The Dorothy and John Bohannon Rose Garden is at its peak! From now until June, the roses will be at their best with another peak taking place in October. A bloom this beautiful brings up a lot of questions, so we decided to take on some of the frequently asked questions regarding the Rose Garden! Take a look below and then be sure to come see them in full bloom.
- What are the most fragrant roses in the Garden?
When you think of roses, a specific fragrance may come to mind. But did you know roses can have a variety of scents while some don’t actually have a scent at all? Below are our top 3 roses for powerful fragrance:
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- From left to right:
- ‘Mr. Lincoln’: Located in the formal section (middle) of the Rose Garden, the ‘Mr. Lincoln’ rose has the classic rose scent. It’s not the most vigorous plant and is not always in bloom, but when it is, its large red/magenta flowers are hard to miss.
- Double Delight’: Located in the formal section (middle) of the Rose Garden, this rose smells like canned lychee. Like ‘Mr. Lincoln,’ this plant is also not very vigorous and is not always in bloom. They are located along the left cabana when you enter the Rose Garden from the Promenade.
- ‘Huntington’s 100th Anniversary’: Located in the modern section (side closest to the Desert Collection), ‘Huntington’s 100th Anniversary’ smells very soapy and on warm days the scent wafts up the path. It is often in bloom and has cream flowers with pink and purple tinges. It’s planted along the path (right side) headed towards the tropical planting.
- From left to right:
- Which roses are the easiest to grow?
The Horticulture department does its best to keep the roses as happy as possible and even then we still have finicky hybrids that select themselves out of the Garden. This is because some hybrids are not suited to our microclimate. Here are 3 low-maintenance varieties that do well in our climate to help you save time and money:
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- Knock Out® series (seen above). They were bred to be very disease-resistant and easy to care for. It doesn’t look like the classic rose we’re all familiar with but it grows in a variety of colors! We have four kinds planted:
- the original Knock Out® are planted on both sides of the steps flanking the fountain in the Rose Garden
- Knock Out® Orange Glow™ are planted along the edge of the Rose Garden lawn beds
- Knock Out® Peachy™ are planted along the outer path of the pollination section of the Rose Garden
- Knock Out® Blushing™ roses are planted in the Pollination Garden across from Staghorn
- Knock Out® series (seen above). They were bred to be very disease-resistant and easy to care for. It doesn’t look like the classic rose we’re all familiar with but it grows in a variety of colors! We have four kinds planted:
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- Sunbelt® series (above). They were bred to be very heat and disease resistant. They are easy to care for and have more of that classic rose look. We have one kind planted:
- Sunbelt® Desmond Tutu™ are planted in the Pollination Garden across from the Geometric Beds and SOAR. It is a rich, red rose with a light, fresh scent.
- Sunbelt® series (above). They were bred to be very heat and disease resistant. They are easy to care for and have more of that classic rose look. We have one kind planted:
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- Julia Child™ is a very consistent and hardy rose with butter-yellow flowers and a nice licorice fragrance. They are planted along the edge of the beds in the Rose Garden across from the Garden of the Senses. You can also find two on the edge of Lower Meadow across from Dottie’s.
- How do you get the roses to bloom so much?
Our secret is an annual care schedule that our Horticulture team follows. Terry, our Director of Living Collections, shared a simplified version below, but the absolute best way to learn is to volunteer at the Garden!- Prune January-February and reduce your rose plants by 1/3 to 1/2 of the plant’s original size while removing all the leaves.
- Fertilize monthly with (organic) fertilizer from March-October.
- Deadhead and lightly prune as needed from May-October.
- Let your roses rest in November-December – no feeding or pruning!
- Can I take cuttings or petals?
Picking flowers and removing plant material is not allowed in the Garden and for good reason. First and foremost, many of our roses are patented by the horticultural industry so its actually illegal to propagate them from cuttings. Secondly, the plants in the Garden could be harboring pests and diseases that could be unknowingly spread to natural areas and gardens outside of the Garden. And lastly, we want to ensure that everyone gets the chance to see the flowers.
- Where can I buy roses for my own garden?
It’s best to buy all of your plants from local stores and nurseries. This ensures that the plant you take home can grow in your microclimate. That being said, these are our two favorite spots:- The Armstrong Garden Center on Crenshaw Blvd is one of our top choices because it is close and has a large selection of roses. Plus, current members of South Coast Botanic Garden receive a 10% discount.
- Otto & Sons in Fillmore has a greater selection of roses and expert staff, so head there if you don’t mind the drive.
Want to see our roses in person? Click here for tickets to the Garden. If you miss this peak – don’t worry! Roses and their companion plants will still continue to bloom through the summer months.
