Hardy new hybrids of 'queen of flowers'

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, many people are thinking about roses.

These extraordinary flowers — new varieties of which hit the market each year — have a long history. The first fossil record of the rose are thought to date back 35 million years. The Sumerians, who lived in what is now Iraq, wrote about the flower in 3,000 B.C. In "Ode to the Rose," Sappho, in 600 B.C., referred them as "the queen of flowers" — a sentiment that is still popular today.

In the 16th century, colonists brought the rose to North America, making it is the longest-cultivated European plant in this country. Modern rose hybrids were first developed in 1867, and in 1938 many rose producers formed the All-America Rose Selections (AARS) to test new rose varieties to determine which, if any, were suitable for the public.

This group, which represents about 90 percent of the rose producers and marketers in the country, operates a nationwide network of 20 official test gardens that evaluate roses on 15 characteristics — including hardiness, vigor and novelty — that consumers want in a garden plant.

Over the years, it has bought about such wonderful favorites as "Peace," "Mister Lincoln," "Knock Out" and "Bonica."

The AARS winners complete an extensive two-year trial program in these gardens located throughout the country and representing all climate zones. The rose varieties in the trials receive care similar to an average home garden to guarantee that the winners will thrive in your garden.

According to the AARS judges, "DayDream," "Elle," "Lady Elsie May" and "About Face" are the best new roses of the next growing season.

"DayDream" follows a new trend for low-growing, compact landscape shrub roses. Part of its appeal is that it is highly disease resistant. It also has a moderate size, reaching just 2 feet in height and has a neat round habit, so it reduces the need for extensive pruning.

Part of "DayDream's" aesthetic appeal is its massive clusters of lightly scented, fuchsia-pink blooms that grace the plant all summer.

Utah gardeners will love the fact that the rose is crown hardy to Zone 4. The glossy, deep green foliage make this an appealing rose for any landscape. Ping Lim hybridized "DayDream," and it is being introduced by Bailey Nurseries of St. Paul, Minn.