Carefree Roses

Chestnut Rose

This rose doesn't need spraying, watering, or fertilizing! A large, gangly shrub growing 5 to 7 feet high and wide, chestnut rose (Rosa roxburghii) bears plump, showy blossoms of bright pink. Plant it in full sun, and it will bloom heavily in spring, then off and on throughout summer and fall. Best of all, once established, this rose can easily live in a garden for a century or more with absolutely no care.

Nice as it is, chestnut rose isn't perfect. For one thing, Japanese beetles love to eat the blooms, even though they aren't the least bit fragrant. Moreover, it's one of the spiniest roses around. But despite these failings, it deserves a place in your garden.