding

last year

My roses planted on the edge if a pond are under water in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Does anyone have any experience with roses and flooding? I’m wondering how long they can survive submerged, and whether I should try to dig them out and pot them until the water subsides. Right now their tips are still happily blooming above the water.

Featured Answer

flgrows9b
Original Author

last year

Thanks again to everyone for their comments. Jacqueline, yes, everything else was fine! We were very lucky in my neighborhood. Here's an update, in case this is useful to anyone. The roses were under water for 15 days. Here's how each variety fared, as well as some other plants for anyone who grows these varieties:

Non-rose plantings - plumbagos, porterweed, african iris, pentas: All dead

Louis Phillipe, 6 months in the ground: Dead

Iceberg on Fortuniana rootstock, 1 week in the ground: Dead

St. David, 6 months in the ground: Dead (I pulled this one out after a couple of days underwater and replanted and it still didn't make it)

Monsieur Tillier, 3 years in the ground: Dying/Wishes it were dead

Radrazz Knock Out, 3 years in the ground: Dying/I wish it were dead (it's never done well for me)

Mrs. B.R. Cant on Fortuniana rootstock, 6 months in the ground: Should probably be dead, but I think she might be immortal. Leaves are a little yellowish, but she's putting out sad little blooms and I think will recover fine

Random Pink Double Knock Out that I bought on a whim and stuck in the ground 2 months before the storm and had ignored since: Thriving. This rose emerged from the water with lush green foliage, not a spot on it, and has been blooming beautifully, lording gleefully over the decomposing and twiggy wasteland that stretches out around her. After this performance, I will start paying attention to her, and she may remain in my yard as long as she wishes.

My take-aways (for science?): The bushes that had a couple leaves emerge early on above the water line fared better than those that didn't (Louis Phillipe, St. David and Iceberg were each only about 2' tall), and the two that will likely live (Mrs. BR Cant and Pink Double Knock Out) were planted about a foot higher up the slope and emerged from the water 2 days before the rest (so their bases were underwater for 13 days, and they also had more of their leaves above water for a longer period). So perhaps the amount of leaves remaining above water helps survival in flooding conditions? Length of time in the ground didn't seem to be a big factor, but they were all fairly young plants.

Also, I would highly recommend trying out the Pink Double Knock Out. I'm astounded by how well this rose is doing.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (16)

rosecanadian
last year
How many do you have? Is it possible to dig them all out? Or maybe just your favorites? I'm not familiar with flooding...someone else will have to help you. Good luck :)
jacqueline9CA
last year
It is not just the flooding - it is being flooded with salt water. I have no advice, but hoping someone on here will.

Jackie
Related Professionals
Salisbury Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · West Chester Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Allentown Landscape Contractors · San Antonio Landscape Contractors · Wilsonville Landscape Contractors · Baltimore Siding & Exteriors · Chattanooga Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Havre de Grace Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Manorville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Montgomeryville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Mountain Brook Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Apollo Beach Landscape Contractors · Plantation Landscape Contractors · Pompano Beach Landscape Contractors · Suitland Landscape Contractors
Melissa Northern Italy zone 8
last year
last modified: last year
If the water is salt or brackish, I can't say. If it's fresh water, they may be able to take flooding some time, I don't know how much. I've had roses survive brief flooding--a day or so--with no harm, and other stay in a very wet situation for a good deal of a winter, but they were dormant. I'm sorry I can't give you other than such very general thoughts.

By the way: good luck! It certainly sounds like you got a lot of water.
flgrows9b
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Thanks for your replies! I’m inland, so at least they’re in freshwater. Based on the rate the water is receding, I’m guessing it will be a few more days before they’re dry. I have 6 underwater. I might try digging up at least two that are still small.
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
last year
Don't bother unless you enjoying digging in muck. IME, roses can handle at least 10 days of flooding. They are by far the most flood tolerant of any plants I've kept in pots.
jacqueline9CA
last year
mad_gallica, that is so good to know! Hopefully we will not need that knowledge, but you never know. flgrows9b - I did not realize you were inland, and therefore fresh water! That is good news. It sounds like you can just let them be for a few days - they will probably like that much better than being dug up - digging in saturated soil makes it get like concrete.

Jackie
flgrows9b
Original Author
last year
Thanks - this is great to know! I aporeciate everyone’s comments. I think the water will be back down by the end of the week, so I’ll leave them be.
jacqueline9CA
last year
Can you post any pictures of where the roses are growing - now, and then after the water recedes, and then in a year or so after you find out which ones recuperated, and which ones did not? Those would be very interesting, and it might be helpful for others to have that info.

Jackie
flgrows9b
Original Author
last year
Absolutely! That’s a great idea.
jacqueline9CA
last year
In all of our concern for the roses, I forgot to ask about the rest of your property, and your home. I hope the flooding was only in the garden!

Jackie
Melissa Northern Italy zone 8
last year
Thanks for taking the trouble of reporting: this kind of information is interesting and helpful. Good luck with your garden!
seasiderooftop
last year
@flgrows9bThank you for this very interesting upda

Thank you for this very interesting update! I'm glad at least two of your roses survived. I hope Mr Tillier can make it too! !
The Rose Geek
last year
We had a hurricane last year where the water rose at least 10 feet and most of the roses made it through. If you have brackish water, rather than fresh, it sounds counterintuitive, but once the water recedes you should water the plants to dilute the salt from the soil. Good Luck.

https://youtu.be/P01_32FqVLA
flgrows9b
Original Author
last year
That's great to know, thanks. I'm on fresh water, but that's very interesting. I'm glad your plants made it.
rosecanadian
last year
last modified: last year
flgrows - I'm glad that some of your roses have lived. :) :) I just googled the topic and found this.

Use pelletized gypsum soil conditioner to reverse salt damage on lawns. The gypsum, or calcium sulfate, replaces the salt with calcium and sulfur, which will help to heal the grass and encourage new growth. It is also useful in helping the soil retain water.

So, I'm thinking to flood the area with tap water and then add gypsum...may help?? Maybe be something to do to remediate the soil now and in the future if this happens again. ??