Yellow roses that resist black spot - Brief Article

Sunset, Jan, 2002 by Jim McCausland

In the late 1800s, a French horticulturist named Joseph Pernet-Ducher developed the first yellow in the hybrid perpetual class. The rose world swooned with delight, and other growers introduced Pernet-Ducher's hybrid into their own breeding lines. A trickle of yellows followed, then a river that soon swelled to a flood. Unfortunately, almost all these new hybrids inherited a trait besides yellow color: susceptibility to black spot, a pernicious leaf disease that defoliates and sometimes kills the plant.

Over time, the hereditary link between yellow roses and black spot weakened, and disease-resistant yellows started to appear. Here, we describe 10 yellow roses that have shown strong resistance to black spot in recent field tests around the West.

Bear in mind that even resistant roses need proper care to avoid disease. Mike Cady, a horticulturist with Jackson & Perkins, advises, "Plant roses in well-drained soil, in full sun where there is good air circulation, and fertilize regularly."

Sources

Most of the roses listed are available from nurseries and garden centers.

RELATED ARTICLE: 10 reliable varieties

'Baby Love'. This 3-foot shrub rose (breeders call it a shrublet) bears masses of single, buttercup yellow flowers with a hint of licorice scent. Considered more resistant to black spot than any other yellow rose on the market. Does well in all climates.

'Carefree Sunshine'. This 3- to 4-foot shrub carries lots of soft yellow flowers with little fragrance over light green foliage.

'Easy Going'. A fairly new floribunda (classed by some as a shrub rose), this 4-foot plant produces peach-yellow flowers with moderately fruity fragrance. 'Elina'. Quite vigorous, this hybrid tea can reach 6 feet tall; it bears abundant pastel yellow flowers with light fragrance. Does best in cool climates.

'Lord Mountbatten'. One of the English Legend series, this 4- to 5-foot shrub produces clusters of large, fragrant medium-yellow flowers whose edges go pink in cool weather.

'Mellow Yellow'. This 7-foot hybrid tea (a descendent of 'Midas Touch') carries moderately fragrant flowers of a brighter yellow than the name would suggest.

'Midas Touch'. When it was chosen as an All-America Rose Selection (AARS) in 1994, it was the first yellow hybrid tea winner in 19 years. This plant grows 4 to 5 feet tall and bears golden yellow flowers with fruity fragrance. Doesn't fade in heat.

'Morning Has Broken'. Even when surrounded by other roses covered with black spot, this shrub rose showed no sign of the disease. Semidouble flowers cover the 4-foot-tall bush, fading from rich yellow to pastel with age. Handles heat well.

'Sun Sprinkles'. A knee-high shrub rose, this 2001 AARS winner has double yellow blossoms with light spicy fragrance.

'Topaz Jewel'. This 4-foot hybrid rugosa bears soft yellow, sweetly scented blossoms. Vigorous, cold-hardy plant.