The Irish enticement of ‘St. Patrick’ rose
L.A. Jackson
There are several roses suitable for Carolina gardens that have names, notions or even provenance to remind you of the delight that is Ireland, and below are a few of my favorites. Erin go bragh, y’all!
St. Patrick. Named after the saint himself, this hybrid tea rose (a 1996 All-American Rose Selection) flaunts lightly fragrant, yellow flowers with hints of green. This green can be offsetting to gardeners expecting solid yellow coloration, but for backyard growers with (real or imaginary) Irish blood in them, no bloom can be “too green.”
Green Rose. Speaking of “too green,” there actually is a rose that is all green. A strange pretty that seems like it could have been conjured up by a mischievous leprechaun but, nope — it comes from China. The blooms are odd little things because they don’t have petals, only crowded clusters of small, slightly spicy fragrant, leaf-like sepals, which are all green. Flamboyant it is not. A conversation piece it most certainly is, especially if you are Irish.
Galway Bay. The warm salmon pink from this climbing rose’s blooms is as cheerful as a sunny day on Galway Bay — an enjoyable destination on the west coast of Ireland. The moderately fragrant, repeating, double flowers are framed by glossy green foliage that is resistant to typical rose diseases.
L.A.’s website of the month:
If you enjoy “back to the future” gardening with popular plants from the past, the Eden Brothers e-nursery in Arden is worth checking out. It offers over 900 varieties of heirloom flower, herb and vegetable seeds.
Dublin. This beautiful hybrid tea rose that flaunts fragrant, rich red roses was developed by Astor Perry, a peanut specialist at N.C. State. Besides being a peanut guru, Perry was also skillful at developing new rose introductions, of which “Dublin” is one of his babies. Its name has a circuitous origin, as Perry actually tagged it after the town of Dublin in peanut-centric Georgia, which got its name from Irish immigrants who settled there.
Killarney. Named after one of my favorite towns in Ireland, this hybrid tea rose has semi-double blooms flushed in deep pink with wispy white undertones. An older introduction, its Irish roots run deep — really, because it was bred and introduced by noted Irish rose hybridizer Alexander Dickson II in 1898.
Garden To-Do’s for March
Compared to a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, Irish-themed roses are easier to find, but they still can take some searching to obtain. Don’t let this prevent you from at least asking your favorite local garden centers if they have any or can order them for you. Online e-nurseries are another option, including Antique Rose Emporium, Witherspoon Roses, Roses Unlimited, Rogue Valley Roses, Heirloom Roses, and Jackson & Perkins.
- Mint is a versatile herb that tastes as good as it smells, but think twice about adding it to spring garden beds because it can easily crawl away and bully neighboring plants. Containment makes for behaved mint—grow it in pots instead.
- While mulch is certainly a beneficial addition to garden beds, hold off on covering areas where summer annuals will be grown. Leave the ground bare until at least mid- to late-April so the strengthening spring sun can help warm the soil’s temperature to a comfortably cozy level for cold-sensitive seeds and young plants.
About the Author
Share Your Thoughts
Have a question about this story or just want to share what you thought? We’d love to hear from you!
More spring gardening advice
