Newly named Earth-Kind roses support sustainable gardening

The latest group of rose cultivars named Earth-Kind roses by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service marks a new chapter in sustainable landscaping practices.

These rose varieties were selected after extensive trials to ensure they thrive with minimal pesticides, fertilizers or excessive watering, making them ideal for Texas gardeners and other regions of the country with challenging growing environments.

Paul Winski, AgriLife Extension horticulture program specialist in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, emphasized the importance of these rigorous testing conditions.

“We apply water initially to establish the plant, but after that, irrigation is kept to a minimum, and no fertilizers or pesticides are used,” he said.

2025 Earth-Kind rose selections:

Double Knock Out Rose

Double Knock Out is a shrub rose known for its robust nature and cherry-red double flowers with a sweet, fruity fragrance. This variety provides continuous blooms throughout the growing season.

Pink Double Knock Out Rose

Featuring bubble-gum pink double blooms, this rose offers reliable color and disease resistance, making it a favorite among home gardeners and landscapers alike.

Alister Stella Gray

This versatile rose produces soft yellow clusters of fragrant flowers. It can be trained as a climber or left as a stand-alone specimen, offering flexibility in landscape designs.

Rose Easy Elegance My Girl

A shrub rose with deep pink, hybrid tea-like fragrant flowers. This variety combines traditional beauty with the durability of a modern landscape rose.

Crepuscule

A noisette rose showcasing large, orange double flowers that mature to an apricot-yellow hue. This variety is well suited for climbing or as a striking focal point in the landscape.

Earth-Kind roses designed for Texas conditions

The Earth-Kind selection process evaluates roses for their ability to withstand Texas’ harsh growing conditions, including extreme heat and humidity. Some roses, Winski noted, struggle with black spot disease under these conditions, but Earth-Kind selections demonstrate strong genetics and high disease resistance.

While homeowners remain primary buyers of Earth-Kind roses, Winski said landscaping professionals are also adopting these low-maintenance plants to reduce long-term maintenance costs and resource use.

“By amending the soil, using compost and installing drip irrigation, most of these plants will perform exceptionally well with very little intervention,” he said.

Looking ahead

The 2025 Earth-Kind rose campaign will officially launch on April 4, with promotional materials available at garden centers statewide.

Looking ahead, Winski said the program may expand to include industry certifications for Earth-Kind landscaping practices, offering additional opportunities for professional adoption.

For more information, visit https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/ or contact AgriLife Extension agents in your county.